S1E6: The Bloolips
How Queer Theatre Fought Back
Groundbreaking queer theatre troupe formed in the 1970s, combining humour, political satire, and drag performance. Members formed an active part of the Gay Liberation Front.
We sit down with Stuart Feather, Paul Shaw, and Lavinia Co‑op to trace the raw and often outrageous path from the Gay Liberation Front’s early meetings at the LSE to the Bloolips’ radical drag that rattled London, conquered Amsterdam, and charmed New York.
We revisit the infamous Festival of Light action at Methodist Central Hall, featuring slow handclaps, boxed mice under pews, can‑canning “nuns,” a balcony banner crowning “Cliff for Queen”, and a drag confession of being “saved” that froze an entire audience.
This is queer theatre as a weapon - light, frothy, and full of tap‑dancing, but carrying the punch that keeps movements alive.
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This episode was hosted by Jonathan Chambers and James Alexander
Editing by Hannah Stewart
Music: Mystify created by AlterEgo