World Museum to be brought to life on the runway as House of Suarez’s legendary annual Vogue Ball returns

House of Suarez’s legendary annual Vogue Ball is returning to Liverpool this autumn and will be inspired by treasures from around the globe, set against the stunning backdrop of World Museum.

Night at the Poseum on 23 October, will draw inspiration from World Museum’s collections to create costumes and performances to animate the Lower Horseshoe in the museum.

Expect an extravaganza of costume, dance, and high drama as Houses from across the UK come together to compete for catwalk supremacy in categories such as Fantasy, Solo, Lip Synch, Sex Siren and Choreography.

The event will be steered by Captain Rikki Beadle-Blair as Master of Ceremonies. The judges are Dr Ranj Singh (Doctor, Presenter, Author, Columnist and Strictly Come Dancing Contestant), Nathan Sussex (Hollyoaks, It’s a Sin), BBC Radio Merseyside personality Ngunan Adamu and Mary Lamb, Fashion and Creative Director for House of Suarez.

The 12 competing Houses come from across the UK with the House of Twisted Stitches, House of Cards, and House Korrupt from Liverpool. House of Suarez is Liverpool-based with artists from all over the UK and Viva Brazil features artists from both Liverpool and Brazil. Houses Subversa and Onyx are both from London, while House Blaque is from Huddersfield. Curio has artists from Manchester and Liverpool, La Porta and La Morte Houses have artists from a mix of UK locations and LIPA has students from across the UK and Europe.

Picture by Sane Seven

Darren Suarez, artistic director of the House of Suarez and founder of the Vogue Ball, said:

“The House of Suarez Vogue Ball and World Museum promise to bring you the most extravagant and unique ball to date. We have truly brought World Museum to life on one runway. We will see Pharaohs come to life and splay the runway in full homage to the gods. We will see the Prehistoric Room tear up the floor with energy and fire! Be ready for A.I. and Space as they land for one night only to battle for supremacy and to be crowned overall best House. For one night only we will see Legends, Statements and Stars being born on the House of Suarez Runway”.

David Watson, Executive Director of Audiences & Media added:

“We are really excited to be partnering with House of Suarez to host one of the most fabulous events in Liverpool’s cultural calendar. We have already established a relationship with House of Suarez, having one of their stunning Vogue Ball dresses on display in the window of Museum of Liverpool. Bringing global Vogue culture to our museums helps to further highlight links with the collections and LGBTQ+ culture and diverse ethnic cultures.

“Night at the Poseum is part of a series of events we’ll be delivering as part of a new autumn/winter programme of activity to reenergise, reengage and entertain audiences developing a new type of offer across our museums and galleries. I’m delighted that the demand for tickets to Night at the Poseum has been through the roof – selling out within minutes – and we’re full to the brim!”

The House of Suarez Vogue Ball is inspired by the legendary balls held in New York City from the 1970s, which provided a platform for young Black and Latinx LBGTQ+ people to showcase their flamboyant and competitive personalities.

Dubbed club culture meets high art, the ball has become a key annual event in Liverpool’s cultural calendar since it burst onto the scene as part of the Homotopia LGBTQ+ programme for European Capital of Culture in 2008.