For two years, Brighton’s Marlborough Theatre have produced, commissioned and toured New Queers On The Block – A programme created to develop performances by exciting and innovative LGBTQ+ artists. NQOTB travels to cities where such work is rarely seen. At each location, NQOTB also commissions and develops new work from local LGBTQ+ performers, totaling a creative, expansive and inclusive concept.
NQOTB 2020 returns to Blackpool, Bradford, Hastings and Brighton with weekend-long programmes of shows, discussions, parties, workshops and events. The tour will be spearheaded by the UK’s ‘leading autistic green Drag Queen’, Oozing Gloop with their vision of the future: The Gloopshow Episode 2: GLOOPTOPIA! Radical choreographer and dance artist Marikiscrycrycry. Marikiscrycrycry performs their exploration of Tupac and depression via the haunting piece He’s Dead, presented for the first time as an ensemble work. Both co-commissions are by NQOTB with all tour venues, providing artists with opportunities to upscale work and experiment with form.
Other key NQOTB artists in new territories include Brighton-based Sea Sharp and Subira Joy, who both fuse performance with spoken word. Subira will also perform Joy Nduku in their hometown of Brighton – a special commission with twin Wandia Nduku. Bradford’s Kirsty Tailor performs a NQOTB commission #HereCoz alongside First Time by Nathanial Hall a well-received show at Edinburgh last August. Vijay Patel’s Pull The Trigger makes its Bradford debut and the city can also expect Hiding in Plain Sight, a series of queer films by ‘professional unicorn’, British Iraqi non-binary drag performer Amrou Al-Kadhi, and food-sharing events where audiences can connect, share and enjoy.
Prominent disabled artist Jackie Hagan travels to Blackpool to perform her humorous and poignant The ‘Aw’ Factor. Hagan will share a double bill with performance poet Mandla Rae who introduces her work to Blackpool’s new venue Art B&B. Back in Brighton, theatre company Ice & Fire take over the Marlborough with This is Who I Am, with guests and texts written by artists going through the asylum-seeking process.
In Hastings, NQOTB and Home Live Art present Lucy Hutson’s autobiographical BOUND reflecting on Lucy’s past and present, using authentic documentation and performance flmed over a 10 year period. Also Reel Queers present an evening of films, short television clips and found footage celebrating queer womnx on screen over the past 50 years and since the Stonewall riots. Last but most definitely not least, Brighton fixture Brownton Abbey, a genre-defying dance and performance party comes to Hastings too, offering an opportunity for people of colour to have fun and be entertained in a safe, welcoming environment.
