We are delighted to present another fabulous festival, supported by National Lottery Awards for All. Once again hoping to avoid floods, early evenings and chilly temperatures we have programmed our 2023 Festival in March, with our 2 exhibitions on view until the end of April.
Friday 24 March 2023
FESTIVAL & EXHIBITION OPENING – drinks, snacks and a chat 6pm at The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury SY1 1TE
FREE – Booking Essential
Traditionally a relaxed, feel-good event. All are welcome to join us as we celebrate the start of the festival. A few words will be said, a few drinks drunk and a few snacks devoured. You will also be able to get a sneak preview of the new exhibition (see below).
Book here: Shrewsbury Launch
24 March – 26 April 2023
EXHIBITION – Shropshire Rainbow Film Festival 2006 – 2022 A Retrospective
at The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury SY1 1TE
FREE
Established at a time when there was only a handful of LGBT+ Film Festivals, this volunteer-led initiative brought LGBT+ organising to the heart of Shropshire’s entertainment programme.
This brand new exhibition, especially curated for the 2023 History Festival takes us on a trip down memory lane with a back catalogue of festival posters and photographs. Perhaps less familiar to Film Festival goers will be the plethora of associated activities and behind-the-scenes stories.
24 March – 26 April 2023
EXHIBITION – LGBT+ History Boards at AgeUK, Bellstone, Shrewsbury SY1 1HX (formerly the Nationwide)
FREE
Our History Boards have developed, grown in number and been on display in different locations over the years. This year we are delighted to team up with AgeUK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin to make use of their fabulous new office display space. For the first time, a hand-picked selection of the History Boards will be in prime position for the passing public to view.
25 March 2023
Then & Now Workshop – with Photographer Ming de Nasty 10.30am – 12.30pm at Palmer’s, Claremont St, Shrewsbury SY1 1QG
No photographic experience necessary, as this workshop invites LGBT+ adults to bring along a photo of themselves from younger days, or an object that has significance to them and provokes memories. Participants will have an opportunity to share thoughts and stories and will have their photograph taken on the day, to take away with them.
Places are limited.
Tickets £4
Book here: Workshop Ming
25 March 2023
Song Writing Workshop – Coming Out with Beth Prior 2 – 4pm at The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury SY1 1TE
No music making or song-writing experience necessary, as this workshop prompts LGBT+ adults to share their stories of when they have ‘come out’ (or chosen not to ‘come out’) be it to friends and family, the insurance company, at work, or in casual conversation in a lift, for example. Beth will gather these stories and develop song lyrics with the group, which she will then take way and construct into an original song. This will then be sent to all of the participants after the workshop.
Come share your stories with Beth and in turn, let’s keep telling these stories, as every single one will shine a light on the difficult, beautiful, awkward and down right obscure situations we find ourselves in as LGBTQI humans.
Places are limited
Tickets £4
25 March 2023
Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope – Solo play 7.30 – 9pm at The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury SY1 1TE (Bar open)
Age guidance 14+
A glorious, uplifting celebration of the urgent necessity to be your true self, Written and Performed by Mark Farrelly
Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope depicts the legendary Quentin Crisp at two distinct phases of his extraordinary life. Firstly in the late 1960s in his filthy Chelsea flat (“Don’t lose your nerve: after the first four years the dirt won’t get any worse”), and later in New York in the 1990s when, embraced by society, Quentin regales the audience with his sharply-observed, hard-earned philosophy on how to have a lifestyle: “Life will be more difficult if you try to become yourself. But avoiding this difficulty renders life meaningless. So discover who you are. And be it. Like mad!”.
Ticket prices for this event range from £2.00 to £22.00. You decide which ticket price to pay, depending on what you can afford and there is no judgement, we just want you to come along
Book here: Naked Hope
This event is supported by Arts Alive and sponsored by Coverage Care.
26 March 2023
Nelly & Nadine – Film Matinee 3pm – 5pm at the Old Market Hall, The Square, Shrewsbury SY1 1LH
In this stunning documentary, punctuated by Super 8 cine film footage of the couple, Nelly’s granddaughter, Sylvie, opens personal archives and uncovers a remarkable love story. Among the photos, love letters and film reels, there is also a diary written by Nelly in which she tells her life story including details about falling in love with Nadine in Ravensbrück concentration camp in 1944. Despite untold horrors, and the complicated reunion with Nadine after the war, the couple moved to Venezuela where they could live freely, only coming back to Europe in the early 70’s to spend their last years in Brussels.
Book here: Nelly & Nadine
This event is sponsored by the Shropshire Rainbow Film Festival
Looking back to the 2022 LGBT+ History Festival
