Liverpool is finally coming out and embracing its vibrant and diverse gay community with its first ever dedicated gay arts festival.
In what is hoped will become an annual event, Homotopia promises to be a unique and inspiring celebration of Queer Liverpool. Taking place at a variety of venues across the city the festival boasts a bold and ambitious programme covering film, theatre, performance, photography, art, comedy, storytelling and heritage. The festival launches in tandem with the first Liverpool Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. | "The City is experiencing one of the most exciting chapters in its history, and I hope that this event will unleash the creative energies." | | Gary Everett |
Despite a lively scene and dynamic queer community, Liverpool’s gay thunder has all too often been stolen by its neighbours Manchester and Blackpool. But the gay community in Liverpool is very much part of the general feeling of city-wide renaissance that the successful Capital of Culture bid has left in its wake. Gary Everett is a co-ordinator for Homotopia: “The City is experiencing one of the most exciting chapters in its history, and I hope that this event will unleash the creative energies that exist in the city”.
And the gay scene in Liverpool does already stretch far beyond ‘Frankie Says Relax’ and Lily Savage. The city has no obvious ‘queer quarter’ which is perhaps a reflection of the gay-friendly nature of the city in general. But newcomers to the scene will find plenty to keep them amused in the Dale Street area, just north of Mathew Street. Popular joints include Paco's, Lisbon, Porthole, Superstar Boudoir, The Navy Bar and The END Club. But back to the festival…..Homotopia highlights include “Gayzin Liverpool” – a specially commissioned and highly personal documentary by Sandi Hughes, the ‘It’s A Drag’ exhibition at the Mathew Street Art Gallery, as well as The Queer Storytelling Festival, which is all about sharing stories beyond the straight and narrow.
Over at the Seel Street Gallery there’s a major art exhibition by a collaboration of gay and lesbian artists including Sadie Lee, Trademark© and Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes To Hollywood). Also visiting Liverpool will be ‘Tales From Yester-Queer’ – a unique project that aims to research and preserve the hidden histories of the city’s lesbian and gay past. The film festival will present two weeks worth of shorts, screenings and master-classes, as well as Liverpool’s premier of Angela Robinson’s lesbian action comedy D.E.B.S. There are various film making workshops on offer too, including ‘Making Lesbian Erotica’ by leading filmmaker Manuela Kay. Homotopia launches on the 1st of November.
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