Zak Black’s Glitterous celebrates Pride 2013 with style, fire and hula-hoops. And Paul Heron.

Floridita Images © Deborah Jaffe   (Click images to enlarge)

As London Pride fractured in 2012, and last minute restrictions were forced onto Soho bars, one event remained immune: GLITTEROUS at Carom on Wardour Street. It was, as a result, dubbed “the saviour of Pride”. Zak Black managed to pull this together with no budget, and just the desire to create an event that London Pride deserved as it celebrated its 40th anniversary. This year Zak has gone all out to create a 12-hour long free event (but if you can make a donation to Pride on the door it would be appreciated). It is going to be a funky, fabulous and chic way to celebrate Pride.

Zak is full of energy, as anyone who has been to his wonderful events at Floridita will know. He orchestrates a great show because he understands the importance of the high quality spectacle. For Glitterous, he and his hosts are celebrating the Love and Marriage theme wearing hand-made couture by James Kelly, Wardrobe Master to the Royal Opera House.

I caught up with Zak a few days before the event to talk about the spectacular line-up.

“This is different from a Gala variety show. It’s over 12 hours, so it is going be a gigantic club with intermittent entertainment throughout the day as well as DJs. The headline crowd-puller is the international DJ Paul Heron, who will play between 7 and 9 pm. While he’s playing I have podium dancers, two men and one woman, dressed to reflect the Love and Marriage theme. 

One of my favourite burlesque stars is Anna Hulagan. She strips while spinning a hula-hoop of burning fire. She’ll be on for 3 shows – after sundown of course as it’d be wasted during the day. 

E.N.V., the openly gay rapper, is one of the hosts. He’s played at Pride events all around the world. He’s a mix of a rapper and a classical pianist. He’s also playing on the Trafalgar Square stage and at Summer Rites.”

To have a look at the full line-up, which includes peformances from David Stewart and Chloe AKA, take a look at the listing for Glitterous on the Pride Arts Programme website.

Glitterous is at Carom, 100 Wardour St, W1F 0TN, from 2 pm on Saturday 29^th June, 2013.