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Turn on Fest 2021
Turn on Fest 2021

Rescheduled LGBTQIA+ Turn On Festival well worth the wait!

Home » To do & see » Rescheduled LGBTQIA+ Turn On Festival well worth the wait!

Liz Ratcliffe looks at what’s coming up at Turn on Fest 2021 featuring writer Russell T Davies

Following a highly successful debut in 2020, Hope Mill Theatre announces rescheduled dates for Turn On Fest 2021, the annual LGBTQIA+ festival in partnership with Superbia, Manchester Pride’s year-round programme of arts and culture. And what an exciting programme of events it has in store this year!

The festival explores themes of gender, sexuality and identity, with events from key figures in the LGBTQIA+ space, and new, exciting talent as part of Hope Mill’s mission to develop and celebrate LGBTQIA+ local artists in Manchester.


Due to the ongoing Covid restrictions, the festival is going completely online, running from 17 to 28 March 2021. The venue will also be hosting online queer socials and panel discussions throughout the festival. So you can watch events from the comfort of your living room! The tickets are selling like hotcakes – so book now.

Headlining Turn On Fest 2021 is an evening in conversation with Hope Mill Theatre patron, Russell T Davies at 8pm on Saturday 20 March 2021. The evening is hosted by actress Julie Hesmondhalgh looks at Davies’ incredible career writing for film and television, including the ground-breaking Queer As Folk, and his newest Channel 4 drama, It’s A Sin.

Ru Paul’s drag star Divina De Campo is joined by special guests in An Hour with Divina De Campo for two performances on Saturday 27 March 2021 , directed by Kirk Jameson.

An Evening with Ryan Jamaal Swain sees the star of smash hit television series Pose discuss his career as a dancer and writer in an online discussion on Friday 26 March.


Superbia, Hope Mill Theatre’s partnering organisation, will host two key events within the festival. And Manchester based company, Green Carnation Theatre is screening four short monologue films called Queer All About It, in an evening of film, discussion and conversation.

Hope Mill Theatre has also offered development grants worth £1,000 as well as mentoring to four Manchester based queer theatre makers, Maz Hedgehog, Suriya Aisha, Finley Letchford-Dobs and Emma Hinds. These four local LGBTQIA+ individuals will showcase and develop their work while receiving marketing support, mentorship and rehearsal space.

The festival is now on sale and streamed events can be booked by visiting: hopemilltheatre.co.uk. There will be an option to purchase a festival pass to access all events throughout the festival.

Liz Ratcliffe
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Liz Ratcliffe
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Liz Ratcliffe Written by Liz Ratcliffe