Main Performers | Graham Norton, Sandi Toksvig, Terry Alderton, Lily Savage (Paul O'Grady), Julian Clary, Jimmy Somerville, Madeline Bell, Jackie Clune, Jennifer John, Elton John, George Michael |
Secondary Performers | Adventures in Motion Pictures - Matthew Bourne (Scott Ambler, Ben Hartley, Neil Pennington, Theo Clinkard, Arthur Pita, Ewan Wardrop - dancers) |
Orchestra or Band | Jimmy Somerville Musicians: Sally Herbert, Anne Stephenson, Joss Pook, Dinah Beamish, Nick Nasmyth, Mel Barnes, Gerry Alden
Sheboom, Culture Club (Boy George, Roy Hay, Mikey Craig, Jon Moss) |
Set List | The Equality Show Dancers - Suzy Barrett, Denny Bedwell, Laura Brickell, Colin Burns, Julia Foster, Michael French, Natasha Harvey, Leanne Kirkham, Emma Laas, Lee McCallion, Ryan Moore, Ricky Scott, Kerry Smith, Margaret Strange, Sarah Varley, Gavin Wood, Jimmy Somerville, Sheboom, London Gay Men's Chorus, Madeline Bell with Millie Mopp, Millie Turner, Sheena Showgirl, Sandra, Nicky Vixen, Miss Lucia, Jackie Clune, Terry Alderton, Jennifer John, The 1999 Stonewall Equality Award, Lily Savage INTERVAL Boy George and Culture Club, 'My Baby Just Cares For Me' (George Michael), 'I Remember You' (George Michael), Adventures in Motion Pictures, Julian Clary, 'It's a Sin' (Elton John), 'We Are Family' (Elton John), Finale |
Performance Notes | Stonewall is the largest British charity for lesbian, gay and bisexual equality. Founded in 1988 to protest against the Section 28 amendment, which banned local authorities from promoting homosexuality, Stonewall went from strength to strength and in 1994 they hosted the first of seven Stonewall Equality shows at the Royal Albert Hall
From 1994-2001 famous names from the LGBTQ+ community and a whole host of other celebrities took to our stage for the annual Equality Show galas, raising funds for Stonewall UK, the largest British and European charity for LGBTQ+ rights. The seven shows were directed by queer icon Sir Ian McKellen who subsequently also brought the 2006 EuroPride Show to the Hall. When they first started they were the biggest ticketed gay and lesbian event ever held in the UK, at the time. The shows created some of the most iconic moments in the Hall's history such as a dragged-up Sir Elton John singing 'Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves' with Kylie Minogue in a tasselled bikini or Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders appearing in their first live performances in character as Patsy and Eddie from Absolutely Fabulous.
On the tenth anniversary of Stonewall a special cake decorated with a rainbow was made and donated by cook Jane Asher and was cut by Sir Elton John.
George Michael replace the lyrics 'Lana Turner's smile' with Ricky Martin's smile' in 'My Baby Just Cares For Me'. Michael also dedicated his second song, 'I Remember You', to his former partner Anselmo Feleppa. On the way out, audience members received a free CD Stonewall 99 sampler of George Michael's new covers album, Songs From The Last Century. Labeled 'An Early Xmas Present from George Michael', the sampler contained three songs: 'Secret Love' (1953), My Baby Just Cares For Me (1930), and I Remember You (1941).
Quentin Crisp was supposed to attend this gala, but died the weekend before.
Elton John caused controversy when he was accompanied by 18 year old backing dancers dressed as Boy Scouts for song, 'It's A Sin'. |
Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1999/163), Handbill (RAHE/6/1999/62), Poster (RAHE/2/1999/21), Transparencies (RAHE/3/20/30) |