A new festival which puts the LGBT community centre stage is coming to Chester.
Storyhouse Queer takes place 24th-26th February as part of LGBT History Month.
Its being run in partnership with Chester Pride and co-curated with members of the community, and has been organised in response to demand from groups and individuals in the city.
The event will feature three days of events – including film, theatre and workshops.
Storyhouse communities manager George West says: “This is the first Storyhouse Queer but the plan is to make this an annual festival and for it to be a week-long event.
“What we’ve aimed to do this time is to have a real variety of work, so hopefully everyone will find something which will appeal to either try for the first time, or go to something they’re familiar with, or they feel represents them.
“What we’d really like then is for people to come to this festival and tell us what else they’d want to see at the next one, give us more ideas, and tell us how they personally want to get involved, if they do.”
Here’s what’s on…
Friday 24th February
Storyhouse Queer opens on Friday 24th February with headliners Ginny Lemon and Sister Sister.
The breakout stars from season two of RuPaul’s Drag Race are trying to bring you the most disappointing drag show you’ve ever seen!
A Feeling Fabulous Dance Workshop, taking place in the Garret Theatre, will give you the chance to pose and work the catwalk like a supermodel with Ghetto Fabulous to some classic anthems.
This will be followed by a special Family Catwalk Extravaganza. Get your gladrags on and join in the celebration of self-expression.
Four fabulous dancers go head-to-head in a dance, fashion and lip sync competition with the audience deciding on the winner. Dress in your finest outfit, learn the moves, then take to the floor.
Saturday 25th February
The festival continues in the Garret Theatre on Saturday 25th February with Breathe Academy designed for ages 12-25.
Described by The Times as a ‘one-person music festival’, international beatboxing star and theatre-maker SK Shlomo will teach participants how to explore their own story using some of the breathtaking music technology and performance skills on show in their award-winning solo show Breathe.
There will be a Patch Workshop in the Kitchen where you can join members of Radiate Arts CIC who will teach you some simple embroidery and help you create a special patch representing your own identity and links to queer culture.
In addition, Chester Pride is running an Active Bystander workshop in the Storyhouse Meeting Room, teaching people how to intervene safely and effectively if they witness a hate crime, harassment, verbal or physical assault.
Meanwhile on the main stage at 3pm Chester LGBT+ choir Proud Mary’s led by talented Chester based musical director Matt Baker.
Saturday night closes with award-winning new solo show Breathe, a rollercoaster love-letter to the lifesaving power of beats, bass & breathing.
Sunday 26th February
On Sunday 26th February there’s a chance to ‘Be a Better Ally’.
The session in the Garret Theatre will be run by Chester Pride and will give practical tips and information on how to offer your support to vulnerable people and communities.
It will be followed by banner making with Manchester-based textile artist and researcher Sarah-Joy Ford, giving people the chance to share their own story or a memory, protest or idea by creating a mini textile banner which can be hung on a dowling rod. All materials will be provided.
And on the big screen…
The weekend programme also includes three films being screened in the Storyhouse Cinema.
Blue Jean
Award-winning Blue Jean – being shown from 24th February – stars Rosy McEwan, Kerrie Hayes, Lucy Halliday and Lydia Page.
It’s set in 1988, as Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government is about to pass Section 28 legislation, prohibiting the promotion of homosexuality and stigmatising the lesbian and gay community.
The screening at 6pm on February 25th will be followed by a Q&A with producer Hélène Sifre and Sarah Squires, principal lecturer in PE at Leeds Beckett University.
Joyland
Joyland – being screened on 24th and 26th February – was the first Pakistani feature to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival where it won the Jury Prize.
It centres around Lahore’s Rana family, where married youngest son Haider embarks on a secret summer romance which has a seismic effect on both him and his family.
Hedda (After Ibsen)
And on 26th February there will also be a showing of Hedda (After Ibsen), a cinematic theatrical reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.
The film will be followed by a live Q&A with its star David Hoyle, interviewed by director Jen Heyes.
FULL LISTINGS
Feeling Fabulous Dance Workshop
Date: Friday 24th February
Time: 1.30pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: £5 / Storyhouse Members £4
Family Catwalk Extravaganza
Date: Friday 24th February
Time: 2.30pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: Adults £8 / Storyhouse Members £7 / Children £5 / Storyhouse Members £4 / Young Storyhouse Card £5
Ginny Lemon & Sister Sister
Date: Friday 24th February
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Storyhouse Theatre
Tickets: £21.50 / Storyhouse Members £19.50 / Meet-and-Greet £36.50 / Storyhouse Members Meet-and-Greet £33 / Young Storyhouse Card discount available
Patch Workshop
Date: Saturday 25th February
Time: 10am-2pm
Venue: The Kitchen
Tickets: Free, drop in
Don’t Be a Bystander: Intervention Training
Date: Saturday 25th February
Time: 12pm
Venue: Meeting Room
Tickets: Free, bookable
Breathe Academy
Date: Saturday 25th February
Time: 3pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: £8 / Storyhouse Members £7 / Young Storyhouse Card £5
Proud Marys
Date: Saturday 25th February
Time: 3pm
Venue: Main Stage
Tickets: £10 / Storyhouse Members £9 / Young Storyhouse Card £5
Breathe
Date: Saturday 25th February
Time: 8pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: £16.50
Be a Better Ally
Date: Sunday 26th February
Time: 11am
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: Free, bookable
Banner Making Workshop
Date: Sunday 26th February
Time: 1pm
Venue: Garret Theatre
Tickets: Free, bookable
FILMS
Blue Jean (15)
Date: Friday 24th February
Time: Various
Venue: Storyhouse Cinema
Joyland (15)
Date: Friday 24th and Sunday 26th February
Time: 8.15pm on 24th Feb / 5.30pm on 26th Feb
Venue: Storyhouse Cinema
Hedda (After Ibsen)
(Plus Q&A with David Hoyle)
Date: Sunday 26th February
Time: 3pm
Venue: Storyhouse Cinema
