House of Suarez Runway 20th Anniversary: Invisible Wind Factory, Liverpool
20 years is a long time.
Especially in the fickle world of the arts. An endless amount of things can go wrong, everything from losing sponsorships to artist drop outs, or even a goddamn pandemic can derail even the most beloved events.
Somehow, the House of Suarez have managed to keep the Runway going for 20 years. The vision, passion and dedication of Darren Suarez has kept this event as a staple of the Liverpool cultural calendar, as everything else falls away or is forced to adapt to accommodate changing landscapes, the House of Suarez stands tall. At the same time a reliable warhorse, and continuing to captivate and surprise.
You never quite know what you’re going to get, but you know you will gag.
The 20th anniversary comes with a change. Formerly known as the Vogue Ball, the Runway re-brands this year, acknowledging the roots of the movement, whilst also opening the stage up to a new future.
It is born out of the Ballroom culture that began in the 1960’s in New York’s black and latinx LGBTQ+ communities, and was later popularised by the award winning documentary Paris Is Burning, Madonna’s iconic 1990 hit ‘Vogue’ and, more recently, the Emmy-winning prime time series Pose.
To compete, a group of artists (known as “Houses”) enter into one or more of the Runway’s categories in front of a large audience and panel of esteemed judges, who this year consist of David Watson, current RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Naya Thorn and Dr Ranj Singh (that hot doctor from the tele).
The theme tonight is suitably celebratory; a retrospectacular of the last 20 years, bringing former categories out of storage and returning old favourites for a dysfunctional family reunion.
The House of Suarez kick things off with a jaw dropping dance piece that celebrates of two decades of love and freedom, before host Rikki Beadle-Blair makes his traditionally understated entrance; this year, he begins in a wedding dress, before suggesting that we renew our vows for our 20th anniversary.
I could hear audible gasps from the Runway virgins when the House of LaPorta appeared mere seconds into the first category, a variation on fantasy and fairy tales that condensed the story of the gingerbread man into just a couple of minutes, complete with giant Gingerbread Man.
Speaking of the House of LaPorta, they and the House of LIPA have by far the loudest fan bases. One friend who attended joked that if the Runway ever descends into some kind of football hooliganism equivalent, it will be LaPorta vs LIPA. The opposing chants of “LI-PA! LI-PA!” and “La! La! La-Por-ta!” are still echoing in my brain.
As much as the support for their chosen Houses was spirited, it did occasionally feel unfair to other Houses. We’re not here to review the audience, but this is a stage where everyone should be cheered. If not exactly equally, then at least enthusiastically. Very occasionally there would be a House with a lesser following getting a quiet response from the crowd for doing something incredible, before LIPA would come on doing something that was maybe a little less impressive, and receive screams. It could make it feel like everybody else was a bit player in the LIPA/LaPorta show, and nothing could be further from the truth.
That said, all that chanting did raise the energy in the room. As a veteran of many Balls over the years, it was one of the more electric crowds I’ve been in, perhaps second only to 2023’s Eurovision Eve.
The Runway is best experienced than read about, so it can be difficult to convey the power of the event. It’s not an exaggeration to say that between Beadle-Blair’s beacon of joy, the sheer creativity of the Houses, the music, the atmosphere, and the palpable sense of community, you leave the Invisible Wind Factory feeling invincible.
It probably isn’t controversial to point out that the world feels pretty dark right now. But, for one night, we can join together for communion in the most fabulous of churches and bask in the world we wish we lived in. One that is respectfully free.
It’s more vital now than ever.
Photography: Gary Dougherty
