Days out

Organisers have finally announced the long awaited line-up of events at the first ever Leeds Erotica Festival. Over Halloween weekend 2008, Leeds Erotica Festival will bring the erotic arts to the city in celebration of sexuality, sex and the beauty of the human body.

Burlesque performers

Visitors to the festival will be able to choose events from the thought-provoking, to the educational and eye-opening, right through to the downright naughty! There are artistic workshops as well an erotic art exhibition and a night with the world famous Dr Sketchy's - a cross between a life-drawing class and burlesque!

For the literary there will be an erotic literature day, short story and poetry writing workshops and a competition giving erotic writers the chance to be published. Plus there'll be the chance to raise money for a good cause in the Burlesque Against Breast Cancer charity event, and several thought-provoking films including a quartet from Italian auteur, Pier Paolo Pasolini.

Burlesque fans are well catered for on the Saturday night with a glamorous Burlesque and Cabaret night full of glitz and saucy glamour. Visitors will be encouraged to flit between burlesque nights featuring dancers, comedians, musicians and cabaret stars to see over 30 different acts at four different venues on Merrion Street.

The climax of the festival is the Halloween Masquerade Ball on Halloween night. The sumptuously-decorated ballroom at the newly opened 'Loft' venue will have DJs playing a mix of favourite tunes like any nightclub, with a more intimate side room to entertain the crowds with sexy performances by the UK's best alternative dancers, performers and cabaret stars.

Full schedule of events:

Friday 17 October – Friday 14 November 2008
Erotic Art Exhibition at Reliance, Reform, Sela, Mook, The Midnight Bell, Lounge, Santiago, Art’s Cafe and Subculture.

Thursday 30 October 2008
Film: Il Decameron (18) @ Hyde Park Picture House - 10.30pm

More information at the website:
Workshop: Burlesque Costume Skills @ Midnight Bell - 7pm
Event: Bisexual Speed-dating @ Mook - 8pm

Friday 31 October 2008
Workshop: Bella Besame's Beginners' Guide to Burlesque @ Subculture - 2pm
Event: Erotica Masquerade/Fetish Ball @ The Loft - 8pm
Film: Salo (18) @ Hyde Park Picture House - 10.30pm

Saturday 1 November 2008
Workshop: Erotic Short Story Writing @ Mook - 10.30am
Workshop: Pole Dancing @ Subculture - 11.30am
Workshop: Nude Photography - venue TBC - 11am
Workshop: Pin-up Styling @ Mook - 1.30pm
Workshop: Bella Besame's Beginners' Guide to Burlesque @ Subculture - 2pm
Film: The Notorious Bettie Page (18) @ Hyde Park Picture House - 4pm
Event: Burlesque Against Breast Cancer - Ultimate Burlesque book launch featuring readings and burlesque performance @ Sela - 4pm
Event: The Burlesque Strip @ Santiago, Verve, Lounge Secret Garden and Subculture - 7pm
Film: The Canterbury Tales (15) @ Hyde Park Picture House - 10.30pm

Sunday 2 November 2008
Workshop: Nude Photography - venue TBC - 11am
Workshop: Rope Bondage @ Subculture - 12noon
Workshop: Erotic Poetry Writing @ The Adelphi - 1.30pm
Workshop: Body Painting @ The Adelphi - 1:30pm
Literature: Erotic Literature Day @ Sela - 2pm
Workshop: Bella Besame's Tassel Twirling and Stocking Removal Workshop @ Subculture - 2pm
Film: Kinsey (15) @ Hyde Park Picture House - 3pm
Event: Dr Sketchy's Anti Art School @ Lounge - 6.30pm
Event: Erotica Pub Quiz @ The Reform - 8pm
Film: Arabian Nights (18) @ Hyde Park Picture House - 10pm