Margate Queens

Author Dr Rebecca Hall talks powerfully about the resilience and resistance that helped to bring about systemic change and end the institution of slavery. Hosted by Lucy Edematie. Dr Hall wrote 'Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts', described by The Guardian as "a must-read graphic history of women-led slave revolts". Here Dr Hall explains that she is “not interested in studying and researching the endless horrors of slavery”. Instead her focus is on how African Americans fought back. Dr Hall discusses the social and political construction of history, the impact of slavery, relevance to the UK, the writing of ‘Wake’ and her future projects. If you want to find out more after the podcast, we highly recommend Dr Hall's book, ‘Wake’. You can also visit her website: https://rebhallphd.org/

This series is called Leading Ladies, we have loved chatting to brilliant women, doing fantastic things across Thanet.The Leading Ladies podcasts are hosted by author, podcaster and Margatian Ruby Rare. They were recorded at Olbys.

This series is called Leading Ladies, we have loved chatting to brilliant women, doing fantastic things across Thanet.The Leading Ladies podcasts are hosted by author, podcaster and Margatian Ruby Rare. They were recorded at Olbys.

This series is called Leading Ladies, we have loved chatting to brilliant women, doing fantastic things across Thanet.The Leading Ladies podcasts are hosted by author, podcaster and Margatian Ruby Rare. They were recorded at Olbys.

This series is called Leading Ladies, we have loved chatting to brilliant women, doing fantastic things across Thanet.The Leading Ladies podcasts are hosted by author, podcaster and Margatian Ruby Rare. They were recorded at Olbys.

Power of Women festival commissioned poet Neelam Saredia-Brayley to write a poem for the festival. Thank you Neelam for your words and your power. Womanifesto [ woom-an-uh-fes-toh ] noun & verb 1. Where we fix our sisters’ crowns and join them in the march for change. Where your win is my win. Where we tip the silver scales back to equal and open. Where we get paid, and pay each other fairly for our important, beautiful, revolutionary artistry. Where we listen and create, nurture and educate, inspire and challenge, share space and keep growing, bright, glorious and always forward. 2. Warrior-women big, loud, determined, sunshine-gold wildflower-women mending, nurturing, shimmering, pioneering expanding tendrils of resilient roots making room at every table on glowing stages, studios and glass spaces delicate terrariums to break out of chances for us to illuminate women raising up women holding onto each other’s warm hands and lifting into equal celebrating every balanced footstep which we use to dance our way into endless unstoppable joy.

The British drag scene is famously diverse, from traditional end of the pier campy drag to the gender bending, progressive social commentary of underground drag, if dressing up silly is your bag, theres probably a place in the UK scene for you, and if not, theres always space to make your own performance style happen. In 2008, Amy Redmond, POWs artistic director co-founded queer club collective Sink The Pink, which grew to become the UK's largest LGBTQ+ club night.  The biggest difference to many clubs of its era was that everyone was welcome on their stage.  "Where gender is not on the agenda" as Time Out once said about Sink The Pink.  Amy speaks to many UK drag performers making new waves in the scene today. In 2021, drag is still predominantly a mans game.  But if drag is performing gender, then surely your actual gender doesn't matter?  The beauty of the UK scene is that there is space for everyone, and with Victoria Scone entering Ru Pauls drag race UK, (the first female on the show), there has been much talk since of women doing drag.  In last years POW! festival we spoke to Ginny Lemon about the misogyny they'd heard over the years within the scene, and decided that it was time we shone a light on the females, non binary and AFAB (assigned female at birth) kings and queens of the UK drag scene today. We spoke to as many performers as we could, and Amy has saved a highlights on her instagram stories (@missamyzing) where she is gathering, saving, and asking to hear of more queens and kings, so please tag anyone we've missed.  This is the beginning of the rise of this more gender diverse vision of drag, we want to nurture and celebrate the whole scene so lets keep the conversation going.  There is space for everyone in drag, thats the point, so if its something you want to get into, these podcasts hold some fantastic tips of places to go, people to follow and ways to find your communities.  Thank you to everyone that spoke to us, its utterly fascinating to find out about the power of drag, and the journey these performers have gone on to get to where they are today.  Enjoy the ride! Illustration by Jane Horgan Producer Darryn de la Soul

The British drag scene is famously diverse, from traditional end of the pier campy drag to the gender bending, progressive social commentary of underground drag, if dressing up silly is your bag, theres probably a place in the UK scene for you, and if not, theres always space to make your own performance style happen. In 2008, Amy Redmond, POWs artistic director co-founded queer club collective Sink The Pink, which grew to become the UK's largest LGBTQ+ club night.  The biggest difference to many clubs of its era was that everyone was welcome on their stage.  "Where gender is not on the agenda" as Time Out once said about Sink The Pink.  Amy speaks to many UK drag performers making new waves in the scene today. In 2021, drag is still predominantly a mans game.  But if drag is performing gender, then surely your actual gender doesn't matter?  The beauty of the UK scene is that there is space for everyone, and with Victoria Scone entering Ru Pauls drag race UK, (the first female on the show), there has been much talk since of women doing drag.  In last years POW! festival we spoke to Ginny Lemon about the misogyny they'd heard over the years within the scene, and decided that it was time we shone a light on the females, non binary and AFAB (assigned female at birth) kings and queens of the UK drag scene today. We spoke to as many performers as we could, and Amy has saved a highlights on her instagram stories (@missamyzing) where she is gathering, saving, and asking to hear of more queens and kings, so please tag anyone we've missed.  This is the beginning of the rise of this more gender diverse vision of drag, we want to nurture and celebrate the whole scene so lets keep the conversation going.  There is space for everyone in drag, thats the point, so if its something you want to get into, these podcasts hold some fantastic tips of places to go, people to follow and ways to find your communities.  Thank you to everyone that spoke to us, its utterly fascinating to find out about the power of drag, and the journey these performers have gone on to get to where they are today.  Enjoy the ride! Illustration by Jane Horgan Producer Darryn de la Soul

Margate has become a hub of alternative queer performance and nightlife.  With Margate Pride growing to welcome 10k + LGBTQ+ people to town annually, and queer, drag and cabaret events popping up all over town, there is a wave of new drag queens coming through, with brilliantly Margate names to boot; Janet District Council, Bettany Bay and Tivoli Lady Gardens to name but a few!  Naomi Cooper Davis talks to Shelley Grotto and Pamela Handmeyourson about their journey to drag and what is exciting about doing drag in a UK seaside town in 2021, with top tips for anyone wanting to get into drag.  We expect our host Naomi to be donning a wig and heels by the next series of the podcast, watch this space! Illustration by Jane Horgan Producer Darryn de la Soul

Thanet knows how to get political.  If theres an issue to be dealt with, people get together and make things happen.  We thought it would be great to bring together some of the activist groups in the area to introduce their organisations to us, and discuss how we can support each other, and where the intersections of the activism can cross cover and wider change can come by working together.  We were lucky enough to talk to Thanet XR, Margate Pride, POW!, Rise Up, Clean Up, and People Dem Collective.  The conversation is a fascinating look into what happens when communities take it upon themselves to be the change.  Thank you to everyone that gave their time to talk to Naomi for this podcast, its an awesome capsule of Thanets activism in 2021. Illustration by Jane Horgan Producer Darryn de la Soul