Queer Up North turns 18 with Justin Bond and Taylor Mac

Next month sees the return of one of the UK’s most ground-breaking arts festivals, Manchester based Queer Up North, as it celebrates its 18th birthday with the usual eclectic line up of theatre, cabaret, comedy, art and music.

To mark its coming of age Queer Up North is bringing back some key works from the festival’s history in new and developed productions. The highlights include:

Quarantine and Company Fierce – Susan & Darren
A Queer Up North commission, World Premiere (2010 version)
30 April – 8 May, Sachas Hotel, Manchester

A re-working of the highly acclaimed 2006 performance, created by dancer Darren Pritchard and his mum Susan, remade for 2010 to reflect the changes in their relationship since the show was first made.  Join Susan and Darren as they throw a party in Sachas Hotel, complete with bar, disco and tempting buffet for the audience to enjoy before and after the performance. The production will also tour to Sadler’s Wells, London; Curve, Leicester; The Arches, Glasgow; and Tobacco Factory, Bristol.

Starving Artists – Road Movie
A Queer Up North re-commission and production. World Premiere
19 – 22 May, Library Theatre

Festival favourites Starving Artists revisit their award winning 1995 smash hit, Road Movie. Writer Godfrey Hamilton reworks this beautiful tale of love, travelling and loss, set against the AIDS crisis of the early 90s, starring Mark Pinkosh.

La Gayola – The Queer Up North Spiegeltent
In association with Manchester Pride
26 – 31 May, Sackville Street, Manchester

Returning after its highly successful outing in 2009, the La Gayola Spiegeltent features an outrageous line-up of cabaret, burlesque and music including: Justin Bond; Taylor Mac –Meow Meow; Bourgeois and Maurice and a full length show from Empress Stah, who proves that diamonds are indeed forever.

Queer Up North runs at various venues from 18 – 31 May with Susan and Darren’s trailblazer kicking off proceedings from 30 April – 8 May. For further details, please visit the website.