This is the second in our series of free workshops for queer producers / event makers and people who want to be, with Outburst favourite,  Manchester Creative Producer Greg Thorpe!

These two workshops and one event viewing on the evenings of 28/29/30 April (see full schedule below) are a follow-up to our popular programme hosted by Greg last August. Like those, these workshops are for queer folks who are looking to develop both their own events and the platforms available to them and support other queer artists to develop their work. Greg draws from his own extensive experience making queer events, from underground/DIY shows to legit or supported spaces, with queer artists from many disciplines. Together we will work in a small group to explore queer ways of making and producing your work.

You don’t have to have attended the last sessions to get involved, as there will be a refresher of what went before.

Registration is FREE, though strictly limited in numbers to keep the sharings more intimate.

As part of the short course, the group will watch and reflect on a new piece of queer stage work, LOB, by Roma Havers (“a tennis and poetry bonanza about moving through sporting spaces as a queer body”), which is part of Manchester’s Queer Contact Festival online.

Free tickets for that will be provided by Outburst for those registered. Further details on the show HERE.

We’re delighted that Roma will join us in discussion for the final session on Friday.

Session 1: Wednesday 28 April, 6-8pm

What is ‘queer’ to us? What is queer about queer work?

Developing work and working with care.

Session 2 (screening): Thursday 29 April, 8–9.30pm

We’ll watch ‘LOB’ by Roma Havers at Queer Contact. You’ll be provided with your own ticket to watch online.

Followed by Q&A.

Session 3: Friday 30 April, 6–8pm

Critical thinking about ‘LOB’ and exploring watching queer work and being influenced by queer work.

There’ll be a guest appearance from Roma to discuss developing ‘LOB’, specifically around aspects of collaboration and queer methodologies.

Time for reflecting on participants’ own practice or current projects.

FACILITATOR INFO

Greg Thorpe is a creative producer, writer, artist, mentor and curator based in Manchester. He has worked in queer arts programming for over ten years, across nightlife, cabaret, dance, written word, visual art, film and performance. Greg is the Project Manager for Superbia, the year-round programme of LGBTQ arts and culture from Manchester Pride, and works for Islington Mill, the independent artist community in Salford. He curated and produced his own queer cabaret A Queer Revue! and has made work for and with Manchester International Festival, Southbank Centre, various arts centres and festivals, charities, individuals and organisations.

IMAGE CREDIT: LOB by Roma Havers. Illustration by Hannah Mclennan-Jones

Upcoming! Outburst is delighted to be joined by Quiplash, who are queer non binary blind theatre practitioner, producer and academic, Amelia Lander-Cavallo, and queer non binary neurodiverse artist and producer, Al Lander-Cavallo.

Audio description tells, in words, what is happening visually in a performance, TV, film, artworks etc. It was designed by and for blind and visually impaired people but other disabled and non-disabled audiences also use it. For queer audiences, artists, performers and film-makers, queering audio description can be crucially important to the work. Quiplash have been developing and teaching a Queer Audio Description method specifically for this reason.

Access: The event will be captioned by otter.ai. Please let us know about any access needs (ISL, BSL) you may have by emailing participate@outburstarts.com.

This talk will be followed in early March by a practical queer audio describing class for LGBTQ+ artists, organisers and allies who are interested in learning this essential skill.

This talk takes place as part of Outburst’s Special School, a learning programme developed with curator Daniel Bermingham along with queer and crip (sick and disabled) artists and cultural producers. It is for the uninitiated and the curious as well as for those who bring their expertise of their own non-normative bodies.

Special School includes workshops in dance, writing, textiles and worldbuilding by queer crip artists. It is a space for those who are unsure in their bodies; for those who are looking to explore (their) disability and/or queerness through doing together; and a space to test and question desire, pleasure and ability.

We are thrilled to partner with University of Atypical for these audio description events.

ID: A colourful aerial image of groups of people at the last in-person Queer Audio Description class in February 2020. They’re sitting on chairs and beanbags and are mid-exercise with Amelia Lander-Cavallo in grey dungarees, a yellow shirt and black trainers looking on lovingly.