Everyone is welcome to join in at the Royal Armouries at our Queer-ying the museum event to celebrate the end of LGBTQ+ history month, which explores the Royal Armouries collection through a queer perspective.

From a museum mansplaining drag king and self-defence workshop, to queer history tours of our collection and thought-provoking talks, there’s a host of activities for everyone to enjoy.

Drop in to one or two events or spend the whole day exploring our collection. All of our activities are free and drop-in, apart from the self defence workshop which requires pre-booking in advance.

Programme

Self-defence demonstration

11am Dojo, Asian and African Gallery, Floor 4.

In collaboration with BENT Collective, discover practical ways of escaping danger

Self-defence workshop

11.30am to 12.30pm Newsroom, Floor 4.

Join Zoe from BENT Collective in a beginner, LGBTQ+ friendly class to learn techniques developed specifically for marginalised people.

Performance: Daggers and Drag

1pm Tournament Gallery, Floor 4.

Join Eugène Delacroissant, the museum’s mansplaining drag king who cannot help but queer any collection he finds himself in

Workshop: Queer representation in arms and armour of pop culture - medieval to modern

1.45pm to 2.45pm Newsroom, Floor 4.

This workshop with historian Katie Vernon explores queer representation in arms and armour, from pop culture of the medieval period to modern depictions, especially in video games.

Gallery tour: Hidden queer histories at the Royal Armouries

3pm to 3.30pm Floor 2.

Writer and historian Kit Heyam will take you on a tour of the queer history hiding in plain sight in the Royal Armouries galleries.  

Talk: Swords, codpieces, and petticoats: Performing masculinity in the early modern world

3.45pm to 4.30pm Newsroom, Floor 4.

Historian Cat Stiles takes a look at the early modern world with a queer eye, exploring how people in the sixteenth century understood their bodies and how arms and armour could be used both to reinforce and construct masculine identity.