SOURCE was invited to to photograph Brighton’s newest night of saucy antics, The Slag Pit. It’s a cabaret night hosted by Lydia L’Scabies, a multi-award-winning drag act known as the ‘queen flea’ of the Brighton scene.
The Slag Pit is a platform for both new and established acts to flaunt their talents, showcasing Brighton’s finest as well as acts from further afield. We are treated to a mix of drag kings, queens, dancers, singers and comedic performance art. The Slag Pit has it all!
“Slag is a state of mind,” says the blurb, “so if you’re a secret sexy or a full-blown bimbo this is the show for you!”
You are brought along on this journey never knowing what’s coming next. Lydia hosts with her sharp wit and array of performances, which can range from a live shaving demonstration to the tune of Bananarama’s ‘Venus’, to a moving lip sync performance dressed as a Rampant Rabbit –
you have to see it to believe it!
Other acts on the night included Jack Fruit, Sabrina Jade, Prudence Rae and Alex Fincher. Our own words couldn’t do it justice, so we caught up with Lydia for a quick chat and learnt a bit more about her slaggy night.
Tell us, who is Lydia L’Scabies?
I put the art in tart, the pro in prolapse and the ‘fun gal’ in fungal infection. My work is subtextual, comedic, debauched and upsetting. (Always a bonus if a childhood memory is ruined as well!) In June I’ll be celebrating my 11th year wreaking havoc across the globe, one parasitic epidemic at a time!
What is The Slag Pit?
My very own variety show! Over the last couple of years I’ve really found my voice as a cabaret compere, and wanted to start my own platform to showcase slaggy talent, be it up and coming or established. I feel the way it’s come to be really celebrates my underground roots. With the ever-mounting worries of venue closures in this town, it is important to keep the gritty scene alive.
What can somebody expect when coming to your show?
Yours truly, and two other wonderful handpicked acts giving you a shameless display, and that’s not just restricted to the cast! We do encourage as much audience participation as possible, and you better believe you’re in safe hands. I am floored by what some audience members come out with on stage during the game in the second act. I will always fondly remember a senior patron in their 70s giving everyone a slaggy chair dance to ‘Yes Sir, I Can Boogie’. Absolute icon.
How do you select guest performers?
In my 10 years I’ve been very privileged to work alongside some of the best in the biz, but I’m always keeping an eye and ear out for new talent that I believe will suit the platform. As it’s a variety show, having a diverse display of different disciplines and representations is paramount, and it really lets the performers’ unique slagginess shine! It’s always really rewarding seeing the whole show play out with what everyone’s brought.
Do you have any exciting guests coming up?
Oh absolutely! I do feel naughty giving too much away, but I can tell you that on April 6th we have ex-Brighton Belle and pussy-pounding diva Toxiic, and London’s cheeky chappy, the formidable Adam All! If you come to that one, maybe I’ll share with you who we have next at the end, depending on how many beers in I am!
The Slag Pit returns on 6th April at The Ironworks – get your tickets here for a night of Slaggy antics!
The Ironworks, Saturday 2nd March 2024
Words and photos by Rob Trendy
