This coming weekend to coincide with IDAHOBIT (International day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia) would have seen Waterside and Trafford celebrate its second Pride in Trafford festival: a five day event of live performances and exhibitions to explore and celebrate LGBTQ+ life and to provide a platform for queer artists in the region.
Whilst - in line with Government guidelines this public gathering is no longer possible, and people across the world are discovering a new normal - we are delighted to announce that instead we are taking Pride Inside from Thursday 14 - Sunday 17 May with a small scale digital version for audiences to enjoy and experience in the safety and comfort of their own homes.
All events are free but there is the opportunity for audiences to contribute to Waterside’s Pay It Forward campaign, where any online donations made for select Pride Inside shows goes towards paying for future theatre tickets - once Waterside reopens - for NHS workers and their families, many of whom have had to sacrifice quality family time during the Covid-19 crisis.
Participatory events for all the family are at the heart of this small scale celebration, kicking off on Friday 15 with online Family Gorgeous Story Time sessions being streamed direct from Waterside’s social media channels at different times across the weekend. A partnership with Z-Arts Manchester, readers young and old can tune in to and join fabulous members of the renowned Manchester Drag Queen collective ‘Family Gorgeous’ – as they read children’s stories using their mix of outlandish costumes and hilarious storytelling skills.
On Saturday 16 May, join renowned DJ Bright Light Bright Light live from his New York home as he live streams Disco, pop, 12” mixes, movie soundtracks, hits, misses and hidden gems from all ages inspired by the music of one of his favourite films, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. Expect France Joli, Janet, Madonna, Mariah, Erasure, Donna Summer, John Barry, Shirley Bassey, Scissor Sisters, MUNA, Kate Bush and more. Grab a Mimosa, some cake and enjoy dancing the afternoon away for this amazing Saturday afternoon at-home experience.
Also on Saturday afternonon, Manchester’s Infamous Mother of House of Ghetto; Darren Pritchard will lead a one-off Vogue Dance Class online. In this session participants have the opportunity to explore the moves of Vogue – spinning, dipping, and werqqqqing to achieve a short piece of choreography. As well as discovering Ballroom culture and voguing, Darren will also share the history and context of the art form, and the fundamentals of Vogue Femme.
This 60 minute event will have more of a focus for adults but on Sunday 17 May, Darren is running a shorter one-off high energy Family Vogue Class where kids young and old can learn to strike a pose and master the basics of voguing to impress all their friends once safely back in the playground!
Two additional events will also be available to enjoy at home during Pride Inside. From Thursday 14 May - a brand new digital art work from emerging queer poet, Louis Glazzard will be online in which Louis explores our relationship with technology and social media through the queer gaze in Behind The Eyes. This micro commission is part of Waterside and Creative Industries Trafford’s Screenlight Programme and it inspects the relationship and attachments that are made online, as well as opening up to wider comments and questions about the consumers’ use of modern technology. And on Friday 16 May, the Bi-Monthly Queer Artist Talking Circle will take place in an online Zoom format – welcoming Manchester’s creative community who identify both as queer/LGBTQ+ and also as artists to come together to connect, share, talk, inspire and support one another. This session will include provocations from artists across the region focusing on how we can remove barriers and include queer female and non-binary identities on our stages. Further info on this session is available at prideintrafford.org.
Waterside Venue Manager, Darren Adams comments: “We were so hugely disappointed when, like so many others, we had to take the difficult decision to cancel our live five day Pride in Trafford event. But we are so excited to be able to offer just a small taste of what the festival had in store and believe that our alternative and digital micro Pride Inside version reflects the same key mission and ethos to explore and celebrate LGBTQ+ life, identity and culture and offer a vital platform and voice for queer artists. We hope you enjoy the online festival and we look forward to welcoming you all (in person) to Pride in Trafford 2021.”
Cllr Liz Patel, Executive Member for Leisure and Culture says: " I am delighted that Trafford will get its chance to celebrate Pride this year. Thanks to the organisers and contributors who have made this on-line festival happen. It’s a free event with sessions for everyone, I will be trying the Vogue Dance Class. If you can contribute to our ‘Pay it Forward’ scheme then please do – this will help provide future event tickets for NHS workers and their families, a great way to say thank you’
Pride Inside runs from Thursday 14 May to Sunday 17 May 2020 coinciding with the world-wide IDAHOBIT (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia) on Sunday 17 May and is a collaboration between the Mayor of Trafford, Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford.