Those familiar with Hope Mill Theatre would have seen a baby grand piano in their bar area, which has an important history. It was donated by a remarkable lady called Barbara. Music was an important part of Barbara's life and a piece of sheet music was found inside the piano stool. Written and performed by... Continue Reading →
Minute Taker: Wolf Hours – Hope Mill Theatre
Wolf Hours is an audio-visual performance from Ben McGarvey, known artistically as Minute Taker. Performing his superb live music soundtrack alongside filmed videos, the show explores the psyches of gay men at different points in time. I first watched Wolf Hours at Sale Waterside Arts last year, as part of their Refract Festival, and it... Continue Reading →
All The Bens – King’s Arms, Salford (GM Fringe 2019)
Ben likes Al, even though he has a strange fetish for the A&E department. He met him online, but isn't even sure that Al is his real name. Well, it's better than "Master1507". Al just wanted a quick blowjob in the hospital's disabled toilet, but now Ben thinks their relationship is more serious than that.... Continue Reading →
First Time – Sale Waterside Arts (Refract 2019)
Can you remember your first time? Nathaniel Hall can't seem to forget his. He contracted HIV the first time he had sex, aged 16. Receiving the diagnosis just two weeks after his 17th birthday, it took Nathaniel fourteen years to open up to his family. A year later, he penned an autobiographical play about his... Continue Reading →
The Trials of Oscar Wilde – Sale Waterside Arts
On 14th February 1895, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest opened to triumphant success at St James' Theatre in London. Within 100 days, Wilde found himself bankrupted, disgraced and sentenced to two years imprisonment for "committing acts of gross indecency with a male". He suffered a tragic fall from being a successful playwright to... Continue Reading →
All I See Is You – Hope Mill Theatre
The world was outraged when Brunei announced that it would make homosexuality punishable by stoning to death. LGBTQ+ activists protested, pleading with leading global businesses to boycott dealings with Brunei companies. Thankfully, this led to the country deciding to reverse their decision. The headlines exposed the shocking number of countries where homosexuality is still criminalised,... Continue Reading →
Trans Creative – Breaking Ground for Transgender Artists: An Interview with Kate O’Donnell
The inaugural Pride in Trafford festival kicks off this week, offering a host of events at Sale Waterside Arts. The event will celebrate and explore LGBTQ+ life in Trafford. There is a scratch night on Thursday 16th May. Trans Creative: Breaking Ground encourages transgender artists to break ground by providing them a platform to perform... Continue Reading →
Pride in Trafford: Celebrating identity and LGBTQ+ life in Trafford
Inspired by the success of Nathaniel Hall's First Time, and the popularity of subsequent activities marking World Aids Day, Sale Waterside Arts made plans for a series of events that celebrate and explore LGBTQ+ life in Trafford. They worked in collaboration with Trafford Council, Creative Industries Trafford, Contact Theatre, and many others, to create a... Continue Reading →
Drag Becomes Her – HOME, Manchester
As a drag parody of the cult movie, Death Becomes Her, Peaches Christ's show, Drag Becomes Her turns the bitter rivalry between ageing Hollywood actresses, Meryl Streep and Goldie Horn into one between two leading drag queens. As they both take a potion that makes them live forever, hilarity ensues. Veteran winner of Ru Paul's... Continue Reading →
What’s On in Manchester – May 2019
The best thing about living in Manchester is the abundance of theatre on offer. From the smallest fringe venues to large theatres, there is always something fantastic to watch. Here is my pick of what to watch across Manchester in May. RICHARD III - HOME, MANCHESTER On until 4th May 2019 After decades of the... Continue Reading →