Liverpool Empire Theatre lit up Green.
(Liverpool Echo)

Lighting Up Green | The Vivienne Anniversary | January 2026

On the night of the first anniversary of the passing of The Vivienne, Liverpool’s beloved LGBTQ+ and drag icon, an idea became a campaign. Buildings across Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, North Wales, and Milton Keynes lit up green in her memory, raising awareness of The House of The Vivienne and its mission around ketamine awareness.

What started as a series of careful, personal asks to venues and landmarks in late November 2025 grew into something far larger than anticipated, with coverage spanning the UK, the US, and Australia.

The Snapshot

Date: January 2026
Locations: Liverpool, Manchester, Chester, North Wales, Milton Keynes, London, Gran Canaria
Lead time: 6 weeks from first outreach to delivery
Role: Sole organiser, press coordinator, and broadcast spokesperson
Broadcast: BBC North West Tonight, Granada Reports, BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio Wales
Media coverage: BBC, ITV Granada, PinkNews, Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, OUT Magazine (US), The Advocate (US), Star Observer (Australia), and many others

The Background

The first anniversary of The Vivienne’s passing fell on Saturday 3 January in January 2026. Outreach to venues and landmarks began in late November 2025, giving organisations time to confirm participation, arrange logistics, and prepare.

The ask was simple: light up green on the anniversary, in her memory, and in support of The House of The Vivienne and its work around ketamine awareness. The family were fully involved and communicated with throughout.

Some venues faced limitations due to weekend staffing. But the response was overwhelming.

Split image of Gwrych Castle (North Wales), and Sparkles Bar (Gran Canaria) lit up green

The Buildings

Across various locations, the following venues and landmarks participated:

Liverpool

  • St George’s Hall
  • St John’s Beacon
  • Liverpool ONE, including the stairs to The Terrace and the John Lewis bridge
  • Liverpool Empire
  • The ACC Liverpool campus, including M&S Bank Arena, the Convention Centre and Exhibition Centre
  • Liverpool Parish Church
  • Pullman Hotel
  • Quirky Quarter, Duke Street
  • The Lisbon
  • Superstar Boudoir
  • Heaven
  • Navy Bar
  • Masquerade
  • Everyman Theatre
  • Playhouse Theatre
  • Scandals, Hanover Street
  • Liverpool Epstein Theatre, with an announcement made at the panto curtain call

Chester

  • Rainbow Tearooms
  • Storyhouse
  • Liverpool Arms

Manchester

  • Palace Theatre and Opera House
  • Iconic Bar
  • Via
  • The Brewers

North Wales

  • Gwrych Castle

Milton Keynes

  • Latour Hotel
  • Centre MK Car Park

London

  • Clapham Grand

Gran Canaria

  • Sparkles Showbar

Digital tributes

  • The Guide Liverpool
  • Chester Pride
  • Rainbow Tearooms
  • Funny Girls, Blackpool

On the Night

The broadcast coverage began before the anniversary itself, with ITV Granada Reports and BBC North West Tonight both covering the campaign. BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC Radio Manchester, and BBC Radio Wales all featured the story.

The Coverage

The campaign was covered across the UK and internationally, including:

The Outcome

What began as a personal idea, and a series of careful asks made six weeks in advance, became a coordinated tribute spanning the UK and beyond, with more than 30 venues and landmarks participating and press coverage reaching three continents.

The campaign raised the profile of The House of The Vivienne and its ketamine awareness work at a moment when that visibility mattered most.

What This Demonstrates

  • Long-range campaign planning and stakeholder outreach across multiple regions
  • Relationship building with venues, landmarks, theatres, and public institutions
  • Broadcast media liaison and on-camera spokesperson work at national level
  • Press coordination generating coverage across UK, US, and Australian outlets
  • Sensitive handling of a campaign rooted in grief, community, and charity awareness
  • End-to-end campaign delivery as sole organiser

For consultancy, event organisation, community engagement, or communications work, get in touch at hey@proudlysaid.co.uk