To Russia with love

To Russia With Love: Street & Stage 24 Hours of Performance Protest 7-8 February 2014

To mark the opening of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Manchester's LGBT theatre community are presenting 24 hours of protest and performance to draw attention to homophobia in the host country and to send a message of love and support to the LGBT community in Russia. The event will feature an alternative opening ceremony in the gay village and culminate in a performance of new writing at the Contact Theatre, Manchester (part of the Queer Contact festival 2014).

The event is being produced in partnership by Hope Theatre Company, VADA LGBTQ Community Theatre, Working Progress Theatre Company and writer Chris Hoyle.

TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE: STREET, 7 February 2014

Manchester's LGBT community present an Alternative Opening Ceremony for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.
On the evening of the 7th February 2014 as the Sochi ceremony begins, LGBT sports and community groups will lead an alternative parade through Manchester's gay village. The event will send a message of support and solidarity to Russia's LGBT community as they face life under Putin’s homophobic legislation. It will also give Manchester's highly visible LGBT community an opportunity to come together to highlight homophobia in Russia and across the world.

The alternative ceremony will feature an athletes's parade along Canal Street lead by LGBT sports groups and a glittering ceremony at Taurus Bar, where the medals will be awarded. The night will also include special guest speakers and performers and all proceeds will be donated to Russian LGBT charities.
TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE:STAGE, 8 February 2014

An evening of striking new drama to highlight homophobia and promote LGBT rights in Russia.

The region's most exciting theatre companies, dramatists and performers join together for this one-off event, showcasing new writing is response to the growing oppression in Russia.  The work is inspired by true stories of people living under Putin's homophobic laws and explores the impact on identity, love and family.

This unique performance features four specially commissioned pieces of drama including work by Stephen Hornby (Loving Her) Chris Hoyle (The Newspaper Boy, Tinned Up), Rob Ward (Away from Home) and Adam Zane (Outloud/Yesterday When I Was Young).

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TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE: STREET
Friday 7th February 2014 - 'Athletes Parade' to gather at Taurus Bar 7pm
TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE: STAGE
Saturday 8th February 2014, 8pm - Contact Theatre, Oxford Road, Manchester. Tickets from www.contactmcr.com

Published: 7-Nov-2013: (2165)