NEWS: BLACK QUEER WEST END TALENT TAKES CENTRE STAGE THIS PRIDE
- Neill Kovacic-Clarke
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
BETWEEN THE HEARTBEATS
A Pride Concert
A Celebration of Black Queer Joy
Produced by Olivier Award nominee Emmanuel Akwafo (For Black Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When the Hue Gets Too Heavy…, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It) and Marcus Collick (Dracula, Zanna, Don’t!, PLAYground).
King’s Head Theatre, London
Sunday 28th June 2026 @ 7pm
This Pride season, No Names Creatives present BETWEEN THE HEARTBEATS, a powerful live concert celebrating the brilliance, resilience and artistry of Black queer performers in the West End.
Taking place at King’s Head Theatre, the event brings together a standout lineup of LGBTQ+ artists and allies for an evening of explosive vocals, intimate storytelling and electrifying live performance. More than a concert, BETWEEN THE HEARTBEATS is a bold celebration of identity, artistry and community. It creates space for artists who refuse to be softened, sidelined or reduced to footnotes instead taking centre stage unapologetically.
At a time when Pride risks being reduced to corporate branding and when trans communities are facing a renewed wave of hostility and political scrutiny BETWEEN THE HEARTBEATS reclaims space for the voices that have always shaped queer culture. Celebrating legacy, resistance, survival, pleasure and power, the concert reminds audiences that Black queer stories are not marginal or temporary they are foundational. A percentage of ticket sales will be donated to a Black LGBTQ+ charity supporting vital work for Black LGBTQ+ communities.
They are foundational.
Through music and performance, the event also reflects on an industry that has long profited from Black creativity while marginalising Black queer bodies, while imagining a future where those voices are celebrated, amplified and free.
This is Pride with purpose.
Come for the music.
Leave changed.
Emmanuel Akwafo said:
"Queer visibility has expanded in ways we could only dream of a decade ago but at the same time we’re witnessing an alarming rise in hostility, particularly toward trans communities. That tension is exactly why spaces like this matter. Pride was never meant to be comfortable; it began as resistance. When I think about our history, I think of figures like Marsha P. Johnson who refused to accept injustice. I want to honour that legacy by showing up for my community loudly, proudly, and without apology. If a brick needs to be handed to someone, I’m ready to take it."
Creative Team:
Producer - Emmanuel Akwafo
Producer - Marcus Collick
Musical Director - Sean Green
Host - Steven Luemba
Performers:
Tosh Wanogho-Maud
Jeevan Braich
Ivano Turco
Shanay Holmes
Paige Peddie
Jazz Terry
Angela Marie Hurst
Laura Delaney
About No Names Creatives:
No Names Creatives is a London-based creative collective dedicated to championing bold, underrepresented voices in theatre, music and live performance. Through innovative productions, concerts and collaborative projects, the company creates platforms for artists whose stories are often overlooked, celebrating work that is fearless, inclusive and socially engaged.
To support the continued development of projects like BETWEEN THE HEARTBEATS and help expand opportunities for emerging artists, the company has launched a public fundraising campaign. Supporters can learn more or contribute via the following link: https://gofund.me/76220fbf4
All details in this article are correct at time of publishing and are subject to change.
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