You know it's been a good night when you can't get the words 'Big Fat Fabulous Queer Canadian' out of your head! With their Pride show OxPhwoard have again managed the alchemy of turning the cringey and tacky into a celebration of the different and sexy.

If you've never been to an Oxphwoard show before, it's part drag, part burlesque, part comedy, part tragedy and surprisingly has become a bit of an institution in ordinarily uptight Oxford.

The Pride Edition featured eye-opening pole dancing by Leila Davis, heart warming gyrations by Drag Syndrome, melancholic striptease by Pi the Mime, activism-disguised-as-belly-dance by Dancing Queer and hilariously foul-mouthed lip syncing by Rubyyy Jones the BFFQC (Big Fat Fabulous...). The stand out acts however were Romeo De La Cruz and Shakona Fires. Each weaved their experiences as trans into funny, moving, confidently sexy performances. Their acts were a window into what it's like to live outside gender norms - a perspective that I hadn't seen before.

Last but not least the show was held together by the incomparable Ginger Tart. A natural comic and show-woman, GT was on fine form- her repartee with the audience was worth the ticket price alone. Just watch out for flying underwear!

When last I attended OxPHWOARd it offered several firsts, not least the first show I had attended undone by torrential rain. Now with Britain basking in a heatwave, it seemed unlikely that a flash flood would intervene this time. And so I sat down in the auditorium, rooting for the show to complete its set and make it to the finale.

The night began with a hilarious recreation of the previous Pride edition by the Oxford Drag Collective, complete with a shark and wearable Noah's Ark. This was a fun and fitting way to begin a show that often referred to the previous edition's watery demise. From this routine Ginger Tart introduced the evening and the mantra of OxPHWOARd (don't be a dick). And with the ground rules set, we were off.

Returning acts treated us to more complicated, challenging pieces this time. As exuberant as the atmosphere was, enhanced by our charming host, there is room this time for a greater exploration of identity. Ginger reminds us that Pride began as protest and this spirit remains throughout the compelling cabaret acts. Topics as diverse as gender stereotypes in toy adverts, pay disputes for minority drag acts and Asian representation in popular culture all receive an airing. Much of the evening manages to make the case for drag and cabaret as art.

With many acts performing twice in the evening, it is tough to pick the outstanding ones, as each had the time and space needed to shine. Pi the Mime found a universal topic in their first routine as they strove to break free of the constraints of an office job, while the second routine was haunting, sucking all the air out of the room temporarily. I think Pi the Mime is genius, boldly original and the kind of act that expands what OxPHWOARd can be. They had good company with many of the other acts of the evening. Lily SnatchDragon first broke some of the audience with a hilarious routine and then returned to smash stereotypes in a way that boiled with an earned rage. Benjamin Butch and Chiyo both gave performances that deconstructed politics of masculinity and representation, teasing out an emotional, engaging discourse in an entertaining and invigorating fashion. FKA was the very definition of fierce and single-handedly reminded me (through some exceedingly good song choices) how fantastic Britney Spears' music is. Lily Belle made her return to the cabaret scene after six years and blew apart stereotypes, all while performing from her wheelchair. Finally Symoné closed out both halves with a dazzling display of hula-hooping, peaking with 40 hoops being used at one time. Each of these performers were fantastic within their routine, a testament to Ginger Tart marshalling this evening into existence.

OxPHWOARd seemed better the second time around, reaching new heights. Difficult issues were explored and I found myself surprisingly moved a number of times. Some routines explored universal issues, while others drilled into far more personal ones. But each approached their topic in a fascinating and often unique manner. And through it all there was Ginger Tart, holding the evening together as she lost more and more of her resplendent outfit, until she was a nipple-y blur (Ginger requested this term make it into any reviews of the evening and it feels the perfect descriptor of the final moments). I will be attending OxPHWOARd again, it's just far too uproarious an evening.

Thursday night was a series of firsts for me. The first time attending OxPHWOARd, Oxford's very own queer burlesque evening (queerlesque). The first time I have seen such a diverse range of performers from Kings stripping to Lady Gaga's 'Sexxx Dreams' to a performer hula-hooping with four rings at once. And the first time that the weather has intervened so much as to cause the theatre I am at to spring several leaks and bring about an early end to the show.

The talent on stage was magnificent, with a real range of performers. Memorable acts of the evening included Canadian burlesque performer Rubyyy Jones, Pi the Mime, who was perhaps the most distinctive act of the night, and hula-hooping sensation Symoné. But each and every one of the performers were great, offering their individual takes on cabaret and burlesque. And through it all was Ginger Tart who marshalled the evening's entertainment, professed her love to us and egged on an eager audience. Each act was timed just right so as to not overstay their welcome before the audience was propelled forward, the evening moving at a terrific pace. The show had a celebratory vibe to it, perfectly fitting the Pride theme. I feel the world could be a better place if we all embraced the OxPHWOARd all-are-welcome viewpoint. It doesn't matter who you are or what you like as long as you love and respect each other. It is safe to say that in the first half of the show I fell a bit in love with the entire OxPHWOARd endeavour.

And then, sadly, the party came to an abrupt close. With a promise from Ginger Tart that there would be a second half we exited the auditorium to find water cascading along George Street and running down parts of the Old Fire Station's interior. By the time the leak had reached inside the studio space it had become apparent that this was a situation few theatres had experienced before. It led to the cancelling of the show and the evacuation of the premises. It was sad to see the party come to an end but I have to commend how the staff of the Old Fire Station dealt with the unexpected arrival of water. It was a difficult decision to cancel the second half but all staff handled the situation brilliantly. The theatre is a gem at the heart of the Oxford arts scene and they proved this again under challenging circumstances. And there will always be another day for a spot of queerlesque.

OxPHWOARd was an awesome evening, an open, empowering one, equal parts enlightening and sexy. It felt just the right way to celebrate the diversity at the heart of Pride, with a heart so big and open that no matter how much glitter, nipple tassles and puffy rainbow trousers there is on stage it can't be hidden. I will definitely be going along in the near future, eager to see all the extraordinary talent that Ginger Tart will bring together for the next show. I'd go as far as to say that OxPHWOARd is one of the best night outs in Oxford.