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Image credit: Holly Revell
Contact is celebrating the start of LGBT History Month 2019 in style: with its impressive Queer Contact Weekender.
Previously, Queer Contact was a week-long programme of LGBT arts and theatre. This year, the theatre is focusing on a compact weekend of events, running from Friday 8 February to Saturday 9 February. As with last year, the Queer Contact Weekender will take place in various venues across Manchester. It concludes with the famous Manchester Vogue Ball.
The Queer Contact Weekender will kickstart Contact’s In the City Part 3 programme, which sees Contact take over spaces across the city while the building undergoes vital renovations.
In advance of the Weekender, multi-award-winning Bristol-based theatre company Ad Infinitum will bring their new play No Kids to The Lowry on Friday 1 February. This heartfelt comedy play explores the world of same sex parenting as couple George and Nir navigate adoption, surrogacy, co-parenting and childbirth.
Kicking off the Weekender proper, Mother’s Ruin will arrive at Friday 8 February at Waterside in Sale, in association with Contact, Royal Exchange Theatre and Waterside Arts.
On the morning of Saturday February 9 February, Contact will host its Open Forum. Members of the public are free to join the discussion and have their say on the future of Queer Contact. This will inform the future direction of the festival from 2020 onwards.
Nima SeneOn Saturday, Glasgow/Berlin based live artist Nima Séne and curator Tuna Erdem from the Istanbul Queer Art Collective present performingborders – LIVE at YES. They explore the personal, the cultural and the physical and an understanding of how their queer, migrant and PoC identities shape their work. Both events are free to attend but reserving a place is advisable.
Outspoken returns on Saturday 9 February at Number 70, hosted by Manchester poet, Mandla-Rae. Performers include Ella Otomewo, Billie Meredith, Maz Hedgehog and Bryony Bates.
Saturday night sees vogue houses compete in the multi award-winning Vogue Ball. Vogue houses will strut their stuff in fabulous outfits and exciting moves on the stage.
Matt Fenton – Artistic Director at Contact said, ‘We are really excited to launch our Queer Contact Festival Weekender. While building work continues apace on the refurbishment of our iconic building on Oxford Road, including a new cabaret and music venue, it’s great to continue our journey across the city. We’re working with familiar faces and festival favourites alongside new partners and venues to showcase our work with UK and international queer artists. We’re thrilled to be welcoming back Mother’s Ruin and the stunning Manchester Vogue Ball, as well as offering important platforms to new and emerging voices.’
Tickets are now on sale for Queer Contact’s Festival Weekender 2019 – by phone on 0161 274 0600 or online at contactmcr.com.
