South East London is looking very good for Pride this year, because Woolwich Works has unveiled a packed programme of queer events running from late May through to July, covering everything from circus and cabaret to comedy, drag, karaoke and cult queer cinema.
The line-up feels broad in the best possible way. Big nightlife energy sits alongside community events, family programming and genuinely strong live performance. It’s the kind of schedule that reflects queer culture properly, messy, joyful, funny, theatrical and full of personality.
Things begin on 30 May with Aircraft Circus: Sizzling Hot Circus, an adults-only cabaret show featuring aerialists, dancers and acrobats performing everything from silks to quads trapeze. The production promises high-skill circus mixed with playful, seductive performance, which sounds like exactly the right tone to launch Pride season.
On 6 June, Woolwich Works hosts a special 30th anniversary screening of Beautiful Thing, Jonathan Harvey’s beloved queer coming-of-age story, filmed nearby in Thamesmead. Three decades on, it still holds up as one of the most important and tender LGBTQ+ British films ever made.
Then comes Divas Karaoke on 12 June, taking over the Visitors’ Book Café for a night dedicated to iconic queer anthems and pop classics. Somebody will absolutely attempt Mariah Carey after two drinks. That’s part of the magic.
One of the standout nights lands on 19 June with Queer Euphoria, curated by acclaimed circus artist Zaki Musa. The show brings together a cast of queer performers across cabaret, circus, drag, pole and boylesque, including Jay They Stallion, Danny Ash and Lavender Bast. Expect aerial artistry, theatrical storytelling and performances that lean fully into spectacle and self-expression.
Comedy arrives on 21 June with Clare Summerskill: Pride and Joy, a mix of stand-up and original comedy songs from one of the UK’s best-loved lesbian comedians. Her work has long balanced sharp humour with warmth and honesty, earning her the description of “a lesbian Victoria Wood” on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
The final stretch of the programme keeps the energy high. LGBTQ+ Greenwich presents Proud Together on 27 June, a free all-ages celebration hosted by drag queen Candy Heals, before Drag Queen Storytime returns on 28 June with Topsie Redfern bringing stories, songs and glitter-filled chaos for younger audiences and families alike.
Then on 11 July, Drag & Fab rounds things off with a full queer cabaret showcase featuring drag kings, queens and non-binary performers from across London. The event promises glamour, live vocals, comedy, audience participation and a healthy level of sauciness.
Woolwich Works has quietly become one of London’s most exciting cultural venues over the last few years, and this Pride programme feels confident in what it’s offering. Not just one big rainbow-branded event, but weeks of different queer experiences that speak to different audiences, generations and corners of the community.
Tickets and full event information are available via the Woolwich Works website.
Woolwich Works
The Fireworks Factory, 11 No 1 Street, Royal Arsenal, London SE18 6HD
Nearest station: Woolwich (Elizabeth Line / DLR / National Rail)
