The full programme has been announced for ManchesterHope Mill Theatre’s third annual LGBTQIA+ Turn On Fest (January 22-30, 2022).
The headline event is a rehearsed reading and concert of The Regulars (January 29), a new American folk music musical, which is being produced and developed by Hope Mill.
Artistic director Joseph Houston, said: “We're thrilled to be bringing Turn On Fest back to live audiences in 2022. We were glad we managed to go online with the 2021 festival, but we felt the loss of not being able to bring artists and audiences together.
“The headline event has music, lyrics and book by trans writer Will Shishmanian. It's got a passionate score and a familiar story, about identity and self-love – reminding us that despite our differences, we are all deserving of acceptance for who we are.
“Hope Mill will be bringing the creative team over from America to work with a company of 10 actors on a preview concert showing, which will then go into workshop and development in early 2023.”
Hope Mill will be collaborating with Trans Creative to bill the musical alongside new writing in a Trans Social manner – a space for trans and non binary people and allies to socialise and share work.
Other Festival highlights include the Launch Party (January 22), Scratch Night (January 23) – an evening of LGBTQ+ live theatre dedicated to developing ideas and sharing feedback, and The Story of Derek Jarman (January 25), written and performed by Mark Farrelly – a physical, poetic piece about the English film director and gay rights activist.
More info here