On Saturday 5th October we hosted our very first drag cabaret event, That’s So Glitter: Halloween Drag Cabaret, in the recently refreshed

Holding Cell venue. The event was the first all drag event at The Old Courts and marked a thrilling new chapter for our arts centre, and we couldn’t be more excited about the response from our audience and performers.

The event was headlined by Wigan’s own drag artist Glitter King (Ryan Everitt), who delivered a spectacular performance, setting the stage for a night full of fun, frights, and fabulousness. The cabaret featured a lineup of alternative drag artists, each bringing their own unique talent and flair to the show, making the night truly unforgettable.

Glitter King was joined by four talented performers:

Charlie Lucely, an AFAB queen who brought a chilling yet captivating clown-inspired performance, featuring songs by Billie Eilish and Ashnikko.

“I may not be from Wigan, but I was born and grew up living in a small village in Wales. Even though I was young and didn’t yet know about being LGBTQIA+ or what drag was, I can remember feeling generally isolated and somewhat away from the rest of the world. So I can imagine that if I was still living in that village after discovering the world of drag, with possibly no or little representation of the LGBTGIA+ community there, that it would have been so much more difficult for me to be who I am and access drag. To be able to bring drag to smaller places like Wigan and be that representation for people is so important. Being part of events like these and helping to build that community and drag scene for people feels amazing, because I know how much that would have meant to me. It’s always great to feel like I can give just a little bit back to people who love drag like I do, because drag has personally helped me so much in my life. And that is essentially why I started doing it in the first place.”

Michael Romance, a Wigan native now living in Bristol, delivered an emo-inspired performance of “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, creating a heartfelt moment amidst the high camp of the night.

“What an absolute honour to perform at the first drag cabaret in my hometown of Wigan. Both me and Glitter King know first hand what it’s like to grow up queer in a tiny northern town that didn’t even have an annual pride until 9 years ago’

Ash Bestos, filling in for Melancholy, kept the crowd laughing with a comedic performance that featured a memorable wardrobe malfunction, proving the show must always go on! Ash Bestos, like the name left us breathless with laughter.

“As someone who also creates drag events in a city with an emeging drag scene, I was incredibly proud to be asked to be part of That’s So Glitter! I felt welcomed to this new drag scene, and I can easily say that the cast had as much fun as the audience did. I’d also like to highlight the importance of a venue that’s enthusiastic for the art of drag, and particularly alternative drag, which can often be overlooked. This, along with the cast being filled with Northern drag staples, could hopefully kick start the drag scene here. I can’t wait to see what the next collaboration between Glitter King and the Old Court brings!”

Sunday Mourning, hailing from Liverpool, wowed the audience with her electrifying energy and commanding stage presence. Her expressive performance of ‘Hermit The Frog’ by Marina & The Diamonds was undeniably camp and cooky.

“It was an honour to perform in Wigan alongside homegrown talent. Queer spaces are often found in bigger cities, where it’s more expensive to live. Making queer arts more accessible is crucial to keeping visibility alive. Grass roots working class queers deserve to have fun too!”

This event was made possible through the support of our WERK LGBTQ+ artist network, a platform dedicated to celebrating queer artists and providing safe spaces for LGBTQ+ performers in Wigan and Greater Manchester. We are committed to nurturing and showcasing local talent, and That’s So Glitter exemplified the creativity and inclusivity at the heart of our mission.

We’re delighted to announce Glitter will be returning with That’s So Glitter: Back to The 80s featuring a soon to be announced line up of drag artists and of course Glitter King herself as she will be DRAGing you through the 80s.

We’re looking forward to bringing more drag cabaret and LGBTQ+ events to The Old Courts. For more information on our upcoming events and how to support local queer artists, please visit our website or follow us on social media.