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Newcastle Pride confirms full line-up

Newcastle Pride unveils a packed musical line-up for one of the UK’s largest LGBT festival later this month.

S Club
S Club

NEWCASTLE Pride, organised by LGBT charity, Northern Pride, is this year taking place at a new location of Nuns Moor Park on, July 20-22.

Former X Factor winner Alexandra Burke will be headlining the festival on Saturday, July 21, where she will be joined by The Voice star Jordan Gray, DJ Michael Maddison, Lorraine Crosby and the winners of local talent competitions, The Voice of Pride, Becca Richardson and Drag Idol, Gladys Duffy.

Earlier in the day, the crowd can enjoy performances from All Together Now favourite Michael Rice, Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Jamie Lee Harrison, mime artist Melody, LGBT choir Northern Voices, and Whickham School LGBT group, the Rainbow Society.

Gareth Gates
Gareth Gates

Sunday July 22 will be headlined by 90s pop group S Club, DJ Cris Howe, cabaret club Boulevard, West End leading man Gareth Gates, X Factor duos Jack and Joel and He Knows She Knows and JODI.

Boulevard favourite and queen of comedy, Miss Rory, will be hosting all weekend, with coverage from Pride World Radio throughout the day.

Stephen Willis, festival director of Newcastle Pride, said: “We have a fantastic line-up across both days of the festival and with the addition of the big top tent, it’s certain to be an incredible event.

“There is so much to see and do, from the parade to the various zones on site so whether you’re attending with your friends or your family, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.”

The weekend starts with the Launch Party on Friday, July 20, organised by Geordie Moor, where Steps and the Vengaboys will perform at the paid-for, ticketed concert.

To purchase tickets start at £44.25, click here:

On Saturday the annual Pride Parade will start from Newcastle Civic Centre at noon and  make its way to the festival site at Nuns Moor Park.

The weekend will end on a point of reflection on Sunday with the Candlelit Vigil at 9pm at Newcastle Civic Centre.

Alexandra Burke
Alexandra Burke

As well as the main stage entertainment, there are various zones and refreshment stalls on site over the weekend, including the Steve Paske Health Zone, the Tesco Bank Family Zone, a funfair, market stalls and an array of food and drink bars.

The festival is free to attend but for those wishing to guarantee prime viewing spots a number of Golden Circle and VIP tickets are available.

To purchase tickets, click here:

Prime Minister ends Tatchell’s Number 10 ban

After a decade of being excluded from Downing Street guest-lists, Theresa May issues Peter Tatchell an invite to LGBT reception at Number 10.

SINCE the inception of Downing Street LGBT Pride receptions a decade ago, Peter Tatchell’s name has been omitted from the guest list for the receptions by successive Prime Ministers – Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron. His omission reflects poorly on the reputations of all three politicians, their advisors and ultimately their administrations.

Tatchell says: “Despite my 51 years of campaigning, and my role in the UK’s first Pride parade in 1972, they apparently deemed me to be the unacceptable face of LGBT+ activism.

“I was therefore surprised and delighted that Theresa May has invited me to this year’s reception on July 3 – just days after I wrote to her urging compensation for gay men convicted under past anti-gay laws.

“I am not much fussed about attending such receptions but I am honoured to be asked and have accepted the invitation.

“I look forward to meeting the Prime Minister and reiterating my call for gay victims of homophobic laws, who suffered so badly, to receive government compensation.

“She has already acknowledged the grave injustice done to these men, so I hope she will go one step further and recognise that these men deserve recompense for the terrible trauma of criminalisation that they went through.”

PREVIEW: Zeal: The Pride Improv Festival returns for Pride in London Festival

Zeal: The Pride Improv Festival returns this July with an exciting line-up of queer improv acts from across Europe – showcasing a cross-section of LGBT+ performers in improvised drag, musicals, plays, double acts and comedy games.

ZEAL is part of the official Pride In London festival and will take place at The Cavendish Arms, in Stockwell, from July 5-7.

Each night hosts a selection of acts made up on the spot that will have you laughing, crying and wondering how the hell they did it without a script:

Thursday, July 5 is Opening Night featuring drag cabaret act Christian Adore and Eaton Messe’s Dragprov Revue, Baron Sternlook’s Improvised Musical, The Delight Collective and a Mixer Team made up of individual performers thrown together for one night only!

Friday, July’s 6 line-up includes Edinburgh-based improviser Mara Joy’s two-person show Me Plus One with special guest Maria Peters (Breaking & Entering, The Science Of Cringe), improvised musical Some Sing About Mary and Netherlands duo Going Dutch.

Saturday, July 7 is Closing Night with former Dutch National Theatersports Champions The Rainbow Warriors, drag act The Bareback Kings and Extreme Championship Improv, plus special drag king host Brent Would!

To book advance tickets costing £5 per night, click here:

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