Glory Days Return to Kick Start National Theatre River Stage 2017

Back to wow the crowds and get everyone dancing, The Glory, Europe's leading queer performance venue, return to the National Theatre on 28 July to kick start the 2017 River Stage festival.

Join Jonny Woo and John Sizzle as they present a glitter-filled three-day extravaganza bringing joy to London's South Bank with a carousel of shows and jaunts. This year The Glory is upping its own game and creating a fabulous weekend whirlwind of musical comedy and drag magic, with each day topped off with an extravagant Glory-style party.

River Stage is the National Theatre's annual summer arts festival, bringing five free weekends of the best and brightest entertainment from some of the UK's leading arts and culture organisations. This summer sees The Glory, HOME, Manchester, WOMAD, Rambert and the National Theatre each 'take over' the River Stage for a weekend throughout July and August with a wonderfully eclectic mix of acts and artists.

The Glory's John Sizzle said: "The Glory can't wait to storm the River Stage again with drag-fuelled back-to-back shows, including previews of our latest work. In giving us this platform the NT gives a nod to London's alternative scene which is almost a theatre genre of its own and among the best in the world. We're keeping it all family-friendly while showing off the capital's best contemporary talent. Bringing the underground overground... the results will be rare, spectacular and so much fun in the sun! We'll see you there- dress-up encouraged but optional"

London's Night Czar, Amy Lamé said: "In the summer months the South Bank really comes alive with Londoners and visitors enjoying fantastic restaurants, market stalls and street theatre. The return of the River Stage adds to the buzz with an incredible season of free outdoor entertainment. From world class dance and circus acts, to workshops and DJs, there's something for everyone - so make the most of the summer nights and soak up some exciting new culture on the Thames as the sun goes down."

Join The Glory at the National Theatre from 28 - 30 July:

Friday 28 July

Luxury Hell
6.30pm - 7.30pm

Jonny Woo kicks off the weekend with East London super group Luxury Hell, a blazing fusion of contemporary scene legends who will rock out the River Stage with funked-up alternative anthems.

The Unholy Hour (John Sizzle & Shesus & the Sistas)
7.30pm - 8.30pm

Welcome to the musical church of John Sizzle and the Miss-iah herself, Shesus, and the sexy habit-clad Sistas! Divine interventions, saintly sing-a-longs and musical miracles abound from these festival favourites.

LIPSYNC1000 Allstars
8.30pm - 9.30pm

Enjoy a dazzling selection of star turns from The Glory's biggest and most prestigious drag queen competition LIPSYNC1000 beefed up with added butch allure from some Drag King sensations! Jutting their jaws, jiggling their bits and moving their lips to your favourite hits!

Apocalypstick Party

9.30pm - 10.45pm

It's a new world order! London is burning tonight as a glamorous tribe of radical fairies, super queers, fashion freaks and punk queens gather outside the National Theatre for this hell-raising riverside rave! The world is ending, so put some lipstick on, and dance into the fire.

Saturday 29 July

LOVE INN with Auntie Maureen & Timberlina

1pm - 2.30pm

Join lovely, beardy drag legend Timberlina and his side-puss Auntie Maureen for this old-school "Love Inn", a cheeky brunch-time boogie and request-filled family-friendly music sesh.

Homo Histories

2.30pm - 3.15pm

Take a mince through time as The Glory exhumes queer legends from the past, present and near future. Meet loitering literary Oscar Wilde, juggle some balls with tennis champ Martina Navratilova. Maybe Tom Daley will make a splash? And if there's one thing history ever taught us - it's that Madonna will almost definitely steal the limelight.

Figs In Wigs

3.15pm - 4.15pm

Figs in Wigs, the UK's most ignored performance troupe and the world's first ever all female, non-singing, all dancing Backstreet Boys tribute act. They do other stuff too but no one cares cos it's all about the boys!

Night Of A 1000 Jay Astons

4.30pm - 5.30pm

Don't miss this revival of Jonny Woo's cult Edinburgh Fringe show! A lip-synced musical "all about the slutty one from Bucks Fizz". Follow the skirt-flinging story of the unstoppable Eurovision winner Jay Aston.

GLORY LATES presents

5.45pm - 7pm

Come and see a host of the greatest live performers from The Glory's much-celebrated cabaret roster, starring Richard Thomas, SEX SHELLS, JAIME NANCI, Le Gateaux Chocolat, Jonny Woo, John Sizzle and more guests to be announced.

Grizzle Go ABBA

7pm - 8.45pm

Comedic duo John Sizzle and A Man To Pet bring ABBA to the stage. Mamma Mia - here we go again! They'll talk ABBA, they sing ABBA, they are ABBA. Aren't they? Did we mention ABBA?

80's ARMAGEDDON PARTY

8.45pm - 10.45pm

A glorious 80's pop party meltdown. Duran, Spandau, Whitney, Madge & Michael! Let the Glory take you back to when shoulders were big and pop was BAD! Now That's What I Call Music!

Sunday 30 July

Drag Life Drawing

1pm - 2.30pm

Join The Glory's own life-drawing coaches James Davison, Simon Gray and host Jonny Woo for this special "drag life drawing" session. A live art class for all the family, with music, materials and special guests. Come along and draw a queen!

Sizzle's Sunday Service

2.30pm - 3.30pm

Laidback grooves, horoscopes and Prosecco possession. Kick back and enjoy the views at this chilled out Sunday sesh with DJ John Sizzle and friends.

Big Gay Songbook

3.30pm - 5pm

The Glory's campyloo piano bar returns for the grand finale of the weekends festivities. Join Jonny Woo, Rudi Douglas, Farrah and guests for The Big Gay Songbook. We'll all sing the songs that make us gay in an old-school London boozer sing-a-long style with a glam twist.

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