Filmed on 2nd September 2014 As the project comes to a close, here is 40 minute film of the Vauxhall Tour led by performer, writer, TV & radio presenter, Amy Lamé. We started at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern and went on to discover some of the history of the Vauxhall area.
Jade Pollard Crowe performing at Happy Birthday RVT, developed as part of Duckie’s Summer School 2014
Niall Burgess performing at Happy Birthday RVT, developed as part of Duckie’s Summer School 2014
Andrew used to work behind the bar at the Vauxhall in the 1970’s and remembers various drag acts performing on the bar at the time.
Ex-Landy Breda McConnon describes what the RVT was like when they moved in in 1979.
Stuart talks about how he became interested in drag as a political force.
Artist, Paul Ashurst talks about some of the gay pubs he used to visit that have since disappeared.
Simon talks about the ‘save our pub’ demos, that took place in the 1990’s when the RVT was threatened with demolition. Here’s a link to an article in from The Pink Paper dated 2nd October 1998.
I’ve just been reading Paul O’Grady’s Biography, which is broken down into 3 books. There’s some very interesting recollections of the RVT. The part below is from the second book ‘The Devil Rides Out’ when Paul was performing as part of the drag group ‘The Glamazons’. “At the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, in what felt like a rough part of sarf…
Bette remembers the RVT from the 1950’s when he was 17 and it was divided in 3 sections. It was one of those pubs where you weren’t quite sure who was gay or not.
Filmed as part of Duckie’s Vauxhall Bacchanal last year. Built in 1863, this legendary London pub is 150 years young. How far back does it’s queer identity and its reputation for drag shows go? Rupert Smith investigates with Neil Bartlett, Stuart Feather and Maisie Trollette.