Vibrant new film made by University staff charts rise of Blackpool’s drag and LGBTQ+ scene
Rare and previously unseen footage of top drag and LGBTQ+ stars at a UK seaside town is being showcased in a new film created by University of Chester staff.
A vibrant dive into the heart of a working-class seaside town, Queering Blackpool recounts the rise of its drag and LGBTQ+ scene – from the bold pioneers who built it, to the new generation carrying the glittering torch.
In the film, viewers will see star names such as Lily Savage, Grace Jones, Sister Sledge, The Village People and more, with most of the footage having never been shown before to the public.
Through candid interviews and show-stopping performances, the film – which will be shown in Chester city centre next month – celebrates the resilience, rebellion, and fierce joy that makes Blackpool a queer sanctuary.
Produced in collaboration over the last 12 months by Dr Helen Eadon-Sinkinson, Senior Lecturer in the University’s School of Education, and Alexander Blackburn, from the Video Production team at the University, Queering Blackpool captures the soul of a town where identity takes centre stage. It is based on Helen’s Doctor of Education thesis, also titled Queering Blackpool.
Key interviewees in the film include Basil Newby MBE, the founder of Blackpool burlesque cabaret bar Funny Girls, and Adrian Thornton, also known as legendary Blackpool drag queen DJ Zoe, who has been the hostess on stage there for 30 years. Other performers featured include Shirley Knot and Indiana Aphrodite Isherwood.
The film will receive its premiere at The Backlot Cinema and Diner in Blackpool on Friday, June 6, while tickets are now available for the Chester screening of Queering Blackpool at Picturehouse on June 20 at 7pm. There will also be a question and answer session afterwards with filmmakers Helen and Alexander.
Helen and Alexander said Queering Blackpool is: “Both a tribute and a promise, it captures the soul of a town where identity takes centre stage.”
For more information, to watch the trailer and to purchase tickets for the Chester screening, please visit the Chester Picturehouse website.
Main and third images: The film contains a mix of show-stopping performances and candid interviews. Photo: Granular Films & Drifted by Eadon Productions.
Image 2: Alexander Blackburn and Dr Helen Eadon-Sinkinson with Adrian Thornton, aka DJ Zoe.
Image 4: Queering Blackpool will be shown at Chester Picturehouse on June 20.