Liverpool in the north of England had always been a major seaport …… once one of the world’s largest.  It’s helped build this sprawling city ‘s multi-national diverse culture which includes a very active and prominent LGBTQ+ community. It is also home to HOMOTOPIA one of the country’s longest-running queer arts and cultural Festivals. 

This annual event features a variety of LGBTQIA art across multiple venues and outdoor spaces in the city welcoming the best known and most exciting new names in LGBT+ art, theatre, dance and music.  Part of their mission statement that we particularly like says Not everyone has equal access to art, being an artist or becoming part of a creative community. At Homotopia we work with artists and creatives that are on the margins or excluded from mainstream settings, showcasing work that is engaging, challenging and inspiring

After months of being stuck at home, this year’s festival theme is Coming Out.       It runs from Thursday 28 October – Sunday 14 November. 

Here are some of OUEERGURU”s PICKS OF MUST SEE EVENTS

Internationally touring cabaret and drag artist Peter Groom, presents ‘Dietrich: Live in Liverpool’ – a glittering, poignant and uplifting audience with icon, Marlene Dietrich, in the stunning St George’s Hall. It is a stunning performance and we got to talk to Peter Groom about his fascination with Marlene ; check it out HERE

This event is available online as a live stream. Find out more and book tickets here

An evening of live art, variety, queer celebration, and the official print edition launch of You Otter Know: The Omnibus.  Originally commissioned in lockdown by Homotopia as part of their Queer Art Always series, You Otter Know is a queer zine created by the multi-talented Harry Clayton-Wright in collaboration with independent publishing house Polari Press. Inspired by a love of vintage porno mags and the graphic design of top shelf publications from the 70s, 80s and 90s.  

Published throughout lockdown with four digital issues released, this one-off special event transports the work from page to stage with some very special performances brought to you by Harry and friends. 

This event is available online as a livestream here.

Homotopia Festival is pleased to present a curated series of queer film shorts, available to watch on-demand throughout the festival. You can also Find out more about the stories featured and the people behind the camera at the ‘Meet The Filmmakers’ online panel discussion on Sunday 31 October.

The Films include THE DEVOTIONS by Barry Fitzgerald. 5 years ago, Barry met Bernárd. Both Irish, queer, and culturally Catholic. Barry is a performer from Carlow. Bernárd is a priest from Ennis who lived in NYC during the 80s and became an AIDS and LGBTIQ+ activist. The meeting inspired Barry to dive into their own experiences of religion, sexuality and growing up gay in rural Ireland. The Devotions brings elements of both their stories together.  Films available on-demand from 31 October – 14 November.

Get ready for an evening of midnight-movie gore and bombastic bad taste in the killer new show from drag monstrosity Baby Lame. Wannabe scream queen Baby has always dreamt of playing an axe-wielding, kick-ass final girl in her own Slasher Movie… and tonight she’s going to do everything in her power to finally make it happen. The location is set, the cameras are ready to roll, but there’s one tiny problem… Baby hasn’t found anyone to kill her.

Featuring trash-tastic songs, interactive comedy, gut-churning film clips and furious balls-out performance buckle up for a brilliantly bonkers ride as Baby Lame slices and dices her way to horror notoriety!

There are two live shows at 19:00 and again at 21:00. Staying home? Watch an online livestream here.

Pearl Necklace is a 6 part Round the Horne inspired absurdist queer sketch revue for the TikTok generation, celebrating the ingenuity (and ignorance!) of the LGBTIQA community past, present and future, recorded and broadcast in Liverpool as part of Homotopia Festival 21’ in partnership with DISTRICT & FRIGHTWIG.

Well, set your handbag down, Dorothy – and take an epidural for the soul! – with PEARL NECKLACE an over-the-top (and under the table), 6-part camp audio revival – a piss-taking, ha-ha making deep-fill fun-bag of homegrown vignettes, found clips and cursed musical discoveries in a Kaleidoscopic carb coma of auditory orgasmia! (Try saying that while eating spaghetti and meatballs!). We’ve taken the FINEST (out-of-work) performers, tank-topped bum boys and derelict queers of this humble dockside town, given them roughly 1.5 glasses of affordable red, a hot penny bun and pressed ‘record’!

Available this AUTUMN from all good podcast distributors. Viva la radio!

LUZ is a queer prison drama from Jon Garcia (The Falls Trilogy) Ruben and Carlos are cellmates. When Ruben struggles to learn the ropes of daily prison life, Carlos becomes a mentor and eventually a lover. The two men develop feelings for one another  they can’t easily express. After being released questions loom.

What began as a friendship turns into a fierce romance in this heart-wrenching drama. Luz is a story of survival, not only for the lives of both men, but for their relationship as it transitions to the world outside the cell.  You can read Queerguru Full Review HERE

Thursday 28 October – Sunday 14 November https://www.homotopia.net/festival/