Pride in Trafford, a four-day celebration of LGBTQ+ people and culture, is back for 2023
Now in its fifth year, the festival brings together an exciting and diverse range of established and up-and-coming performers, from comedy and cabaret to theatre and movement.
Pride of Trafford is returning to Sale’s Waterside in May - © Pride in Trafford
When and where is Pride in Trafford taking place?
Pride in Trafford 2023 runs from Wednesday 17th to Saturday 20th May.
Events will take place in venues and spaces across Trafford, including Sale’s leading arts venue, Waterside.
The festival launches on 17th May with the annual flag-raising ceremony at Sale Town Hall. This coincides with and marks The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.
What events are on this year’s schedule?
Launching on the festival’s opening night and running across all four nights is the world premiere of BI-TOPIA. Developed in partnership with Waterside & Creative Industries Trafford this new one-person show offers a ‘hilarious, honest and raw’ exploration of the authentic bisexual experience.
Directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair and created and performed by Sam Danson, BI-TOPIA depicts a world in war-time ruins, an LGBTQ+ life scattered across the stage, it bravely delves into the under-represented links between battling with poor mental health and dealing with one’s sexuality. This is a semi-autobiographical and candid show that challenges societal norms.
Jonathan Mayor will MC ‘Laugh Riot’ - © Pride in Trafford
Laugh Riot returns for the Thursday night of Pride in Trafford 2023 – an evening of the best in alternative comedy. This year’s line-up includes Waterside favourite, Jonathan Mayor, a huge cult figure in comedy who will MC the evening in his own imitable style as well as multi-award nominated comedian, presenter, actor and writer Stephen Bailey, whose indecorous brand of gossipy humour has singled him out as one of the UK’s most sought-after talents; Marie Goulbourne - an original, authentic and self-effacing comic who speaks candidly about her life as an autistic oddball in the modern world; Rosie Wilby - an award-winning comedian, author, speaker and the creator of the global hit podcast and book The Breakup Monologues.
Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me, a dark comedy production © Pride in Trafford
Comedy is also the key ingredient in Lawrence Batley Theatre’s and Ketchup Productions dark comic production of Jesus, Jane, Mother & Me, coming to Pride in Trafford for one night only on Friday 19 May. A twisted coming-of-age story blending pitch-black humour and heartache by award-winning playwright Philip Stokes, (Heroin(e) for Breakfast) the show explores family dynamics, who our idols are and just how hard life can be when you’re a little bit different. A certain famous, cruise-loving Yorkshire songstress – referenced in the title – may get a mention or two!
Will there be activities for young people?
Yes – Pride in Trafford has made sure that there’s plenty for younger festival-goers to enjoy this year. The festival has joined forces with local groups Gorse Hill Studios and Rainbow Reflections to create a fun and free special creative, hands-on Pride evening for young people in Trafford.
Mini Pride is also an opportunity for young people and families to come together on Saturday 20 May from 12-4pm to celebrate Pride and take part in fun, hands-on creative activities and interactive storytelling with the wonderful Curious Arts. Pride on the Plaza will run alongside this, throughout the afternoon, where one of Sale’s best pizza restaurants, Mano a Bocca, will host a free outdoor celebration on Waterside Plaza.
Part of this afternoon delight will feature two free outdoor performances by the wonderfully colourful and entertaining Eleni Edipidi’s Levantes Dance Theatre. Fusing contemporary circus with witty and visually arresting costumes, their popular Canape Art twins will dance and perform above a tastefully laid table of afternoon treats to present High Tea (with a twist).
Expect glittery cakes, outrageous costumes and theatrical high jinx in an explosion of colour and silliness.
Mini Pride and Pride on the Plaza © Dawn Kilner for Pride in Trafford
Concluding the four-day Pride in Trafford festivities on the Saturday evening is the Closing Party at Mano a Bocca, complete with pizza, comedy, cabaret and disco at Mano a Bocca hosted by the infamous Belinda Scandal. Guests can expect an informal dinner – think Italian antipasti sharing dishes, pizza slices and vino, with the campest cabaret this side of the River Mersey and a closing disco.
Producer for Pride in Trafford and manager of Waterside, Darren Adams said: “We are really proud of this year’s programme which features some thought-provoking and powerful pieces some of which we are thrilled to have helped nurture and develop through our Creative Industries Trafford initiative. Interspersed with great comic moments and lighter shows, the programme is a real celebratory, meaningful and contemporary representation of LGBTQ+ culture and our community today. Our closing day promises a family-friendly and joyful coming together for all ages with outdoor art, free performances and mouthwatering pizza. What is there not to love?!”
To book tickets for any – or all – of the Pride of Trafford events, visit prideintrafford.org. 🏳️🌈 🏳️⚧️
