The programme includes 9 UK premières and promises an eclectic, global mix of arts and culture, satisfying both acquired tastes and mass appeal.

The opening night saw international icon Sandra Bernhard take to the stage for the only UK performance of her new, reworked version of ‘Without You I’m Nothing’. The weekend continued with ‘Queering The Pitch’, a queer, three stage new music festival and after-party. With events covering books, comedy, cabaret,
exhibitions and film, the festival takes over Manchester’s artistic venues, celebrating queer culture in all its diversity.

High quality, boundary pushing work is a staple of the festival, as evidenced by theatre productions ‘Lili Handel’ and ‘Tough Time, Nice Time’. Events will also tackle head-on the issues raised by the Arts Council experience through its ‘Is Queer Culture Obsolete?’ debate, which, together with ‘Queer Question Time’ and ‘Identity Crisis?’, sets to fearlessly confront queer myths and constructs. The festival closes with the Stephen Petronio Company showcasing an extraordinary programme of dance, beautifully set to contemporary music.