A journey through St Helens past 1982 – 1995.
A film written and produced by Roger Hill.
To book a free ticket, see here
Interest area: culture
The Chosen Haram
A heady mix of love, drugs and Islam – The Chosen Haram is a unique and complex take on circus, coming to Liverpool as part of the Homotopia festival on Thursday 16 November 2023.
Performed entirely on two Chinese Poles, The Chosen Haram tells the story of two gay men and their chance meeting through a dating app. It details the highs and lows of their relationship and the social and cultural barriers they must overcome to find happiness and personal fulfillment – the word “Haram” refers to something that is forbidden in Islam.
Taking over Invisible Wind Factory with gravity-defying tricks and extraordinary movement, the show explores sexuality, faith, addiction and connection – an exploration into the personal struggles faced by many people whose upbringing contradicts their personal truths. The Chosen Haram is based on a combination of lead artist Sadiq Ali’s personal experience, as well as interviews with members of the LGBTQ+ community who identify as (ex) Muslim.
Alice Holland, Festival Programmer, said: “The Chosen Haram is outstanding as an extremely skilled piece of circus theatre, and as a truly moving story that speaks to body, heart and soul. The play is thoughtful, impressive, romantic, inventive and sexy, and a real treat for audiences in Liverpool.”
The shows forms part of an exciting and varied programme of events for the 2023 Homotopia Festival, which is celebrating its 20th year at the forefront of Queer art and activism.
The festival kicks off with a show-stopping evening of drag cabaret and pro-wrestling on 11 November in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. Other highlights include The Ten Commandments, a new show by Queer legend and performance artist David Hoyle, music and spoken word by Liv Wynter, and a range of visual art and performances from 11 November until 2 December.
A full list of events is available at homotopia.net.
Stirling Prize 2023
Presented since 1996, the RIBA Stirling Prize is the highest accolade in architecture.
Visit Tate Liverpool + RIBA North to see an overview of this year’s shortlist including the winning design, The John Morden Centre by Mæ.
Located in Gallery 2.
How To Catch A Pig
How To Catch A Pig, is a sell out night created by artist and activist Liv Wynter as a celebration of creatives who also organise against the state, with a focus on queer and trans performers. Their band press.release are residents, alongside resident artists Toby and Aidy Evans Jesra, and DJ’s Sad Queers Club and Basura.
Liv Wynter is a trans and working class grassroots organiser and performer, who has just launched their new self titled solo project ft music from Piglet. They have a published poetry collection, ‘Don’t Let It Go To Your Head’, and have 2 sold out theatre production runs (‘Rise of the Refrain’ 2021 Stanley Arts, ‘And So The Choir Gathers’ 2019 The Bunker).
They are gay bar and festival regulars with DJ MC double act Dance Mums, and spent 2022 touring stadiums with Queer House Party, playing Secret Garden Party, Boomtown, Wilderness, Latitude and Sziget, and being banned from the Southbank Centre for decapitating the queen. Liv is a dedicated abolitionist organiser, and stands in solidarity with all collectives organising against any systemic oppression.
Part of Homotopia 2023
Aladdin Love
Step into a whole new world of enchantment and laughter with Young Homotopia’s dazzling twist on the classic pantomime, Aladdin.
Prepare to be spellbound as we take you on a journey through the bustling streets of Agrabah, where love knows no boundaries and the power of self-acceptance reigns supreme.
Ten Commandments
The living legend, queer icon, and performance art maestro David Hoyle brings his critically-acclaimed live show ‘The Ten Commandments’ to Liverpool for a one-night-only performance at The Unity for Homotopia Festival.
Survivor of a shame-inducing religious upbringing, David revisits his Biblical initiation with his very own version of The Ten Commandments designed to spark a revolution in human consciousness. This is a live experience that will wash all of your sins away and then some. Dark comedy meets righteous anger meets queer revolution as only David Hoyle themselves can conjure…
They welcome the congregation to liberate themselves and others in a thermonuclear explosion of love and also hope for what remains of the 21st century.
Part of Homotopia 2023
Grayson Perry
What makes you, you? Is there a part deep inside of you that no one understands? Have you found your tribe or are you a unique human being? Or is it more complicated than that? In the last few decades a combination of individualism, the internet and the culture war has, for many of us, brought our feelings about our own and other people’s identity to the fore.
Grayson Perry, white, male, heterosexual, able bodied, English, southerner, baby boomer and member of the establishment, takes a mischievous look at the nature of identity in his new show that will make you laugh, shudder, and reassess who you really are.
Environmental Justice Questions
The team are delighted to invite you to their event with artist Harun Morrison, who designed Bootle Library’s Garden alongside librarians and local residents.
Harun has invited a range of people including activists, writers, artworkers, theorists, architects, chefs, natural historians and horticulturalists to propose a question relating to environmental justice that can stimulate conversation. The workshop will involve a series of small-group discussions around chosen questions followed by a larger group discussion.
To capture the season they will also be serving a light bonfire themed snack with some kombucha to drink.
Suitable for ages 16+.
About Harun Morrison:
Harun Morrison is an artist and writer based on the River Lea and Regent’s Canal. He is currently an associate artist with Greenpeace UK, Researcher in Residence at V&A Dundee, and designed Bootle Library’s Garden alongside librarians and local people, which is officially launching in Summer 2024.
A Message for Santa Outdoor Trail
Back by popular demand, this year’s festive family trail brings to life the charming book A Message For Santa by Hiawyn Oram illustrated by Tony Ross.
Dig out your Christmas jumpers and gather your loved ones for a Christmas adventure through Calderstones Park.
Self-led trails last around 90 minutes and are perfect for families with children aged 4-9, but all ages are welcome.
Every family receives a copy of the book to share, as well as a map and pencil for every child.
An Afternoon of Wellbeing
Experience an afternoon of peaceful respite to restore your sense of well-being as we weather the storm of winter.
They’ll start with an inspiring Shared Reading session, sharing poems from Stressed/Unstressed (12 November) or Hope is the Thing with Feathers (9 December), meant to bring moments of light in darker times. They’ll then move on to a restorative walk around Calderstones Park, with poems, reflections and mindfulness.