Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride as Mother’s Ruin offers up all that’s glorious, loud and proud in a smorgasbord of LGBTQ+ talent, with main acts from across the UK and showcasing emerging stars of the scene handpicked from the North West of England.
Gliding onstage to a smoky jazz-beat, our glamorous host, Timberlina set the standard with her effortlessly chic presence, and expertly warmed up the audience between acts with sassy chatter and topical song-lyrics. Set in two acts, there was something for everyone as the depths of identity, sexuality and discrimination was mined, exposed and fully explored across the mediums of clowning, storytelling, stand-up comedy, and more than the occasional confetti-cloud of glitter. The costumes ranged widely from sado-sexy devils to sparkling nipple-tassels, and a rainbow of characters were well represented with something for everyone.
Using an empty black backdrop for ease of scene change, our evening of events was anything but steady as drag-act Madame Galina, world famous Russian Ballerina and queen of cutting remarks, swept the audience quite literally off their feet! In a pantomimic search for her next great supporting Ballerino, we whooped and cheered as three foot-shy audience members competed to complete the greatest duet the world has ever seen. With sassy-asides aplenty and balletic skills in bags, it was a triumphant close to the first act.
Local talent was provided in the form of former 80’s beauty queen Foo Foo La Fresh, attempting to flog her lifestyle brand through a satirical docu-film set in Morecambe Bay, which comically revealed the inner battle of Fags n’ Booze versus Yoga recognisable to the majority of us battling to “live our best lives”.
As each act came and went I couldn’t help but compare it to dipping into a sweetie bag of treats, full of sugary energy and the occasional surprise. For that reason I won’t give too much away but say that it would be difficult to choose a single act that really stole the show as Director Lisa Lee has gathered some of the very best artists from the LGBTQ+ scene. As a collective, Mother’s Ruin has been leading the way for queer performance in regional areas since 2009, setting up shop in underground clubs, pubs, established theatres and old mills – so it’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for the next exciting instalment.
In a flurry of frills, sequins and frivolity, burlesque performer Rubyyy Jones’ managed to cover masturbation, abusive relationships and body positivity in the space of 15 minutes. It’s worth noting that the majority of artists featured in the line-up have taken these excerpts from their full length shows, which I will certainly be looking out for in the future.
As a night out, it’s suitable for anyone 16+, (with a sense of humour, a brain and a heart) who supports the battle for equality in all walks of humanity.
Reviewer - Natalie Bowers
on - 11/5/19
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