Pride special: Mother’s Ruin at the Roadhouse

Mother’s Ruin has a history of producing dangerous, combative performances – laced with a subversive sense of humour – that sit at odds with the mainstream gay scene. Given past work with Contact, and more recently with the Royal Exchange, it is unusual then that its latest project should take place away from the theatre, in that mainstay of Manchester’s underground nightlife, the Roadhouse. This night, which represents something of a battle-cry against clubland, falls slap bang in the middle of Pride weekend. Part of the Queer Alt. Manchester collective of events, which was established as an alternative to the cyclopean herding pen in the Village, Mother’s Ruin: Roadhouse Rehab promises a full bill of drag and cabaret featuring Sheela Blige, Grace Oni Smith,Tilly Skreams, Pam Van Damned, David Hoyle, Jade Montserrat and haunting country-and-western from Bushpig – all presided over by matriarch Mrs JonJo. Rounding off the evening is a DJ set from The Niallist, perhaps best-known for his gleefully obnoxious 2012 track Like ‘Em Fat.

Fri 22 Aug, Roadhouse, 8 Newton Street, M1 2AN, 9pm (doors 8.30pm), £7, www.ticketline.co.uk