Sheffield LGBTQ+ cabaret night Sounds Queer returns as part of new theatre season

The Reclamation + Return night run by Sounds Queer is part of a summer season of events at the Makerspace in Portland Works, Randall Street, Highfield which has been put together by Only Lucky Dogs theatre company during June and July.

Tommi Bryson of Sounds Queer said: “We’ve taken a pretty intense hiatus over lockdown so we’re really excited to start tackling community-built initiatives by working to provide some safe spaces for community, audiences and artists.”

The show on June 30 will celebrate Queer creativity and include performers showcasing works in progress, music, comedy and poetry.

Actor, writer and producer Tommi said that it’s really important that people from the LGBTQ+ communities see others who are like them on stage: “Sounds Queer has had audience members that have come back to us again and again and eventually become artists.”

Tommi will be one of the artists appearing on the night, performing some of the comedy songs she has been writing over lockdown, as well as som’e of her more established material.

The show will be livestreamed online as well as being seen by the live audience.

Innovative young theatre company Only Lucky Dogs have spent their time in lockdown creating a theatre from scratch. The Makerspace is the result of a long-term collaboration between Only Lucky Dogs and Portland Works staff and volunteers.

Opening on June 18, the venue, funded in part by the Arts Council, will host a mix of exciting performers at the start of their careers from across the UK.

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Productions will be broadcast online and to in-house audiences, which the company hopes will be at full capacity with no social distancing after June 21.

“Theatre has been stuck online for much longer than we expected,” said Pippa Le Grand, who is the producer of Only Lucky Dogs and a board member at Portland Works.

“I’ve seen some amazing performances online but nothing quite compares to the audience and actors being together in a theatre. We can’t wait to finally get started.”

The Makerspace will host performers from across the north of England, including a comedy-drama about conspiracy theories and Radio 2 award-winning folk musician Rowan Rheingans.

“It’s been frustrating to keep postponing, especially for our fantastic performers who have been preparing their shows for so long. But it’ll be worth it to create a really exciting programme for the audience,” said James Huxtable, artistic director.

“We’ve been able to organise a programme of workshops to introduce people to different aspects of making theatre too.”

First up on June 18 is theatre show Our Mate, Max, which follows the lives of two young men and looks at issues round masculinity.

The season continues until July 22-24, when Only Lucky Dogs present their show, Crazy Gary’s Mobile Disco, which looks at three men whose lives are defined by women.

Tickets for both live-streaming and seated audiences are available at www.onlyluckydogs.co.uk.

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