What's on in London: Queer Theatre

Queer Theatre invites you to join our weekly acting classes for queer people, held every Monday from 7pm to 9:30pm at the iconic LGBTQ+ venue, The Two Brewers in Clapham. Led by award-winning theatre director Andrew Keates, our classes welcome LGBTQ+ performers of all levels, from seasoned professionals to enthusiastic beginners. What matters most to us, is building a queer community of performers in a place where we can play and grow together.WHAT TO EXPECTOur acting classes serve as a queer theatre lab, a safe and creative space where LGBTQ+ theatre-makers can come together to:Hone Acting and Performance Skills: Engage in diverse performance styles and learn acting techniques to elevate your craft.Explore Through Play: Participate in creative games, exercises and improvisation exercises designed to foster self-discovery and collaborative play.Delve into LGBTQ+ Material: Work with scripts, themes and devise work that reflects LGBTQ+ people, experiences and themes.Build a Supportive Network: Make friends and join a nurturing community that supports your artistic and personal growth.Discover Opportunities: Gain access to Queer Theatre’s array of events, including queer play readings, comedy nights, networking events, shows, special workshops and performance opportunities. YOUR FACILITATOR AND ACTING TUTOROur classes are facilitated by Andrew Keates (He/Him), Queer Theatre’s artistic director and an award-winning theatre director. Andrew’s impressive portfolio includes directing critically acclaimed LGBTQ+ plays such as Bent and Passing By by Martin Sherman, As Is by William M. Hoffman, Dark Sublime by Michael Dennis, and the recent European premiere of Steve by Mark Gerrard (to name but a few. ). His experience directing in the West End and working with actors worldwide, along with his years of LGBTQ+ activism and experience of LGBTQ+ issues make these classes a unique sanctuary for growth, learning, challenges and of course, fun. To find out more about him visit www.andrewkeates.co.uk. CLASS DETAILSWhen: Mondays, 7pm - 9:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm for complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits. 9:30pm we often socialise together until late after class.Where: The Two Brewers, Club Room, 114 Clapham High Street, Lambeth, Greater London, SW4 7UJTravel: Conveniently located just a five-minute walk from Clapham Common underground station, ten minutes from Clapham North underground station, and Clapham High Street overground.Cost: £20 per week (includes entry to The Two Brewers for post-class entertainment and bar access).Accessibility: Our classes are wheelchair accessible. If you have any specific needs, please reach out so we can accommodate you. WHAT DO I NEED?Clothing: Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes that allow you to move easily.Pencil Case: Bring a notebook, a pen, and a pencil. A pencil sharpener and an eraser may also prove helpful.Materials: We will provide ideas for various monologues, scenes, and plays to explore during our sessions. If you have specific pieces you’d like to work on, please bring a copy so your director can refer to it during your collaboration.

The Show People Podcast LIVE with Jack Holden | Clapham, London (11 March 2026) Award-winning live podcast at The Two Brewers, Clapham. Andrew Keates sits down with Jack Holden, fresh from sell-out performances in KENREX at The Other Palace. A rare in-depth theatre interview with a leading UK a

Queer Play Reading Club: The Last Stand of Mrs. Mary Whitehouse by Caroline BirdTuesday 17th March 2026The Railway, ClaphamThe Queer Play Reading Club is a monthly event from Queer Theatre, held in partnership with Nick Hern Books, celebrating LGBTQIA+ playwriting in a supportive, low-pressure, queer-run, social space. Each session begins with up to an hour of sharing brand-new queer writing from our members, giving LGBTQIA+ playwrights and writers the chance to share short scenes or monologues and receive supportive feedback. We then move into a group reading of a full-length published play from Nick Hern Books, with relaxed discussion and Q&A with the playwright, facilitated by Queer Theatre’s Artistic Director, Andrew Keates. This month’s play: The Last Stand of Mrs. Mary Whitehouse by Caroline Bird’And what happens when the pendulum swings too far? We push back.‘In the 1970s, one enigmatic old lady wielded extraordinary influence, fighting against what she believed was the UK’s moral decline. Armed with only a typewriter, this seemingly harmless grandmother took on the BBC and the ‘godless media’ in a culture war that divided the nation.Inspired by real events, Caroline Bird’s wickedly funny play delves into Whitehouse’s most explosive battle – her infamous blasphemy trial against Gay News – and explores her formidable resolve to push back the tide. Was she a pearl-clutching prude or ‘the most dangerous woman in Britain’?A fascinating investigation into freedom and censorship, The Last Stand of Mrs. Mary Whitehouse was co-commissioned by Nottingham Playhouse, Eleanor Lloyd Productions and Pakenham Projects. Premiering at Nottingham Playhouse in 2025, it was directed by Sarah Frankcom and starred Maxine Peake and Samuel Barnett. Special Guest AnnouncementWe are delighted to announce that Caroline Bird will be joining us for this session to discuss the play and answer your questions.ItineraryTea, coffee and snacks from 6:30pmSession starts at 7pm (sharing new writing with the group and receiving supportive feedback)We read the play together.Q&A with Caroline Bird and Andrew KeatesDrinks and socialising until 11pmGetting ThereThe Railway, Clapham18 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7URBy Tube: A 1-minute walk from Clapham North (Northern line) and 5 minutes from Clapham Common.By Overground: Clapham High Street Station is directly opposite the venue.By Bus: Served by routes 50, 88, 155, 322, and 345.By Train: Clapham Junction is a short bus ride away, with connections across London and the South East.AccessibilityThe event takes place in an upstairs space accessible only by stairs. If you have access needs or questions, please contact us in advance so we can support your visit as best we can.Important InformationThis is not a performance but an informal exploration of the play’s text. Scenes will be read aloud by members of the group who wish to participate. Roles may therefore be read in ways that differ from their original casting intentions, including across gender, race, age, sexuality, and lived experience. We actively welcome this openness while also encouraging those with lived experience reflecting the characters to volunteer where appropriate.If you are a writer wishing to have your own work shared aloud in the opening section, please bring an excerpt of no more than five minutes to allow space for others. We may not have time to include everyone’s work on the night. If you need excerpts printed, please email us.This event forms part of Queer Theatre’s commitment to ensuring LGBTQ+ theatre-makers always have somewhere to go each week to connect, create, and be inspired – alongside our 2B: Acting Classes, OutCast showcases, theatre trips, social events, masterclasses, parties and shows.Find out more at www.queertheatre.co.uk/whats-on

OutCast: Spring Showcase of Queer Actors & WritingWednesday 25th March 2026Doors: 7:30pm | Show 8pm | Late Night Cabaret from 10:30pm | DJ until 2amThe Two Brewers, ClaphamOutCast returns this Spring with an unmissable evening celebrating LGBTQIA+ actors and writing, presented by Queer Theatre.Bringing together a compelling mix of emerging talent and established performers, the showcase features never-before-seen new writing, vibrant rediscoveries of overlooked work, and LGBTQIA+ classics that continue to resonate. Drawn from Queer Theatre’s Acting Classes For LGBTQIA+ People and our Queer Play Reading Club, the company presents bold, intimate snapshots of queer life in all its complexity.Directed by award-winning theatre director Andrew Keates, OutCast also welcomes artists making their OutCast debut, placing new voices alongside familiar favourites from the Queer Theatre community.By turns exhilarating, funny, and devastatingly honest, OutCast is a timely celebration of queer artistry and a vital platform for the stories and performers shaping what comes next. CastTo be announced… Box OfficeTickets: £22.50Doors open: 7:30pmShow starts: 8pmRuntime: Approximately 2 hours, with an intervalCapacity: Only 100 tickets available. Early booking strongly advised. All profits go towards LGBTQ+ theatre projects at Queer Theatre.All tickets include access to The Two Brewers’ late-night cabaret and DJ event following the show. Industry ProfessionalsWe’re offering a limited number of complimentary tickets to casting directors, producers, and directors. To claim your free ticket, email info@queertheatre.co.uk. However, if your agency or company can afford to purchase your own tickets, we encourage you to do so to help fund our other LGBTQIA+ projects. Content Note / Trigger WarningThis evening includes a mixture of comedy and drama and, as it reflects the queer condition, may include scenes or themes some audience members may find upsetting. If you would like clarification on any trigger warnings, please contact us and we will do our best to advise. How to Get ThereThe Two Brewers114 Clapham High Street, Clapham, London SW4 7UJBy Tube: Clapham North and Clapham Common (Northern Line) are both around a 5-minute walk.By Train: Clapham High Street Overground station is approximately 7 minutes away.By Bus: Routes 35, 37, 45, 137, 155, and 345 stop nearby at Clapham Common Station or Clapham High Street Station. AccessibilityThe venue is fully accessible for wheelchair users. However, as the night is likely to be extremely busy, we encourage guests with access needs to contact us in advance so we can make your visit as comfortable as possible. Important InformationThis event forms part of Queer Theatre’s commitment to ensuring LGBTQ+ theatre-makers always have somewhere to go each week to connect, create, and be inspired, alongside our Acting Classes for LGBTQIA+ People, OutCast showcases, Queer Play Reading Club, theatre trips, parties, social events, masterclasses, and original productions. Find out more at www.queertheatre.co.uk/whats-on