Queer Up North

IT’S ALWAYS refreshing when appeals are successful; when online petitions, emails and letters actually have an affect upon the powers that be, such as when Affleck’s Palace, an important part of Manchester’s cultural fabric, was recently saved due to a passionate protest against its closure.

Queer Up North, another important and much loved Manchester institution, has a similar story to tell. The organisation began in 1992 when it was founded by Tanja Farman and Gavin Barlow, two members of staff at Manchester venue Greenroom. The idea was to provide a platform for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender art. In subsequent years the annual festival expanded and gained international recognition.

Earlier this year, the 2008 festival was threatened by Arts Council funding cuts. Thanks to a successful appeal, the organisation has risen through a tough few months like a phoenix from the flames with an exciting programme for 2008. The events calendar for this year is set to be incredibly diverse, with the festival hosting everything from music to films, cabaret, plays and debates, meaning that there really is ‘something for everybody.’ Queer Up North is not simply an ‘alternative’ festival, as it attracts wide interest and has secured many high-profile performers.

As Artistic Director Jonathan Best put it, “Queer Up North exists to foster an artistic and cultural tradition that has a particular importance to those who self-identify as queer, but we also have a massive interest from those who self identify as straight. It would be too narrow to ask what the festival means to the LGBT community, as our audiences vary massively and are very diverse.”

The festival opens on Friday 9th May with a world premiere from American international icon Sandra Bernhard, who will be performing a reworked version of her landmark show Without You I’m Nothing at the Opera House on Quay Street. The show was what propelled Bernhard to fame in 1988 and was later made into a film, which will also be showing during the festival on 10th May at the Cornerhouse.

Next up is music festival ‘Queering the Pitch’ on 10th May, which is new for 2008. Over twenty acts will be taking over the Manchester Academy for five hours of music, providing everything from indie bands to singer-songwriters. Acts include Cherry Ghost, Ipso Facto and Bishi. “I’m very excited about the music festival,” says Jonathan. “I think it’s going to be very interesting. It’s definitely my favourite at the moment.”

If loud music gigs just aren’t your thing, the debate event ‘Queer Question Time’ will also be held on 10th May at Urbis. Interesting and thought provoking questions such as ‘Is there any reason for the gay scene to exist?’ and ‘How should we tackle homophobia worldwide?’ will be discussed. “The debate events in the festival are an important example of how we are trying to deal with important issues as well as showcase some really good Art.” says Jonathan. The panel of thinkers will include famous names such as Diva magazine’s Editor Jane Czyzselska and writer Mark Simpson and will operate in the same way as the BBC’s Question Time, with all the questions proposed by members of the audience.

XXY is a thought provoking film about identity that explores the sexual awakening and confusion of fifteen-year-old Alex, who is a hermaphrodite. The film, which was hugely popular at this year’s Viva! Festival will be showing at the Cornerhouse from 11th to 22nd May.

I put it to Jonathan that one of the aims of Queer up North is to challenge and confront queer myths and constructs. “It’s about exploring interesting, provocative ideas through Art,” he explains. Seemingly worried that I am beginning to get bogged down in serious issues he declares, “It’s not all intellectual stuff though, for example we’re showing a film about queer zombies!” Otto: or Up With Dead People comes to the Odeon at the Printworks in a special midnight presentation on 16th May. The film features a zombie who hitches a ride to Berlin and later arranges to meet up with his ex-boyfriend.

Despite films about queer zombies, Jonathan agrees, “there is an activist streak to what we do.” In 2007, the festival had a special focus on queer life in Poland, intended to highlight the challenges met by queer people living in Eastern Europe. This year, on a similar theme, a film entitled The Beirut Apartment provides a snapshot of the amazing spectrum of queer life in urban Lebanon. It will be shown as part of a double bill with a film called 7 years on 21st May at the Cornerhouse. 

“We are always exploring through arts and culture how we can illuminate the situation internationally for queer people. Here in the UK there have been some important legislative advances, but a queer arts festival is a good place to highlight issues on a more international level.” Jonathan continues: “Essentially, the festival is a place to have fun, but we also offer some real meat and substantial content in our events.”

Another big name that Queer Up North can proudly boast this year is musician ‘Bitch’, who will be known to fans of The L Word as the girlfriend of Daniela Sea (Max out of The L Word). Hailed as one of America’s rising stars, Bitch will perform her distinctive ‘feminist-folk-rock-with-attitude’ at Matt and Phred’s Jazz Club on 18th May.

For literature lovers, biographer and historian Diana Souhami will be discussing Radclyffe Hall’s cult classic The Well of Loneliness and it’s arguable status as a landmark lesbian novel, eighty years after its publication. The discussion will take place over brunch at the new Abode hotel in the city centre on 11th May.

There is much more to Queer Up North than the annual arts festival. The company also does important work with schools, in collaboration with the leading gay equality organisation Stonewall, attempting to tackle the problem of homophobic bullying in UK schools. Showing of the groundbreaking new play FIT began last year and is set to continue this autumn.

“This was the first time we had worked in schools,” says Jonathan, “and in every case the project was met with real interest and enthusiasm from the students. They reacted to the play in a very mature way. There hasn’t been anyone else working in schools on this scale.” Obviously, without funding from the Arts council, important projects such as these would not be able to continue. Jonathan feels positive about the future of Queer Up North. “We are currently having a review with the Arts Council which is going very well.”

So how can people show their support to ensure the festival goes ahead next year? “We are always looking for volunteers that can help in a variety of ways, but the best thing people can do is fill out one of our short surveys when they come to an event. This way, we can find out what the audience think of our line up this year- the audience’s voice is so important,” replies Jonathan.

By simply glancing at the calendar, it’s clear that Queer Up North truly celebrates queer culture in all its diversity, and raises important issues along the way. Further details, including full listings, venue and booking information can be found online at www.queerupnorth.com.