Friday 10th - Saturday 18th February 2017
Celebrating LGBT History Month in Manchester.
Tickets from £3 plus free events and exhibitions.
2017 is an important year in British LGBT history as it marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of the Wolfenden Report that recommended that homosexual activity should no longer be a criminal offence. It also marks the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
Against this backdrop of historical significance, and the growing impact of worldwide politics on the rights of LGBT people, Queer Contact Festival returns for its ninth year, with a diverse and inclusive festival proudly celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender arts and culture in Greater Manchester as part of LGBT History Month.
Expect a packed programme of theatre, music, dance, cabaret, comedy, spoken word and visual art at venues including Contact, Band on the Wall, Manchester Central Library, Manchester Town Hall, Manchester Metropolitan University and the Whitworth. 
The festival explores gender, sexuality, health, religion, politics, citizenship, the law and more, with a stellar lineup of local, national and international artists including: lycra-clad operatic diva Le Gateau Chocolat accompanied by an 11-piece orchestra (Manchester’s Psappha New Music Ensemble); legendary avant garde performer David Hoyle (with Diamond, a new theatre show commissioned by Contact, examining LGBT history from 1957 to 2017 featuring Manchester’s House of Ghetto and the brilliantly bonkers lip-sync collective The Lipsinkers); awardwinning transgender performer Kate O’Donnell; contemporary dance theatre ensemble 201 Dance Company; Drag King champion Lucy Jane Parkinson; UK singing sensations David McAlmont and Baby Sol (celebrating the music of queer icon Prince); performers from the North West’s premiere alt-queer performance night Mother’s Ruin; plus many more.
This year’s packed programme also features the culmination of a three month project from Contact and The Proud Trust in partnership with LGBT young people from across Greater Manchester, supported by the Big Lottery Fund and Superbia, as the Queer Youth Gathering profiles the issues affecting LGBT young people, with a very special day of discussion, accompanied by a major new photographic and video exhibition Queer Youth In Focus. Speakers at the Queer Youth Gathering (selected by LGBT young people from Greater Manchester) include BAFTA nominee Annie Wallace (Hollyoaks), Maawan Rizwan (BBC Three How Gay Is Pakistan?), Cllr. Bev Craig (Manchester City Council), Romario Wanliss (PureGender), and Chloe Cousins (Rainbow Noir).
For full details of all performances and exhibitions check out http://contactmcr.com/
