Who we are
Billy’s Room is London’s dedicated LGBTQ+ performance space - a creative home for queer artists, audiences, and the next generation of boundary-breaking talent.
Named in honour of Hollywood legend and queer trailblazer William Haines, the venue celebrates boldness, resilience, and unapologetic self-expression - values woven into every show, every performer, and every audience that steps inside.
A Home for Queer Comedy & Performance
Billy’s Room is the permanent home of The Queer Comedy Club, the UK’s first full-time LGBTQ+ comedy venue. Night after night, the space hosts stand-up from established queer acts, rising stars, experimental voices, and visiting artists from the UK and beyond.
But Billy’s Room is much more than a comedy venue — it’s a fully adaptable creative hub used for:
Drag shows & cabaret
Concerts
New writing & queer theatre
Storytelling & spoken word
Scratch nights & work-in-progress shows
Live podcasts & talk events
Community-led workshops & gatherings
Rehearsals, showcases & development labs
If it’s queer, independent, expressive, or beautifully chaotic - it belongs here.
Why Billy?
Billy’s Room is named in honour of Hollywood trailblazer William Haines - known to his friends and fans as Billy Haines - a queer icon whose life embodies the spirit of this venue: talent, defiance, reinvention, and unapologetic queer joy.
The Original Gay Leading Man
In the 1920s and early 1930s, Billy Haines was one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s biggest stars. He was charming, magnetic, and openly gay in a system that demanded silence. Studio bosses expected him to enter a fake straight marriage to preserve his image. Billy refused.
That refusal cost him his entire film career - and it made him a legend.
A Love Story Hollywood Couldn’t Touch
Billy didn’t just stand up for himself professionally. He stood up for love.
When asked to deny his relationship with his partner Jimmie Shields, he simply said no. The two remained together for nearly 50 years, becoming one of the great queer love stories of the 20th century - a reminder that queer resilience isn’t just political, it’s romantic.
The Reinvention
After leaving Hollywood stardom behind, Billy reinvented himself, becoming one of America’s most celebrated interior designers. His clients included the biggest names in film and politics, from Joan Crawford to influential political families.
He succeeded not by hiding, but by stepping even more boldly into who he was.
A Cultural Hub for London’s LGBTQ+ Community
Billy’s Room is intimate, atmospheric, and equipped with everything performers need: professional lighting, sound, staging, and a layout that puts the audience right in the heart of the action. It’s a space that supports artists at every level - from first gigs to full runs.
This is a room built by queer people, for queer people. A place where artists can develop work, take creative risks, find community, and contribute to the UK’s growing queer cultural landscape.
Whether you’re performing, producing, collaborating, or cheering from the front row - Billy’s Room is yours.
Contact us
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