Would you read your teenage diary aloud to a room full of people?
A brave group of LGBTQIA+ folks are doing just that at Queer Diary!
The open mic night where Queers of all (grown-up) ages share our teenage angst - and all the joys, dreams, foolishness, and fabulousness of our coming-of-age era.
We can't promise to reunite you with your first crush, but we do aim to reignite that rush of adrenaline you got when they first noticed you.
At Queer Diary the goths, the punks, the emos, the nerds, the glee-clubbers (and maybe a few populars?) come together as grown-ups, to share our younger selves' innermost thoughts via old diary entries, fanfiction stories, tumblr posts, and possibly the odd bit of cringey poetry 👀
- Tickets to this event are Pay What You Can.
- Soft drinks available from the bookshop, alcohol is Bring-Your-Own (please recycle your empties!)
- To take part in Queer Diary by reading your teenage diaries (or poetry, or fanfic etc) check our FAQs & get in touch via the Sign Up form.
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Follow for more:
Instagram @hasbianshow | TwXtter @hasbianshow
Facebook @QueerDiaryCIC | TikTok @hasbianqueerdiary
How the event runs:
We'll check tickets from 6:45. Readings will happen between 7-9pm.
You can buy soft drinks from the bookshop, but any alcohol is Bring-Your-Own.
New readers sign up in advance via this link. We usually have space for 2-5 readers per evening. We may have slots available last minute, but slots are limited - please sign up in advance, to guarantee a spot on the mic!
Queer Diary is hosted by Beth Watson, who will warm up the crowd by sharing some teenage diary entries and chatting to the audience about some of your fave nostalgia moments.
If you have any questions, please email Beth (host) & Josie (producer) at: hello@queerdiary.org.uk
You can send us your playlist requests, if you have a fave a ‘teenage throwback’ song you'd like to hear between readings!
Location & Access
The Common Press is on Bethnal Green Road, a busy area with lots of shops, bars and cafes.
This event is in the bookshop, which is on the ground floor with step-free access.
All toilets are gender neutral and there is an accessible toilet.
Seating is unreserved. Please let us know via email if you have any specific access requirements we can accommodate by reserving a specific seat for you (ie, near the front, near the exit, etc)
The nearest stations are Shoreditch High Street and Bethnal Green. The venue on Google Maps.
Accessible parking is on Redchurch Street, about 2 min from the venue.
We ask all our open-mic readers to self-describe for any blind or visually impaired audience members.
We ask all readers to give content warnings for anything that may be sensitive or triggering. Due to the “open-mic” nature of Queer Diary, we're unable to provide detailed content warnings in advance. The general tone of the event is light-hearted, but some readings may touch on themes such as bullying, internalised homophobia, underage drinking, etc, and there will almost certainly be swearing and sexual references.
Dogs are welcome.
If you have questions about the venue, location, or physical access within the building, you can contact the venue via https://commonpress.co.uk/
Please get in touch via hello@queerdiary.org.uk if there's something you'd like us to consider to ensure Queer Diary is accessible for you.
Inclusivity & Community Safety:
Please note this event is themed around memories of teenage years gone by, and is aimed at adult audiences.
This is an-LGBTQIA+ centred space. We will not assume your gender or sexuality, or apply gendered pronouns or honourifics (until we learn which ones you use). To make sure everyone feels welcome in this space, we ask attendees to do the same.
Discrimination will not be tolerated (including - but not limited to - transphobia, biphobia, homophobia, sexism, racism, xenophobia, classism, ablism, fatphobia). If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable in the space, please tell the event organisers as soon as you can.
We may take photos at this event, to publicise future events like this - if you'd prefer not to be in photos, or want to be anonymised/removed from any pictures we publish on our social media, etc, please let us know, we want to make sure we respect your privacy.
COVID Safety:
Audience are encouraged to take a lateral flow test before attending. We also welcome the wearing of masks. Event organisers are vaccinated and use lateral flow testing regularly.
Please do NOT attend this event if you have either COVID symptoms or a positive test result.