Trafford’s annual Pride celebration of LGBTQ+ arts and culture is coming back for a third year this May. Pride in Trafford will return to Waterside Arts Theatre in Sale for a five-day festival from May 17-21.
The event will feature cabaret, performances, art exhibitions and even a floral pop-up show. Celebrating the diversity and broad range of queer arts, the festival features a host of names including stand-up comedian Bethany Black, photographer Allie Crewe and author Emmy Clarke.
Launching at Pride In Trafford will be an ongoing series of portraits of transgender and non-binary people from award-winning photographer Allie Crewe. As part of the new Your Own Light exhibition at Waterside (May 20-July 30, free), Allie said the exhibition was ‘more important than ever’.
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Speaking to the M.E.N, Allie said: “There are beautiful stories being told throughout the whole series of portraits. To me, the portraits are about humanity and how we have the right to be our authentic selves.
“The majority of people I've captured are in transition and that to me is a really, beautiful human thing. It shows that even after experiencing trauma, there is still a chance to grow and live our lives authentically.
“There was a person I photographed called Dorian who just had a beautiful phrase when I asked them about their pronouns. They just said ‘At the moment, I'm using he/they and that may change as is my right’. It was something that was said so calmly and it was really powerful to me.
"I can’t think of anything more healing than the idea that we may have fluidity in our lives and how change is always available to us. I think that is something, especially at times like these, that people sometimes need to be reminded of."
The exhibition will include a portrait of Grace, a transgender medical student, which won the BJP Portrait of Britain award in 2019. It will also feature words from writer Olivia Fisher which were featured in the You Brought Your Own Light book.
“I wanted to make sure there continued to be more trans voices included in the project,” Allie added. “This time we’re going to prominently use the writing of Olivia Fisher. Her writing is so beautiful - it’s gorgeous, provocative and poetic - and covers romance, sex and identity. It is going to be really powerful.”
There will also be a chance for members of Trafford’s LGBTQ+ community to become a part of the exhibition themselves and feature on a ‘community wall’ of portraits. Those wishing to take part in the open portrait sessions on May 21 (10-12pm, free) can register their interest here.
Other events on the Pride In Trafford agenda include a digital exhibition from Paul Scott Bullen at Waterside from May 20 to July 30. Interstice is described as being an 'autobiographical embodiment' of Bullen's experience of homophobic resistance through movement, sound and spoken word.
An evening of alternative comedy on May 20 (8pm, £15) will take place in aid of The Proud Trust. The Laugh Riot event at Waterside will feature "Britain's only goth, lesbian, transsexual comedian" Bethany Black, comic and improviser Kate McCabe, drag queen live streamer Red Redmond and MC Jonathan Mayor.
‘Vampire Hunter Jess’ scribe Emmy Clarke will host a Meet The Author event at Sale Library on May 17 (4pm, free). The book, which follows a 10-year-old autistic girl determined to find proof that her neighbour is a vampire, is featured in an upcoming children’s anthology from Stories Of Care, a writing co-operative founded by comedian and BAFTA-winning writer Sophie Willan.
On May 18 (5-8pm, free) at Gorse Hill Studios, youth organisations Rainbow Reflections and Cooking Club will come together to host a special Technicolour Arrangement event designed for young people in Trafford. The event will feature bingo, quizzes, music and arts activities.
Also on May 18, performer Rowena Gander will present Barely Visible at Waterside (8pm, £8-12). The show, which will feature a 100-kilo vertical pole, is described as being an ‘empowering physical solo performance that brings focus to common issues that queer women face’.
Other events at the Waterside include Making Waves: Queer Edition (May 19, 7pm, £7-10) which shines a spotlight on LGBTQ+ artists in Greater Manchester. Musical theatre diva Vivienne de Vil will also host a brand-new show featuring songs from the stage and screen (May 19, 8pm, £12).
On May 21 (11am, 1pm, 3pm, free) at Stanley Square and Waterside Plaza in Sale, the family-friendly Wildflower will bring people into the world of performance through flowers. Presented by Curious Arts, the event promises a 'fun, floral pop-up performance' where 'everyone can thrive'.
Darren Adams, Producer for Pride in Trafford and Manager of Waterside, said of the 2022 event: “We are really thrilled with this year’s line-up for Pride in Trafford. There is a real sense of ‘coming together’ weaved throughout the programme – not just because all the events are live in person, but in terms of the themes, the artists and the collaborators involved.
“Through their work, all our performers celebrate inclusivity, love, diversity and togetherness and 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. We cannot wait to see the community back celebrating Pride in Trafford for five days of queer joy, fun and pride.”
Pride in Trafford runs from Tuesday May 17 until Saturday May 21. Tickets are on sale from March 31 at prideintrafford.org.
