Homotopia 10 top ten
Homotopia launched and celebrated its 10th anniversary this week in a flurry of unicorns, glitter, beautiful people and Boy George. With another incredible programme about to begin, the fest welcomes back some old friends from near and far, as well as the usual raft of new commissions. The LGBT event crosses all media to take in visual art, photography, exhibitions, film screenings and more. The fantastic promo image comes courtesy of city photographer Matt Ford.Concentrating, as is our wont, on the more deliberately theatrical side, here are ten goings ons over the next few weeks that will be well worth checking out:
Joseph Mercier
Canadian Joseph Mercier has got it and likes to flaunt it, in his contemporary dance works that are as beautiful as they are, well, explicit. Put it this way, his last Homotopia show was called Cruising, Clubing, Fucking. This time, it's Of Saints and Go Go Boys, on at the Unity on November 7 and 8.
John Waters
'The Pope of Trash', film director John Waters will take to the stage of the Philharmonic Hall on November 8 for the only UK performance this year of his one man show, This Filthy World. A real coup for Homotopia.
Le Gateau Chocolat
Le Gateau Chocolat is a Nigerian cabaret artist who really knows what it is like to be an outsider. He will be revealing the story of his life in this world premiere show, Black, at the Unity on November 14 and 15.
House of Suarez: Vogue Deco and Other Stories
Choreographer Darren Suarez heads up one of the city's best annual events - the Vogue Ball. Here's a rare chance to see the art form up close in a theatre setting. His latest performance piece, Vogue Deco, is a collaboration with one of New York's top Vogue talents Aviance Milan, and can be seen at the Bluecoat on November 16.
Mis Les
Mis Les (A Revolution in Rollers) is the return of everyone's favourite Scotty Road-based musical parodying double act Caz and Britney, following the sell-out success of their first full-length show From Primark to Prison at the Epstein this summer. Catch them at the Unity from November 13 to 16 (various times).
Dance triple bill
Elinor Randle of Liverpool's Tmesis physical theatre is among the choreographers of this trio of new works, including the Pedro Almovadar-inspired Young Man! and the return of Homotopia regular, Gary Clarke. At the Unity on November 9.
Earthfall
Earthfall will be a familiar company to Homotopia audiences. Their contemporary dance work is often inspired by 70s New York, and their new show, Chelsea Hotel, is no exception. On again at the Unity tomorrow night (November 2).
Dickie Beau
Dickie Beau calls himself a "drag fabulist", and his new show Lost in Trans is inspired by Ovid's Metamorphoses. Read the MADEUP review of his acclaimed 2012 work Blackouts here, and catch him at the Unity on November 6.
David Hoyle
For what would Homotopia be without performance artist and jack-of-all-artistic-trades David Hoyle? He hosts In the Company of Friends on November 9 at the Unity, billed as an evening of live art, poetry and conversation.
Sandi Toksvig
News Quiz host, national treasure and star of No 73 (amirite, Eighties kids?) Sandi Toksvig will be presenting an evening of stand up and stories at the Philharmonic Hall on November 5.
