Manchester Pride reveals Superbia arts and cultural events for 2019

Written by Dianne Bourne
Last updated 5 years ago
City of Manchester, Culture, Festivals, LGBT+, Sponsored

The line up to the Superbia Weekend, the cultural programme of events at Manchester Pride Festival, has now been revealed.

It features a premiere of one of the most exciting films released this year along with a programme of one-man performances, exhibitions, panel talks and sober socials.

Now in its fourth year, the Superbia Weekend is the charity’s alternative offering to the traditional Pride celebrations. An alcohol-free space, the event will offer a three day programme of premieres, firsts, new work and LGBT+ celebrations as a culturally rich alternative to the hedonism of the other elements of the festival. The free-to-attend programme will include film screenings, cabaret, conversation, community workshops, new art and a free post-Pride Parade party.

The Superbia Weekend begins on Friday 23rd August and closes on Sunday 25th August and takes place across various venues. Kicking off the celebrations will be an exclusive screening of Beyond “There’s Always A Black Issue, Dear..”, a short film surrounding insight on growing up black and queer in 1970s Britain. Starting at 7pm in The Refuge basement, the evening will also featuring Q&A with film director Claire Lawrie and introduction to the Superbia Weekend from project manager, Greg Thorpe.

The Superbia Art Gallery featuring all LGBT+ Manchester artists was the most popular event of the Superbia Weekend 2018. Hosted all weekend in No 70 Oxford Street it will showcase films, paintings, sculpture and live performance and, on Sunday night, will offer fans the chance to meet the artists.

On Saturday, a multitude of events take place across No 70 Oxford Street (formerly the Cornerhouse), Manchester Central Library and The Refuge. The day begins with a post-parade party, followed by exhibitions from Rainbow Noir, Cheddar Gorgeous and Heather Glazzard.

The headline event is the north west premiere of Deep In Vogue, a compelling documentary into Manchester’s Vogue Ball scene and a journey of love, compassion and community developed in the black, gay ballrooms of 1980s New York.

Sunday brings a morning yoga session, further film screenings from acclaimed artists and writers and pop-up performances, bringing the three-day extravaganza to a close.

The majority of events throughout the Superbia Weekend will be free to attend, however spaces may be limited for film screenings so early attendance is advised.

Here is a full rundown of events and timings for the event:

Friday 23rd August 2019

The Superbia Weekend Launch – The Refuge Basement, 7–10pm

Screening of Beyond, ‘There’s always a Black issue, dear’… with Q&A from film director, Claire Lawrie. Guest artists and Superbia project manager Greg Thorpe introduce The Superbia Weekend followed by social time and music.

Saturday 24th August 2019

Post-Parade Party – No. 70 Oxford Street (Cafe), from 2.30pm

Music, café and art workshop for all ages.

Superbia Gallery – No. 70 Oxford Street (Exhibition Space), from 3pm

Exhibition of work from Manchester artists, including a specially-commissioned audio installation of bisexual poets reading their work, Heather Glazzard’s Queer Letters, Tom Quaye’s collection of digital work including Queers of Manchester and a collection of make-up faceprints and more.

Rainbow Noir Exhibition Launch – Manchester Central Library, 4.30pm–6.30pm

Rainbow Noir, a group for and by queer people of colour in Manchester, launch of exhibition of materials including photographs, video, T-shirts, banners, flyers and more. The exhibition will be curated by Rainbow Noir member and artist/curator Leo Hermitt. The exhibition is due to launch directly after the Parade with marchers placing parade banners into the exhibition as the final pieces. There will be launch speeches followed by a catered West Indian buffet in the Function Room.

For anyone who misses the event over the course of the weekend, the exhibition will run until September.

South and Central American Queer Film – No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema) 4.30pm–5.30pm

Screening of This Is My Face focusing on Chilean men living with HIV with introduction by filmmaker Angelica Cabezas, and Carmen, about a drag queen community in Panama, with an introduction by artist Humberto Velez who worked on the project.

Drag Queen Story Time – No. 70 Oxford Street (Annexe), 5.15pm–6pm

A story time for kids, to encourage people to ’embrace difference’. Drag Queen Story Time is inspired by a project in San Francisco where drag performers read stories and imagine a world where people are not judged on their appearance or identity.

SMART Recovery Meeting – No. 70 Oxford Street (Quiet Space), 5pm–6-30pm

SMART Recovery is an international non-profit organization that provides assistance to individuals seeking abstinence from addictions. SMART is an acronym for Self-Management and Recovery Training. The group get together will include conversation, meditation and acupuncture and will be open to all.

BiPhoria Birthday Event – No. 70 Oxford Street (Cafe), 5.30pm–7.30pm

A panel, conversation and celebration event looking at bi/pan/omni issues and history in collaboration with Biphoria.

Superbia Lecture – No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema), 5.30pm–6.30pm

Dr Andrew Moor of Manchester Metropolitan University gives a talk on contemporary gay cinema.

‘Deep In Vogue’ Manchester Premiere and Performance Party – The Refuge Basement, 7pm–3am

Manchester premiere of the Deep In Vogue documentary including two screenings, conversations with filmmakers, an appearance from documentary star Honey Dijon. The screenings will be followed by performances from House of Ghetto and local DJs.

Film screening: 9pm–10:30pm

After party with performances: 11pm–3am

Tickets – £5 available here

Riot Act – No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema) 7.30–8.30pm

One man verbatim theatre created and performed by Alexis Gregory telling the story of the LGBTQ+ rights movement through three of its key players. Directed by renowned queer artist Rikki Beadle-Blair.

Queers Without Beers Takeover! – No. 70 Oxford Street Café, 7.30pm–10pm

Sober social with music and a pop-up pay-what-you-feel alcohol-free bar.

Sunday 25th August 2019

Morning Yoga – No. 70 Oxford Street (Annexe) 11am–12pm

An audience with Luke Turner – No. 70 Oxford Street (Café) 12.30pm–1.30pm

Author event with writer of Out Of The Woods, a ‘powerful bisexual memoir’. Hosted by Emily Metcalfe of Leeds Lit Festival.

Bi/Pan Film Programme – No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema) 2–4pm

Collection of bi/pan films curated and introduced by Abbie Wolfe of Belladonna Experiences.

Superbia Gallery: Artist Tour & Talk – No. 70 Oxford Street (Exhibition Space), 3pm–4.30pm

Artists discuss their work in a guided tour of The Superbia Gallery plus pop-up performances and reading.

Rebel Dyke Live – No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema), 4.30pm–5.30pm

One woman show by Karen Fisch looking back at her life as a dyke activist, London drag king and notorious Rebel Dyke.

Les Flicks presents ‘JT LeRoy’ – No. 70 Oxford Street (Cinema), 5.45pm–7.45pm

New feature film looking at enigmatic JT LeRoy scandal presented with Manchester’s lesbian/bi monthly film club.

Abigail Ward presents Jayne County – No. 70 Oxford Street (Annexe) 6pm–7pm

50 minute talk on the transgender punk icon and rebel.

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