LGBT Christmas theatre calendar

I've been wondering about putting all the LGBT theatre listings I come across in one place for a while now. It's partly as a handy resource, and partly because it feels important to get a sense of how these stories are being put on stage, and by who, and how often. It always feels like a bit of a paradox that so many LGBT people work in theatre, but aren't always represented by what goes on on stage. That said, 2013's been pretty good so far, with brilliant, sensitive representations in The Events, The Pride, The Color Purple, Zhe: Noun Undefined, and Passing By, among others.

 At the tail end of the year, things are getting louder, brasher and ruder. Most of the shows I spotted for December are pantos, and South West London's a particular hotspot for the Fringier end of things. Jack Off The Beanstalk, in new gay venue The Stag in Vauxhall, promises filthy fun and scratch 'n' sniff cards for the audience. Just down the road, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern's Little Orphaned Fannie looks similarly likely to put the pant back in panto, as well as being a great place for a drink and some cabaret all year round. Clapham's Two Brewers is home to another pub pantomime, The Bitches of Oz, although the only info I can find about it is an enigmatic series of photos including some ruby slippers and a sign that says 'Keep Calm And Wish You Were Home' -- gosh, I wonder what the Drama Queens Drag Theatre Company are planning...

 If you want something a bit sweeter, Tom Wells' Jumpers for Goalposts at the Bush Theatre will give you toothache in the nicest possible way. It's a tender look at a Hull five-a-side gay football team with an appropriately skewed ratio of jokes to sportstalk for this soccer sceptic. Unlike anything else so far, you could even risk taking your parents... Camp (on the Estate) advertises itself as "suitable for mums and snowball drinkers", so looks to be similarly family friendly. It's a spectacular-sounding variety showcase (Bryony Kimmings, Scottee, Jonny Woo and more) that's drawing attention to a North London council estate that's made the crucial mistake of inhabiting the path of unlovable transport scheme HS2.

 I don't pretend to know anything about comedy, but Bah Humbuggers (Dyke the Halls) caught my eye in Time Out, and is a token attempt to correct the gender imbalance in this month's calendar. It's a curmudgeonly, unChristmassy night of words and music with VG Lee and Rose Collis. And if you fancy reminiscing about the golden days of lesbian and gay theatre (before the much-missed Drill Hall closed down) Alternative Pantos Revisited is fascinating looking talk on at Ovalhouse, as part of their exhibition celebrating the history of alternative theatre.

NB: I'm pretty sure these listings are not even close to exhaustive, as my criteria/searching methods aren't terribly scientific. If you think something should be on here but isn't, or spot a mistake, let me know.

Review Roundup

My favourites from the last month...

Jumpers for Goalposts, Bush Theatre http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/jumpers-for-goalposts/

Heartache. Heartbreak (Byrony Kimmings' new show) http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/heartache-heartbreak/

And I also saw, and enjoyed...

Emil & The Detectives, National Theatre http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/emil-and-the-detectives/ and an interview with the director, Bijan Sheibani http://exeuntmagazine.com/features/directing-the-detectives/

The Anatomy of Melancholy, Ovalhouse http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/the-anatomy-of-melancholy/

Lizzie Siddal, Arcola Theatre http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/lizzie-siddal/

Zhe: Noun Undefined http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/zhe-noun-undefined/

Passing By, Tristan Bates http://exeuntmagazine.com/reviews/passing-by/