Portsmouth Pride: June 21st to 26th

PORTSMOUTH PRIDE WEEK AT GROUNDLINGS THEATRE JUNE 21-26

Summer in Portsmouth just isn’t the same without a Pride festival, and after a gap of a few years Pride finally returns to Portsmouth this month. There’s a whole week of events scheduled to take place at the Groundlings Theatre in Portsea with everything from circus performers to cabaret and Speed Dating to Some Like It Hot.

With a lavish programme of varied entertainments, paralleled with trade, educational and informative stalls, talks, shows and literature and complimented with workshops, this week long event is set to accommodate for all members of LGBT community from “the out, load and proud” to the “just venturing out of the closet”, those who don’t go on the regular gay scene and even for those who are happily straight but believe in unashamed equality and a dam good time!

On Saturday 18th June Members of the Groundlings Theatre staff will be holding a promotional ‘March’ to help promote Pride week. This starts at 1pm from the Groundlings Theatre in Portsea taking in the city centre, local gay venue The Hampshire Boulevard ending at the Old Vic. The 15 Groundlings employees/volunteers and performers will be dressed in either drag or colourful costume.

The Pride week begins at 7pm on Tuesday 21st June with Diva-oke!! Get your mojo working and your Gaga out because this night is all about you and your icons! Come and sing, dazzle or just busk in the fabulousness of Diva’s at work. Special guests will be local Burlesque troupe Veronique Devine and the Vixens and it’s free entry.

On Wednesday 22nd from 7pm the heat gets turned up to melting point as we spice up your evening with a sizzling screening of “Some Like It Hot” staring Silver Screen siren and legends Marylyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. Cosy up in the candle lit rustic decadence with a glass of wine and there’s a prize for the best dressed Marilyn lookalike. Entry costs just £3.

Thursday 23rd is the day we get to the nitty Gritty of what is like to come out and say “I am what I am” with workshops and talks for youths, schools and parents addressing the issues that youngsters face. They day Ending with the opening of a coming of age theatrical production ‘Heartbreak Beautiful’

On Friday 24th from 6.30pm you can enjoy an evening of giggles and friendly fun when we hold an evening of LGBT speed dating and adult games hosted by Burlesque starlet Veronique Devine and Drag star Alexa Kimbo who for one night only will be ‘Prascilla Crap’ and ‘Sheila Blige’ Then once you have found your date for the evening enjoy ‘Heartbreak Beautiful’ and relax with some after show drinks. Entry is £12

Saturday 25th is THE BIG ONE!! Put on your most outrageous and colourful attire and join us for our huge out side carnival with Circus acts and eccentric floor performers and disco. Activities run from 11am to late starting off with a theatrical fake civil partnership, complete with big hats and all things bright and beautiful. Between noon and 4pm there’ll be a carnival style atmosphere for the flamboyant and the fabulous with street performers, circus acts and disco divas. Dress to impress or you can hire some fab clothing from the theatres extensive wardrobe and get a photo taken that you’ll never forget.



Between 4pm and 5pm it’s your chance to be the star of the show with an open stage. If you want to take part in this please call 023 9273 7370. Then from 7pm to 10pm there’s a spectacular variety show with cabaret, vaudeville, circus and burlesque starring Veronique Devine and The Vixens supported by sexy male popstar Thunda Cub fresh from the stages of Pride Canaria, jazz star Laura Mai, Burlesque dancers, Vie O’lette, Lily L’Amore and Vaudevillian Daria D’Beauvoix. The evening is hosted by Veronique Devine and Alex Kambo. Alex will be holding the final of her Drag Race with the winners of heats held in the cities local gay venues taking part.

After all that you’ll need to have kept some energy in reserve because from 10pm it’s the Diva’s Disco.

An all-day pass costs just £8.50 but if you want to attend the events on Sunday as well then a weekend pass costs just £10. The week of festivities ends with the Pride BBQ and Arts Day on Sunday 26th June running from midday to 5pm. This will be a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for people of the LGBT community to meet, chat and make friends. Chill out and wind down with a BBQ, poetry, literature recitals, live music, trade and community stalls, ending the ceremony with a candlelit vigil. If you just attend on Sunday the entry fee is £3.

All of these events will be held in the newly refurbished grade 2 listed Building that is Groundlings Theatre in the heart of historic Portsmouth. For any more information on Prices and Times for these events and to book your ticket please call Groundlings Box office on: 02392737370. Be Proud to be part of Pride.

For more information contact:


Organiser Veronique Devine on 07842 258 964
PR: Steve Ashfield on 07754 943 511

Website is on its way, in the meantime full event details are at https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127393390672810

POST OUT OF DATE MOVED AND LOCKED

LEE