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Brighton Fringe

Queer Brighton Fringe Preview: Paul Diello cruises through the decades of one hit wonders, Crudi Dench needs your help, and Club Revenge opens their ‘Cabaret of Queeriosities’

Brian Butler May 2, 2024

In my second article on LGBTQ+ shows at this year’s Brighton Fringe, I look at a gay prince, the best short queer films around, and a gay choir’s Eurovision tribute.

Laugh Till It Hurts is billed as a BDSM comedy show. It’s one man’s voyage into fetish and kink. Get tied up in its net of humour at the Actors, 6-8 May.

Katherine and Pierre will appear at the Rotunda from 14-16 May in a genre-defying adventure from queer-led theatre company Talksmall.

Iris On The Move presents the best of the bunch of short LGBTQ+ films as featured in the annual film festival. On 5 / 6 May you can catch three collections of films at the Actors. You can watch a Voguing footballer, polyamorous mice, gay romance in a Chinese school choir and the rules of open relationships among many more.

He/He/He at the Actors on 9/10 May. everyone is invited to Indy Nile’s 25-year-late gender reveal party: spoiler- it’s a boy!

Happy Ever Poofter is also at the Actors on 23/24 May. Join Prince Henry, the only gay in the kingdom, on his quest for true love.

Flying The Flag is presented by Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus as their tribute to the best of Eurovision. It’s at St George’s Church on 3/4 May.

Five Straight Men plays at the Arcobaleno from 12 May – 2 June. What does non-binary sound like? Theatre makers explore what it means to be trans and non-binary today.

Dyke Cabaret, at the Actors on 1 June, is an electrifying premiere, and the clue’s in the title.

Sharpen your pencils for Drag and Draw at Bee’s Mouth from 3-5 May. An art class with a difference – it’s life drawing with drag artists as models.

Crudi Dench – Someone Help Her at Bar Broadway on 26 May is work in progress from an award-winning bearded lady.

Cameron Sinclair HarrisPlanets is also a work in progress. At the Rotunda from 28-30 May, this one queer deviant plays all eight planets in the solar system.

Cabaret of Queeriosities, on 31 May at Club Revenge, is billed as an amazing night of queer fun.

Big Lez Is Back, on 11/12 May at the Actors, stars Lily Starr aka Big Lez – Sydney’s hottest lesbian – and she’s back to make you laugh till you cry.

Beat Inflation with Sue The Cleaner at the Actors on 1/2 June, with queer tips to get you through the cost of living crisis.

Babs For Life is at the Three Jolly Butchers from 29-31 May. It’s a drag character comedy satirising UK politics.

Two Queers in Tears is at the Lantern Theatre from 16-24 May. Not your regular love story – Billy and Elliott disagree about whether their play is fit for public view.

Where Do All The Quiet Gays Go? on 18/19 May at the Actors. What do you do when you’re gay but you don’t really think all the sex and partying is for you ?

The Great ’80s and ’90s One Hit Wonder Songbook is probably the longest show title at this year’s Fringe. The amazing, often outrageous, Paul Diello plays The Brunswick from 23-25 May with his camp and colourful cruise through two decades of hit songs.

Spit It Out, 22-26 May at the Rotunda, is a new queer comedy about Emily, navigating the challenges of coming out as trans to her family, friends and at her workplace.

Queer History Tour will travel round central Brighton from 18-25 May, and is a short walking tour exploring some sites with connections to queer histories, people and places.

And finally, Queer A F Comedy is at the Laughing Horse @ the Walrus. Taking place on 2 June, it’s a comedy show celebrating LGBTQ+ humour and talent.

Many more shows and ticket information at brightonfringe.org

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