Brighton’s Pride weekend exploded into life Friday night with a riot of glitter, glamour, and glorious nonsense at Party Bag – The Pride Edition, held at the ever-fabulous Ironworks Studios. If this was just the warm-up, then Brighton is about to experience a weekend that’ll leave sequins embedded in the pavements until Christmas.
From the moment the doors opened, the atmosphere was electric. The venue — already a favourite among Brighton’s LGBTQ+ crowd — transformed into a buzzing cabaret haven where drag excellence met community celebration. What followed was a tightly curated show bursting with originality, sass, and unapologetic queer pride.
A Bag Full of Drag Gold and the line-up was a triple-threat of top-tier drag talent, each bringing something totally unique.
Scaredy Kat, the beloved RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alum, returned to Brighton with her signature blend of eerie whimsy and lovable awkwardness. She opened with a surreal lip-sync routine wrapped in proud pride colours — part fever dream, part acid trip, all fabulous. Scaredy’s performance reminded the audience that drag doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful — it can be weird, wonderful, and strangely emotional too.
Then came Yshee Black, who took to the stage like she owned the postcode. Razor-sharp, commanding, and dressed like a disco goddess on a revenge tour, Yshee served sass, soul, and a vocal performance that could have powered the seafront. Her presence was magnetic — a queen in complete control of her crowd.
Closing the main show was Raiine, Brighton’s own dancing diva and cup-stacking legend (yes, really!!! cup stacking). Her act was pure joy: high-energy choreography, perfect sync, and a cheeky wink every time she nailed a move (which was, basically, every move). Raiine isn’t just a performer — she’s a celebration in motion.
Then there were the hosts, the evening was expertly stitched together by hosts Ophelia Payne and Dick Day (and of course everyone love a bit of Dick), who kept the laughs coming between acts with snark, sparkle, and enough innuendo to make a bishop blush. Their banter — equal parts filth and finesse — kept the energy high and the audience roaring. It’s rare to find hosts with such seamless chemistry, but these two bounced off each other like ping pong balls in a Pride parade.
The after party, just when you thought it was over, the Ironworks crew dimmed the lights and cranked up the bass for a DJ-led afterparty. The dancefloor became a sweaty, sparkly sea of euphoric bodies. With cocktails flowing and drag royalty mingling among the guests, it felt less like a cabaret show and more like being invited backstage at the greatest Pride rehearsal of your life.
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