QUEER BODIES: A Celebration of Fashion, Identity & Self-Expression

Step into the spotlight with Queer Bodies – a fashion showcase celebrating bold perspectives from some of the North East’s fiercest queer designers. This is a night of unapologetic expression, style, and pure queer joy.

🗓️ Thursday 10th July

🕖 7PM

📍 The Great Hall, Discovery Museum

Curated collections will explore what it means to be queer in 2025 – loud, proud, and unapologetic. Hosted by the iconic Mutha Tucka, the night closes with a jaw-dropping performance by the Newcastle Ballroom Community.

HOSTED BY: MUTHA TUCKA – @muthatucka

A seasoned drag powerhouse who’s been serving looks and turning heads for years. As co-creator of Shade — the scene-changing drag night in Newcastle — Mutha Tucka has helped redefine queer nightlife in the North East.

PERFORMANCE BY: NEWCASTLE BALLROOM COMMUNITY – @nclballroomcom

A fierce collective of queer people celebrating ballroom culture and the art of vogue. With members from all walks of life, their mission is to create safer, bigger queer spaces while honouring the trans POC legends who laid the foundation for ballroom.

Your host for the night Mutha Tucka!

DESIGNERS:

HAUS PASTICHE – @sam.barley.creative

"I’m Sam and I’ve been studying fashion design since I was 16, developing my craft, evolving my style, and elevating my practice for almost a decade. My influences mirror my identity and self-image: queer history, bespoke tailoring, camp silhouettes, unapologetic forms of expression, and the punk movement."

Designer and co-founder HAUS PASTICHE – Sam Barley

CHRISTOPHER NIARI – @christopherniari

"I’ve been designing and making clothing for nearly two decades, specialising in creative, theatrical eveningwear and corsetry that’s fashion-forward with a strong queer sensibility. I dress Drag Queens and queer artists locally, nationally and internationally — from performances to red carpet moments."

Designer and co-founder Christopher Niari

REESE WETHERSPOON – @reesespeeses_

"My name is Reese Wetherspoon. I’ve been designing and creating clothes since lockdown. Being self-taught and not always using ‘proper’ sewing methods is what makes my outfits unique – my favourite pieces have come from experimentation and play."

LEVIATHANNE – @leviathanne_designs

"My name is Leviathanne. As a designer, I’m proudly tacky on purpose – taking inspiration from avant-garde subcultures and the idea of being ‘rotten but nice.’ I love a good animal print. I’ve been designing for about four years in education and three years independently."

LOVE DULUXE EROTICA – @lovedeluxeerotica

"My name’s Oliver and I’ve been designing for around a year now. I take inspiration from ‘90s runways and Bob Mackie — combining fashion and costume references to create garments that are extravagant, eclectic and maximalist."

Love Duluxe Erotica, Leviathanne and Reese Wetherspoon

This event will be part of Northern Pride’s exciting Pride Fringe 2025. To learn

more, head to www.northern-pride.com/fringe

TICKETS AND MORE

Pride Fringe 2025

Ophelia B stars in a one woman show, a Life NOT in Heels!

Festivalgoers won’t need to wait until July for this year’s Newcastle Pride celebrations to begin, with a programme of exciting events announced today for the city’s first ever Pride Fringe, set to take place from June. 

A new addition to the North East calendar for 2025, Pride Fringe will offer a wide range of live entertainment, comedy and theatre, along with LGBTQIA+ networking opportunities at a host of local venues across the early summer months ahead of the highly anticipated Newcastle Pride Festival on 19th and 20th July, which is presented in partnership with NE1 and Newcastle City Council.

Learn more and grab your tickets