Now in its third year, Trafford’s five-day annual exploration and celebration of LGBTQ+ arts, Pride in Trafford, is back from May 17-21.
The festival brings together performers and performances from comedy and cabaret, storytelling and solo shows to photography and physical theatre. All events take place in venues and spaces around the borough, including leading arts venue Waterside.
Award-winning photographer Allie Crewe’s moving and poignant exhibition Your Own Light - featuring a series of striking portraits of trans/non-binary subjects - is one of the highlights. Shortlisted for the prestigious BJP Portrait of Britain award in 2017, it was Crewe’s stunning portrait of Grace, a transgender woman, that won her the award in 2019 and is part of the Waterside exhibition.
Live cabaret and comedy also feature prominently throughout this year’s celebrations, with highlights including musical theatre diva Vivienne de Vil in her new show, With One Look.
Evening of alternative comedy Laugh Riot returns, and this year’s line-up includes MC Jonathan Mayor, comedian and improviser Kate McCabe, and stand-up, drag queen and live streamer Red Redmond. The evening will be headlined by acclaimed stand-up Bethany Black.
Events for younger audiences are at the heart of this year’s programme, with leading local groups Gorse Hill Studios, Rainbow Reflections and Cooking Club coming together in a fun and free event. There will be cooking sessions followed by activities, including quizzes, music, arts activities, all curated by and for young people.
Lovers of all things gothic are invited to a Meet the Author event with Emmy Clarke, writer of Vampire Hunter Jess, a funny short story for children, inspired by her own personal experiences of growing up with autism.
Waterside and Creative Industries Trafford’s Making Waves programme will launch a queer edition for Pride, with an evening celebrating new work by LGBTQ+ artists around Greater Manchester.
Producer for Pride in Trafford and manager of Waterside Darren Adams said: “We are really thrilled with this year’s line-up. A real sense of coming together is woven throughout the programme – not just because all the events are live in person, but in terms of the themes, artists and collaborators involved. "One thing that really stands out and encapsulates this year’s programme is that our differences can unite us and that it is something to embrace and celebrate.”