Back in the day Joanna’s was a legendary nightclub in Portsmouth – a popular destination for sailors from wider afield and locals alike, with a reputation wider than the region.
Fondly remembered for its sticky floors and palm trees, twenty years after closing its doors for the last time the venue is celebrated not only as a nightclub, but as a hub of creativity, activism, and community.
Elements from back in the day helped shape a generation – the spirit of which has been captured at Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery as part of a heritage project which also dips into understanding the social history of Portsmouth.
The 12-month immersive exhibition was set up in a collaboration with Downtown Pompey and inspired by their recent ‘Sticky Floors & Palm Trees’ stage show, Jo Gray went along to find out more.
Downtown Pompey is a theatre company which aims to bring communities together through queer art practices.
Artistic director Josh leads us through some of the memorabilia & gives us a taste of what to expect.
Image courtesy of Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery
Further information
Portsmouth Museum & Art Gallery has free entry. It is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm (last admission 4.30pm). The address is: Museum Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2LJ. Visit the website for further details.
Downtown Pompey is a performance-based organisation bringing together a variety of local communities in Portsmouth, through queer art practices; offering a space to explore identities and understanding that everyone has a voice and a place to be heard. You can find out more at downtownpompey.com.
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