The Queen + ScreenTalk (15*)

Queer 60s

Tue 9 Jun 2026, 18:20 ,Cinema 1

A still from The Queen, showing two drag queens, one in front of the other, talking to the camera in a dark room.

Frank Simon’s classic documentary follows the run-up to a 1967 New York drag pageant, featuring a barnstorming appearance by the legendary Crystal LaBeija.

24-year-old drag queen Flawless Sabrina is our guide as we are immersed in the activities of the 1967 Miss All-America Camp Beauty Contest, a pageant at the New York Town Hall. It’s a major occasion, with celebrity judges and fierce competitors. Despite the glitz and glamour, this is an illegal event – when The Queen was made, drag was forbidden in New York State.

The Queen is packed with memorable characters, including Sabrina’s protégé Rachel Harlow and the soon-to-be-iconic Dorian Corey, later immortalised in Paris is Burning (1990). It saves the best for last, when legendary queen Crystal LaBeija launches a furious and, many may feel, justified diatribe about the biases of the competition, a speech later sampled by musician Frank Ocean.

Tagged with: Cinema Queer 60s

This screening will be followed by a ScreenTalk with Jaye Hudson and Mzz Kimberley, hosted by drag artist Crystal.

Crystal is a drag artist, DJ, political commentator and host of the podcast Camp Classics (a thoughtful podcast about stupid movies). Crystal is best known for appearing on season one of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.

Jaye Hudson is a film programmer and trans historian. Often presenting under the name TGirlsonFilm, she has worked for BFI Flare, Fringe! Queer Film and Arts Festival and Squiff.

Kim Tatum aka Mzz Kimberley is a trailblazing trans actress, performer and presenter, whose career spans film, theatre, television and major live events. A highly visible and respected advocate for the trans community, Kim curates her own trans-led stage at Pride in London and hosts Pride events across the country. She has been featured on multiple LGBT Power Lists and is a passionate champion of trans and queer performers nationwide – work that has earned her recognition at the House of Lords.

Cinema 1

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.