CityLife

Manchester Pride: The lowdown

AHEAD OF THE REST: Manchester Pride

THE sequins have been sewn on, the feather boas dry cleaned and the rainbow flags given a good dusting – Manchester Pride is back.

Following last year’s 18th birthday celebrations may seem like a tall order, but this year’s festival has a programme that is positively bursting at the seams. And, it’s not just about the Big Weekend.

Manchester Pride kicks off on Friday and lasts for 10 days, culminating in the George House Trust Candlelit Vigil on August 31.

As well as the usual club extravaganzas and general debauchery that accompanies Pride, there is plenty on offer for fans of art, theatre, comedy, debate and sport as well as a number of family-oriented events.

In fact, this year’s festival has more to offer than ever before.

Running throughout Manchester Pride are a number of exhibitions.

The Albert Kennedy Trust celebrates 20 years of sterling work with LGBT young people this year and an exhibition, In Our Own Words, housed at the Central Library, looks back at their achievements.

Donna Black’s In The Name Of Pride is a collection of contemporary photography reflecting the diverse range of LGBT lifestyles and can be viewed at Odd Bar in the Northern Quarter.

Taurus, meanwhile, host Nicholas Franklin’s Clever Clogs, a collection of work on the theme of coming out, relationships and hedonism; surely something everyone can relate to there.

Taurus has also carved out a name as a theatre space over the last few years and during Pride a number of shows can be seen there.

On August 22, Didn’t We is a show exploring body language from 2toned Theatre.

Sian Hawthorn brings her hilarious show, Twice Removed, to the same venue on August 25 and 26.

Based on interviews, this is a frank insight into life on the margins.

Over at the Green Room, young people’s experiences in Wigan form the basis for Oliver Turned on August 27.

Meanwhile, local troupe Vada perform Queer’n’Sloshed at New York, New York on Friday.

Fans of literature will not be disappointed this year. Paul Burston, author of Shameless and Queens Country, will be reading from his latest novel on the Eden Barge on August 25.

The Gay Divorcee takes a decidedly modern look at the institution of marriage.

John Sam Jones discusses his latest novel, Crawling Through Thorns, at Taurus on August 27.

This semi-autobiographical work recalls the difficulties of growing up gay in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

On the same day, Age Concern launches Tales From Out of the City, a collection of snapshots of the lives of the people they represent.

The event takes place at the Miles Platting Day Centre at 4pm.

Lovers of poetry should visit the Inside Out Poetry Evening at Taurus on August 24 or Desert Island Poems at the Green Room on August 26, where the audience can read their favourite queer poems to the audience.

Other cultural highlights include the Manchester Pride Chamber Music Concerts at the BBC. A celebration of LGBT composers and performers, these concerts take place at 1pm on the 25, 26, 27 and 28 August.

Over at the Imperial War Museum, Cultural Pride takes a look at how LGBT heritage is represented during an evening of discussion this Sunday.

Amnesty International host Love Is A Human Right at the City Inn on Monday. This promises to be an enlightening debate about the state of LGBT rights across the world with panellists who have direct experience of discrimination.

Meanwhile the George House Trust presents Secrets and Lives, an evening of personal perspectives on living with HIV at the Frog and Bucket on Wednesday.

For families, there is a fun day on Saturday at Sackville Park with a huge range of activities available. The Pink Dog Show on Sunday is also bound to appeal to a wide audience as well as pampered pooch owners.

There are also a number of events aimed at women. Secrets of the Lady Garden is an intriguingly titled event at the LGF on Tuesday and promises to be a frank exploration of female sexuality.

Vanilla host The L Word Quiz on Wednesday and during the Big Weekend, Sunday night sees Sackville Park turned into a dedicated women’s space. Vanilla also will be bringing back the hugely successful club nights Climax and Fussy Pussy over the Bank Holiday.

The Big Weekend is, however, when Manchester Pride shifts into a whole new gear. To enjoy events in the Village, you will need to buy a ticket. Day tickets cost from £10 with weekend tickets available from £17.50-£21.50.

Highlights within the Village include the main stage, home to acts such as Little Boots, Bananarama, Frankmusik and many more over four days.

The Lifestyle Expo is back and is a mine of information on every sports club, community group or charity around as well as offering health and lifestyle advice whilst the Pride Market offers a chance to fritter some pink pounds when a little tipsy.

The Pride Parade, as usual, is free and winds its glamorous way through the city centre from 1pm on August 29; a sight simply not to be missed.

For clubbers there is plenty to keep you dancing until dawn after the main stage closes for the evening. In the Village, Cruz and Essential are offering good value late night clubbing every night throughout the Big Weekend.

Poptastic offers a double bill of clubbing at Alter Ego and Uni-Challenge is back. Free buses will transport you from the Village down to the university where this huge extravaganza takes place on Saturday night. You can follow that up with Federation’s Wild, Wild West party at the Ritz on Sunday and finish the whole thing off with a trip to one of the late night closing parties in the Village on Monday after the Candlelit Vigil.

Last year’s Pride raised over £100 000 for good causes. So, in keeping with this year’s theme, be a hero, give generously and help make this year’s festival an even bigger success.

For more information, check out the previews and features to the right and www.manchesterpride.com.