The UK’s biggest and most celebrated Pride gets underway this weekend and this year celebrates its 25th anniversary. This week, Jason Reid spoke to the act who has been at the helm of organising the cabaret line up for sixteen of those years, the incomparable Brighton Belle, Lola Lasagne.
How would you define ‘Pride’?
A day of celebration, love, friends, protest, equality, respect, acceptance and understanding.
Brighton Pride celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Do you remember the first one you attended?
Oh yes! 1997. I’d been asked to compère the cabaret tent.
How did it go?
Unfortunately the organiser hadn’t bothered to give the acts any stage times. I filled in for quite a while! Thank god I can talk.
What were your first impressions?
The whole event was so much smaller and the cabaret tent seemed to be roughly the same size of the current backstage area. Brighton Pride has grown so much over the years, and is deserving of its status as one of the best Pride events in the UK.
And of course it raises much needed funds.
Yes! Especially as we now, finally, ring fence money for the LGBT groups/organisations in Brighton and have given over more in the last three years then in the last twenty five.
Which year has been the most memorable?
It would have to be the first year I took over as organiser, 2002. I was already compèring but the organiser had to withdraw due to work commitments, so it seemed a natural solution. Running the tent was fine, but 2002 was the year of the great monsoon, where it absolutely poured down for the large majority of the afternoon. The tent was packed and Preston Park became a gigantic mud bath. It’s also on a steep incline, so watching people doing mud slides as I left that night was hysterical. It was the nearest we got to Glastonbury. Fortunately the cabaret tent is at the top end of the park, so dress hems and shoes were fairly dry.
Tell us about this year’s line up…
We start at 2pm and I host a six hour showcase of the very best that the UK Drag/Cabaret circuit has to offer.
Who determines the line up and what criteria is used?
I do. The tent is a big space and we need acts who can ‘own’ that space. And as Brighton is so well represented with some of the best on the UK drag/cabaret circuit, they have a big presence on the line up. I have also been very lucky over the years to have had had the wonderfully talented H.I.H Regina Fong & The DE Experience as ‘ready made’ finales.
What’s your favourite part of the day?
The first drink at 2.10pm when I’ve opened the tent and put the first act on. Plus the first wee after I’ve got changed at around 8.30pm. 7 hours in tights is a LONG time!
So once the tent wraps up, where would you recommend the best places to have a mince around are and where can we find you?
Obviously The Village Street party, where you’ll find all our venues (but don’t forget you’ll need a wristband for that). I’ll be in The Crown & Anchor across from the park, having a large glass of wine, before doing it all again at Legends on Sunday.
LEGENDS CABARET TENT
- 2.00pm Lola Lasagne
- 2.10pm Sally Vate
- 2.25pm Gabriella Parrish
- 2.40pm Mrs Moore
- 2.55pm Kara Van Park
- 3.10pm Myra Dubois
- 3.30pm Davina Sparkle
- 3.45pm Drag With No Name
- 4.05pm Miss Jason & Maisie Trollette
- 4.40pm Lady Imelda
- 5.00pm Baga Chipz
- 5.15pm Rose Garden & Dolly Diamond
- 5.35pm Lola Lasagne
- 5.40pm Cassidy Connors
- 5.55pm Dave Lynn
- 6.15pm Mary Mac
- 6.35pm CK
- 6.50pm Sandra
- 7.10pm La Voix & the Va Va Voom Boys
- 7.30pm Lola Lasagne & thank you’s
- 7.40pm La Voix & final songs with the company
