WRESTIVAL #4 - MAY 2 - 4 2024
THE PLEASANCE THEATRE
For Immediate Use
Overview
Returning for the 4th time to the Pleasance theatre - it’s Wrestival the highly anticipated bi-annual wrestling weekend that puts the ring in fringe theater.
Over 3 days over 70 wrestlers drag artists clowns burlesque performers comics & creatives will present 6 shows that mash grappling with the best of London’s cabaret scene.
This year we have 3 double bills over 3 days with all tickets just £20. Every night will be fun riotous & unexpected - we have something for wrestling fans new & old.
We celebrate that everything we make won’t be repeated we celebrate the liveness of performance & we know that after one trip to a Wrestival event you’ll see why we get bigger every year. Come for the violent panto stay for the drag kings having a brawl.
Wrestival is curated by Heather Bandenburg (Unladylike Mummy Vs Fist Club I Need to Cher) a writer retired wrestler & cabaret producer. It is a space where we bring together under-represented wrestlers with artists from different backgrounds - all unified by the celebration of wrestlers as astonishing performance artists; & it being a space for everyone to enjoy spectacular entertainment newcomers included.
Photos Press Assets
All tickets available on Pleasance Website: https://www.pleasance.co.uk/events/type/Wrestival
Photos & Videos of Past Wrestivals can be found here
You can follow us on instagram @wrestival and on youtube at @wrestivaluk
Also check out our coverage in Time Out
FESTIVAL LINE UP
Day 1 - Thursday 2nd May - The Comedy Night
Thursday is for audiences who love stand-up & may have seen wrestling before - it not only features a stellar cast of comics but also some of the highest profile wrestlers in the festival.
Show 1 - Lethal Lottery (7pm)
Wrestling is pre decided right? Not tonight! Wrestling gym Catch 22 have bought 6 of their finest wrestlers to fight in 3 bouts but you the audience have to pick the fighters! Helping you decide the matches will be the cast of Wrestle Club Podcast! In their first live recorded wrestling show join Sikisa (Live at the Apollo Soho Theatre) as she & 4 co-hosts lead you through the show. It’s an hour of immersive hard hitting entertainment!
Starring: Levi Muir Livii Grace Mike Bird Skye Smitson KM Lane Cali Grey AND Sikisa Mark Cram Ibs Danny Scott & Richard Wright
Show 2 - The Jerry Bakewell Variety Show 2 (9pm)
Returning by demand of the entire staff of the Pleasance theatre Europe's heaviest light entertainer Jerry Bakewell (as seen on Britain's Got Talent) will play host to an all new show featuring some of the top talents from the worlds of pro wrestling burlesque and comedy. A smash hit at the last Wrestival Jerry returns with even more mayhem than before. Curated by Rob Brazier a queer photographer with too many years of experience of working in the UK wrestling scene. Expect wrestling MIXED WITH a funfair old Soho and Noel's House Party
Starring: Jerry Bakewell Nina Samuels James Pharrel Jordan Breaks Man Like Dereiss Cassius Skye Smitson Livvii Grace AND Shard O’Nay & Loose Willis
Day 2 - Friday 3rd May - The Violent Cabaret Night
Friday will bring together a celebration of collaborations theatre makers wrestlers & cabaret performers as we bring you a scratch night with a difference followed by a return to form from queer wrestling giants Fist Club.
Show 1 - The Wrestival Schmozz (7pm)
Following a massive open call we have selected 4 shows to develop & offer you an insight in to wrestling crossovers with other artists. Join us for a scratch night like no other - new material rehearsed devised & performed all within 5 hours! Following 60+ responses from an open call for wrestling mash-ups Wrestival is bringing you 5 new pieces of work made in fruitful collaborations with writers clowns & poets. We have no idea what to expect but we know it’ll be brilliant!
Starring: Vaughn Vertigo Rita Slayworth Ronnie Knocks Beau Belles Malik Arif Macaco AND Tizzy Von Tassel Queer Stage Revolution Ltd Trash Salad Titanmine Productions Dan Webber & Liam Fleming
Show 2 - Fist Club presents Fistamania (9pm)
A special Friday night treat - the UKs leading queer drag wrestling cult are bringing you a night of drama DDTs and drag - it’s Fist Club! The first rule of Fist club is everyone looks amazing in spandex! Join the heroes & villains of London’s premier injection of joy based violence as we dazzle you with 4 matches wonderful hosts ring babes & spellbinding drag acts all in just 90 minutes.
Starring: Lou Sa Soul Liv Laugh Love Beau Belles Skye O’Sure Zelina Power Barbarella Spaceflaps Tina Turnedher Riley Thee Non Bianry Finbery AND Tizzy Von Tassel Loose Willis Rocky Rhodes Rich Tea & Cher*
Day 3 - Saturday 4th May - The Gender Fight Night
To close proceedings we present a show of fierce female wrestlers who will then drag up in the interval & wrestle a second show as their male alter egos. This has never happened before & it is NOT to be missed!
Show 1 - Galzilla (7pm)
Clawing her way out of the dressing room - it’s the monster Sci fi death defying women’s promotion of Galzilla. The hard-femme post-apocalyptic women*-led wrestling promotion is back at the Pleasance. Imagine Tank Girl taking on She-Ra; Madonna Vs. Cher in the toxic sludge of the Underworld; masked vigilantes; a drag queen emerging from an egg; female comedy; fury & collective chaotic life force. Join us for a full immersion in to a matriarchal future where your favourite female* wrestlers take to the ring in new ferocious ways. Created as the love child of by Indie wrestling bad asses Rhia O’reilly & Heather Bandenburg.
Starring: Nina Samuels LA Taylor Kanji Livii Grace Beau Belles Rita Slayworth Evie Madden Abi Cartwright AND Crystal Bollix
Show 2 - King of the Ring (9pm)
Join us for a global first - a wrestling show run & starring drag kings - come find out what it means to be real men! Rippling biceps mullets fake tan tiny pants repressed feelings & a love of the slap of muscle on muscle - wrestling is a world of a very particular type of masculinity - and King of the Ring is here to celebrate it! Join the legendary Loose Willis & his co-host Brendan for 3 wild matches starring wrestlers in new versions of themselves. Yes there will be play by play commentary in front of a velvet curtain. Yes there will be shouting then mic drops. Yes you will come away very very amused & sexually confused - a great start to your Saturday night. Expect wrestling MIXED WITH 90s Gladiators drag kings & Magic Mike
Starring: Nina Samuels Ronnie Knocks Kanji Livii Grace Beau Belles Rita Slayworth AND Cassius Loose Willis Brenda
Practical Information
All tickets are £20 for 2 shows & for aged 16+
Performances are relaxed we encourage people to bring hearing protection all spaces are wheelchair accessible.
There will be food drinks & merchandise available to buy.
All shows will be filmed/ photographed.
There will be no strobes but there will be loud noises & haze.
All shows come with a content warning of loud noise rude language partial nudity & choreographed violence
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Pleasance Theatre, Carpenters Mews, North Road, London N7 9EF, United Kingdom, London