One a year, the East End of London’s queer drag scene descends upon the UK capital’s South Bank. The team from The Glory take over an outdoor stage on the forecourt in front of the National Theatre.
This year’s Glory takeover took place over the past weekend, and although the Friday and Saturday were struck by sporadic showers, Jonny Woo, John Sizzle and cohorts entertained hundreds of tourists and culture vultures.
The show is intended as family-friendly entertainment, and children are often invited up on stage.
One of the most unexpectedly entertaining parts of the weekend was when two-year-old Giovanni made an impromptu stage invasion. The youngster decided Jonny’s set would be improved with some off-the-cuff singing.
Watch what happened below.
‘It’s truly life affirming when the youngest enter into the spirit’
Jonny Woo told GSN, ‘This was a real impromptu moment and the boy was literally following his instinct as to what he wanted to do, or where he felt attracted to.
‘It’s like a gut instinct to join in, without prejudice, just a desire to be part of it. I felt a responsibility to encourage and not dissuade but also have fun and make the audience feel at ease.
‘It was a really joyous precious moment which I felt privileged to be part of and was all about performance and play. It was a fun moment and brings tears to my eye when I watch it back.
‘The National River stage gives us an opportunity to share what we do without censure or apology and with the joy in which it is created and it’s truly life affirming when the youngest enter into the spirit.
