Pride Fringe: Launch & My Picks

On a very wet and wild Thursday night, Manchester Pride launched 2012’s Fringe schedule at the Cornerhouse. The Fringe has been part of Manchester Pride for close to 10 years and 2012’s line up seems to cement the fact that it is such an important part of the ten day festival. I, for one, am always keen to see what will be showing, or playing or performing during Pride. For 2012 the array of events is as impressive as ever; from the celebration of Alan Turing’s life and work, to beautiful Chamber Music and to the mission to save the dying language of Polari via the feathers and fabulousness of a lady with a keyboard and Powerpoint.  Not forgetting plays, photography, films, family days and dog shows! One of the biggest factors of this year’s Fringe is that Manchester Pride has made as many events as possible, FREE!

There are a few events that have caught my eye and that I’m really looking forward to seeing:

• Alan Turing & Life’s Enigma. There are various events running under this title, I’m keen to see the exhibition of his notes and object on display at Manchester Museum.

• Tribute Jez Dolan & Rob Flood – This project has been commissioned by Manchester Pride and will feature a collection of photographic portraits and prints featuring traditional funereal floral tributes and members of the LGBT community. The tributes, however, are not the usual words that you would see but negative words often used to describe LGBT people. I’m very excited about this exhibition as I may (or may not) be in one of the portraits.

• Stranger In The Night – Margarita Pracatan – I’m really excited about this. There’s not much more I can say apart from I can’t wait for tickets to be released. I think it’ll be a brilliant night, funny, perhaps silly and definitely entertaining.

• Boys Boys Boys, Huntsman Studios - I met Ian Brooke of Huntsman at the Fringe launch and I liked the sound of the work that is being put together for the exhibition.

• Wolfpack!: Man2Man – This exhibition features art and photography and will be the first time work from the artists has been shown outside of the US and it’s fantastic that they have chosen Manchester Pride’s Fringe to do so.

No doubt there will be many more events that I really want to go and see, but these are the first few that have caught my eye. I have picked up my trusty Pride Fringe guide and shall be marking off events in the upcoming weeks. Guides are available throughout the Village and full details are also on the website.

Andrew Roberts