Every year, Manchester’s Queer Contact Festival finds a way to raise the bar in its celebration of extraordinary LGBTQ+ talent. As it returns to Contact in 2022, it has worked with young people in this diverse community to shape a programme that reflects their interests and to develop its first set of educational activities around queer life and health.
As always, the shows allow for a broad conversation—offering everything from indulgent fun to cerebral theatre. Here are five shows we reckon you can’t afford to miss.
The Bitten Peach are “a sparkling collection of drag/cabaret/burlesque nights by and for the queer Pan-Asian community”, creating shows that are both visually stunning and action-packed with dance, comedy, music and circus also in the mix.
Inspired by her experiences of trans people in Brazil, Sulawesi and Turtle, and a response to “the current media fascination with trans lives”, Emma’s show takes a frank and fearless look at the politics of trans identity.
Manchester’s own collaborative orchestra celebrates the work of some of music’s most adored queer creatives with a programme that highlights their invaluable social and cultural impact over the past 50 years.
Leaving no one out of this party, this event is suitable for ages 4+ and “a vital space for gay, trans, non-conforming and questioning young people to see positive, celebratory representations of themselves,” says the show’s House Mother, Darren Pritchard. As performers take to the catwalk, the audience crowns their favourite before hitting the dancefloor for an afternoon of self-expression.
Fri 11 Feb, Contact Theatre, Oxford Rd, Manchester M15 6JA
- Words:
- Sarah Walters
- Published on:
- Mon 24 Jan 2022
The legendary annual Vogue Ball is an opportunity for everyone to show off their flamboyant side, with costumes this year inspired by museum collections. Dubbed Night at the Poseum, the ball sees a dazzling selection of performers compete for catwalk supremacy in categories such as Fantasy, Solo, Lip Synch, Sex Siren and Choreography.