Drag kings, vogue balls and trans excellence: Queer Contact promises biggest celebration of LGBT+ arts and entertainment ever

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

In the space of 14 years, Queer Contact has become a landmark occasion on Manchester’s arts and entertainment calendar - and this year’s line-up promises to be bigger than ever.

Making its return to Contact Theatre for the first time in five years due to the pandemic and extensive renovation works, Queer Contact will feature a host of performances, events, talks and parties over the course of eight days this February (11-19).

Featuring the likes of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Divina de Campo, performer Emma Frankland and cabaret collective The Bitten Peach, it’s a bustling line-up that’s been curated specifically thanks to Manchester’s young LGBT+ community.

READ MORE: 'Insta-worthy' cake firm Finch Bakery opening in Manchester's Harvey Nichols

Ric Watts, formerly of Royal Exchange and now creative producer of Queer Contact, tells the M.E.N: “Contact has always been a theatre for young people of the city but we’re increasingly putting them at the centre of everything we do.

“As we were looking at this Queer Contact festival, it felt really important that we were essentially being led by young people in what they wanted.

“We’ve asked the young queer people of Manchester what they wanted from a festival and the line-up is a culmivation of that.

“It’s based around who they want to see, what stories they want to hear, and what underrepresented voices aren’t getting enough attention in the spotlight.”

The result comes an engaging and diverse range of acts and performers - from drag kings, a cabaret featuring entirely non-binary performers and another featuring exclusively Pan-Asian talent, and shows addressing identity and sexuality.

There’s also events aimed specifically at younger audiences and those hoping to draw in