Queer Theory: Transcendence
by Dean Cargill
Queer Theory is a queer cabaret show at usually Nice n Sleazy, sometimes Stereo and The Rum Shack, run by Dean Cargill since April 2016. A heady mix of music, performance art, spoken word, comedy, drag and variety with a focus on the subversive and experimental!
In 2020, we decided to do some no-budget live streams with some of our willing regular performers who sent in videos made on their phones, and had live hosts hosting from their bedrooms and livingrooms—on Twitch, complete with a live chatroom. These were great, and created a real feeling of togetherness in the LGBTQ+ community that we had been missing in lockdown.
Dean decided to go for some funding so we could create a bigger online festival-like event where we could pay artists a proper fee and up the production value. This was Queer Theory: Transcendence which happened in March 2021.
Poster design for Queer Theory: Transcendence by Laurie Brown
The show was a one-off live online event hosted by Pink Pound (Ruby Waters) tending the bar of the then-soon-to-open Bonjour (which has sadly now already closed), alongside BSL interpreter Amy Cheskin. Ruby presents an evening of pre-recorded cabaret performances that we captured a month before in the same venue.
The project was an absolute marathon, and Dean and I were keen to make the most out of it. We spoke to each contributor on Zoom in advance to make a detailed plan for what they were going to do. We then set about planning and scheduling, planning around COVID, labelling toilets according to groups, cleaning stations etc. It was an absolutely crazy but very fun week of completely transforming the space for each performer twice a day, with the help of the incredible Jazz Hutby. We then had only a few weeks to edit the performances, mix them, caption them, as well as all the planning for and promoting the live stream itself.
The evening was a great success. We had a 150 people attend on Twitch and a very lively chat-box. The real number was probably higher since a lot of the viewers were watching in groups of bubbles (gosh, remember that?), flatmates and families.
Pink Pound (Ruby Waters) performing live in Queer Theory: Transcendence
Jo Clifford performing Toilets in America for Queer Theory: Transcendence
Featuring Pink Pound, Purina Alpha, Alternative Cracks (Callum McLeod & Dean Cargill), Hope London, Jo Clifford, Craig Manson, Frankie Mulholland, David Ronan, Theo Seddon and Agnes Evans-Forrest, Sean Lìonadh, Jamie Rea and Oasissy (Kirsty Biff Nicolson & Annabel Cooper)
BSL Interpreter Amy Cheskin
Producer, sound recordist and mixer Dean Cargill
Production manager, director of photography, editor and live-stream technician Daniel Hughes
Technical manager, lighting designer and technician Jared Hutsby
Stills photographer and camera operator Tiu Makkonen
Lighting equipment provided by CPE Lighting
Sound equipment generously loaned by Brand Calibre
Filmed and streamed live from Bonjour
Queer Theory was created and is run by Dean Cargill. Supported by Creative Scotland
