Those very creative souls at London’s Pleasance Theatre are presenting WRESTIVAL their bi-annual theatre & wrestling festival – showcasing the artistic excellence of wrestlers as a community.
This 3 day festival curated by wrestler turned performance artist, Heather Bandenburg (author of Unladylike a Girls Guide to Wrestling, creator of Mummy Vs, I Need to Cher), WRESTIVAL is about showcasing wrestling as a creative artform. It’s 3 days of groundbreaking work centering on combat performance & under-represented voices in live wrestling – combining it with cabaret, drag, satire & theatre.
For this Edition. 7 different shows will share the Pleasance concentrating on collaborations between wrestling and different other forms of performance This includes returns of the phenomenal indie wrestling giant; 2 children’s shows; & mash-ups with stars of live art, cabaret & drag. It’s a packed 3 days of 7 shows, over 50 wrestlers & a lot of death-defying action as they fight to be different. Below are Queerguru’s Top pIcks.
Head Drop presents the Jerry Bakewell Variety Show
Europe’s heaviest light entertainer, Jerry Bakewell (as seen on Britain’s Got Talent), will play host to some of the top talents from the worlds of pro wrestling, burlesque, and comedy for a truly unique evening. All that and more, plus… somebody WILL be pied in the face.
STARRING: Jerry Bakewell, Saffire Reed, Spike Trivet, Rhia O’Reilly, Cassius, Amira, Livii Grace, Cyro & Nova Storm
Head Drop is curated by Rob Brazier, a queer photographer with a long-standing history in the British wrestling scene.’
SASQUATCH – a new play about Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and finding yourself – with live wrestling!
Jazz and Nat saw something in the woods last summer – Nat thinks it’s Bigfoot, Jazz thinks it’s all make-believe. Join them as they camp out again and explore the world of cryptozoology – the creatures that live on the edge of science – bringing them to life with a team of professional wrestlers!
STARRING: Rhia O’Reilly, Katy Bulmer, Livii Grace, KM Lane
In 2019 as a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, Wrestling Resurgence and ‘Big Wavy’ Roy Johnson teamed up to bring you Everything Patterned, a celebration and showcase of BAME British Wrestling, a must-see, feel-good show.
Returning for the 3rd time, this is the show that always has the audience speechless with displays of fearless performance.
STARRING: Roy Johnson, Levi Muir, Alexander Roth, Harrison Leon, Remi Adetunji, KM Lane, Ronnie Knocks, Warren Banks, GN1, Smashing Mike, Livii Grace & hosted by Sikisa
The first rule of Fist Club is everyone looks amazing in spandex – which is why Fist Club is bringing 2 shows to Wrestival this September.
Join professional game show host Tizzy Von Tassel & Cher* as they invite 3 live artists to take on a monster of the Fist Club world.
How will Jack Sears, Vijay Patel & Fringe legends, Sh!t Theatre take on 3 of the biggest, nastiest baddies that have graced the sparkled ropes of the Wrestival ring? Expect drag, Total Divas references, the Spice Girls & a lot of props.
STARRING: Tizzy von tassel, Cher*, Vijay Patel, Jack Sears, Cassius, Tina Turnedher, Brenda, Lou Sa Soul, Little Dick, Lauren C the referee
28th - 30th September 2023 For further information and book details for the whole Wrestival
https://trust.pleasance.co.uk
