Last Friday 4th February saw the start of the jam-packed Queer Season at the Stanley Arts Centre in South Norwood. Opening the night up, LGBTQ+ comic Daniel Foxx’s self-deprecating comedy set the tone for a remarkable roster of comics featuring Stephen Carlin, Sean McLoughlin, Zahra Barri, Tatty Macleod along with local talent guest headliner Nabil Abdul Rashid (pictured above).
The fantastic comedy line-up proved they had their fingers firmly on the pulse of the current social, economic, cultural, political and even religious issues facing our country today. All brilliant in their individual ways bubbling with an infectious energy to guarantee chuckles galore. This aspect of the festival works well so look out for more comedy styles on the first Friday of each month with Jessica Fostehew being the featured LGBTQ + on 1st April.
The whole building is put to use with remarkable young ladies Beth and Josie, whose aim is to please, hosting and organising creative writing, putting a mag together then on the 11th a queer reading Open Night inviting fresh talent to an open mic night to get rid of any teenage angst.
One of the amazing highlights of the festival which deserves a special mention – with tickets still available – is the St Valentine’s Love Ball on the 11th February. Expect fantastic costumes that are clearly works of art – and unleash your hidden queen!
The festival’s main emphasis is to focus on all aspects of Queer arts and Dan one of the organisers told me: “Attention has to be drawn to the non-mainstream, to act as an eye-opener to aspects of our wonderful, vibrant and diverse community that sometimes gets overlooked – and of course the Love Ball night is a complete glamour galore feast for the eyes.”
Another and very important aspect of the festival will be the films being screened. Andrew Logan’s The Alternative Miss World with a Q & A with Andrew afterwards on the 12th and a must is the seldom seen Charles Atlas movie tribute to Leigh Bowery with the festival getting access to an original print of this ground-breaking film.
All coming together to formulate a true cornucopia of Queer entertainment.
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The Queer Season runs to Monday 28th February at Stanley Arts, 12 South Norwood Hill, London SE25 6AB. Box office: 020 8251 0184 www.stanleyarts.org
Follow Stanley Arts on Instagram and Facebook @ stanleyarts.uk and on Twitter @stanley_arts
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