On 8 May, we returned again to Crookes Social Club for a Spring Awakening edition The Kingdom Come, with our line up of drag kings sharing all sorts of transformations and talents!
We adorned the venue with blooms, butterflies and blossom, and many of our community showed up in some spring inspired outfits, working floral looks or turning over a new leaf in fresh fits. The vegan cake from Little Town Pantry just about lasted until the interval, but only *just*. It’s always tricky knowing how much to order!
Our host for the evening was well travelled, but Sheffield based, Tito Bone, your average non binary blind bisexual drag king. Their musical flair and comedy got the crowd warmed up from the get go, with witty acts featuring live singing and ukelele. (Pictured above)
We also felt the warmth and affection from Awesome Swelles, who shared his songwriting with us along with some intricate costumes, adding layers of meaning to his powerful message that trans people can and should be making plans for beautiful futures!
CHIYO brought the fire to the evening, with two electric performances that had us very hot under the collar and gagged in equal measure, with his display of power and self acceptance a radical stand against mainstream narratives that seek to dehumanise trans people.
Harddeep Singh also shared a powerful abolitionist and anti colonial message with us, wrapped in a crowd pleasing emo themed act. Richard Melanin the Third had the audience weeping with laughter at his whimsical performances, making magic that entranced us all.
Finally we were also treated to a debut act from Hot Pot, featuring Quiche Lorraine, aka Lorraine Kelly in a surreal turn, and Hot Pot also kept to the spring theme as they hatched from a giant egg!
This event was a fundraiser for Andro & Eve, supporting our current crowdfunding campaign, with cash donations on the night and online donations boosting the campaign by £1,035. Additional funds from the raffle will also be used to provide discounted and free tickets to those who need them at future events. Thank you to everyone who supported our fundraising efforts. Our Go Fund Me campaign is still live if you haven’t had a chance to donate or share.
A huge thanks also to the Andro & Eve team, tech team and volunteer crew who helped everything run smoothly on the night and of course a massive thank you to all the drag kings who joined us!
Unfortunately, we have had to cancel a planned July edition of The Kingdom Come owing to another Arts Council funding bid rejection. Like many other independent producers of drag and cabaret, each year this work gets harder. So if you can, we’d really appreciate any more donations to our crowdfunder to help us deliver a year-round programme of culture and community activity supported by an affordable membership scheme.
We do have plans for other activities this year, and of course the launch of that membership scheme in the Autumn, so if you haven’t already, subscribe to our newsletter to be first to hear more about our plans! Enjoy the rest of the photos below!
