28 Jun This Weekend: A Weekend of Love
This weekend sees the final performances of Entourage Productions’ Zanna Don’t! at the Landor Theatre, LGBT pride in Trafalgar Square and throughout Soho, and the opening of the Festival of Love at the Southbank Centre. We’ve never felt so warm and fuzzy.
The wonderful musical comedy that is Zanna Don’t! explores sexual identity, societal prejudice and high school norms, all through the medium of short shorts, mechanical bulls and a LOT of glitter. With the subtlety of a sledgehammer and more glitter than a Christmas grotto, Zanna Don’t is a flamboyant festival of everything camp, sparkly and fabulous. The show transports us into an alternate reality where heterosexuality is taboo, where the Heartsville High pinup is the school chess champion, and where the teenagers are made to fall in love by a musical fairy called Zanna.
In our review (read it here), we discuss the brilliantly nuanced script and outstanding execution, particularly from lead David Ribi, and from Jonathan Dudley as Mike. The Landor Theatre is an incredibly intimate venue, set above The Landor pub just off Clapham High Street, making the energy even more infectious. At such close quarters nothing goes unseen, and the cast and musicians sparkle under the scrutiny. If you’re after something fun with a serious undertone, that will leave you grinning from ear to ear, make sure you get down to the Landor this weekend. Tickets available at: landortheatre.co.uk/zanna-dont
Continuing the love theme, is, of course, LGBT Pride. The annual parade starts at 1pm on Saturday (that’s today!) at Baker Street, travelling east along Oxford Street, down Regent Street, along Pall Mall, through Trafalgar Square and into Whitehall. Sure to be a celebration of every kind of love, the centrepiece is in Trafalgar Square, where Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst will be performing, as well as Sinitta, Sam Bailey, and so many more – including Daniel Koek, former Les Misérables Jean Valjean! More at: prideinlondon.org
Not one to miss out on a celebration of any kind, the Festival of Love, opening at the Southbank Centre today, invites friends, lovers, ex-lovers, artists, poets, therapists, religious leaders, young people, activists, those who’ve lost love and those who don’t believe in it – whatever age they are – to discuss their attitudes to and experiences of every type of love. Featuring talks, workshops, performances and installations, Saturday’s highlights include The Different Varieties of Love with Roman Krznaric, Make Love Not War with Shami Chakrabarti and Flirtology with Jean Smith. Throughout the Festival of Love, which goes on until 31st August, you can visit the Museum of Broken Relationships, sit on the Love Beach and wander through the Heartbreak Hotel. For more information: southbankcentre.co.uk
We think Cupid’s going to be having a very busy weekend…
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