Described by The Guardian as “Bristol’s best gay dance party” Horseplay was a queer-leaning art-disco-club with a fine dusting of glitter and sleaze. Horseplay began in April 2011, holding regular club events until 2018.
Horseplay filled a gap for a hedonistic queer party where people could dance without inhibition in a haze of smoke and lasers, but it was also a platform for performance art. Horseplay resident jockeys Pony, Bronco and Jim Carna played a frisky mix of underground house and disco. Sometimes they hosted international DJs or hold theme parties, such as their Yves Klein inspired Blue Party, Andy Warhol Silver Factory party, or sensory event Synaesthesia.
Horseplay developed a reputation locally and nationally for presenting playful art, music and performance as part of the night. They hosted artists, DJs and musicians such as Octo Octa, Rrose, Horsemeat Disco, Little Boots, Rosana Cade, FK Alexander, Panther Panther, Queen of Hearts, Antoni Maiovvi and Kucka.
Horseplay held wild parties in a number of unusual places, including an abandoned strip-club, the autopsy room of an old coroner’s courts and in the underground cells of an old police station. Their audiences were fed pavlova by drag-ballerinas, had their genitals immortalised by an illustrator and displayed on the walls of the club and were visually assaulted by a huge range of avant-garde podium performances.
Horseplay was a Bristol based party. Their bigger spinoff party Dressage was created for Bristol Pride, and was later developed into a touring concept to be performed at Festivals such as In Between Time, Love Saves The Day and Shambala.
PRESS
Life Outside London – QX Magazine 2015
Clubs Pick of The Week – Guardian 2015
Bronco of Horseplay – Dalston Superstore 2015
Pony Tricks – QX Magazine 2013
SOCIALS
#Horseplayclub
Twitter @horseplay_club
Facebook @horseplayclub
