Queer Up Duck!

About

Monday 21 October - Saturday 2nd November 2024

Various venues throughout the city centre

The inaugural Queer Up Duck! Festival is set to make its debut in Nottingham from October 21 to November 2, 2024, celebrating the diversity and creativity of LGBTQ+ artists and communities across Nottingham and the East Midlands.

This groundbreaking festival will feature theatre, exhibitions, film, music, comedy, drag and workshops, bursting with brilliantly queer work for adults and families alike.

The city-wide festival takes place at a number of venues across Nottingham including Nottingham Playhouse, Broadway Cinema, City Arts, Nottingham Central Library and more. Key events include: Notts LGBTQ+ Heroes, a photography exhibition celebrating the champions of LGBTQ+ Nottingham, displayed at City Arts from 24 October 2024 - 6 January 2025; Sound at Central, a night of music, poetry and drag taking place at Nottingham Central Library on Friday 25 October; Queer Up Duck Comedy Showcase, a titillating comedy show featuring a cheeky lineup of LGBTQ+ comedians, held at Squire Performing Arts Centre on Friday 1 November.

The festival is open to all, with a special focus on uplifting and showcasing the work of LGBTQ+ artists and fostering a sense of community and pride among attendees. By engaging with both local and regional talent, Queer Up Duck! aims to be a beacon of inclusivity and a space where diverse voices are heard, celebrated, and given the opportunity to shine.

To learn more about the festival and find the full programme visit the web link above. 
 

Get Arty | Monday 21 October, 2pm - 3.30pm | City Arts | Free
A fun, family-oriented and creative art workshop, held during school half-term. The artwork will be featured in an exhibition at Broadway Gallery as part of the festival.

Fixing | Wednesday 23 October, 5.45pm | Nottingham Playhouse | £8
A show about family breakups, learning car maintenance and choosing the right shade of lipstick to do it in.

The Personal is Political | Wednesday 23 October, 6pm - 7pm | FABRIC | £4
Journalist CJ DeBarra covers major queer movements, protests to be proud of, our first gay pride and how this has impacted the queer Nottingham of today.

Notts LGBTQ+ Heroes | Thursday 24 October 2024 - Monday 6 January 2025 | City Arts | Free
A special exhibition of portrait photography, celebrating the inspiring individuals who have made a lasting impact on Nottingham’s LGBTQ+ community, as voted by the public.

Sound At Central | Friday 25 October, 7pm | Nottingham Central Library | £10
A night of music, poetry and drag. Featuring drag royalty LIV, euphoric pop artist bexx, award-winning poet Laurie Bolger, rhyme weaver Caetano Capurro and heartfelt performance artist Ro De La Monja.

Portals | Friday 25 October - Sunday 27 October | Gasleak Mountain | Free
An exhibition that gathers a group of LGBTQ+ artists to explore the importance of queer utopias, no matter how ridiculous, outlandish or farcical they may be.

LGBT Story Time & Arts and Crafts | Saturday 26 October, 10.30am | Nottingham Central Library | Free
Award-winning children’s author Olly Pike invites children and families to an engaging and lively storytime performance that celebrates individuality, challenges stereotypes and inspires kids to be their true selves.

Gladrags: SLAY | Saturday 26 October, 8pm - 4am | Saltbox | £13.20
Gladrags take over Saltbox bar for their biggest Halloween fright-night ever. DJs Boz, Baby Tap & Luxxxury will bring a hell-raising soundtrack of Halloween classics, spooky pop and terrifying techno.

Weekend | Tuesday 29 October, 7pm | Broadway Cinema | £5 - £11
Broadway are revisiting Andrew Haigh’s critically-acclaimed debut feature, Weekend – filmed in Nottingham – which follows two men who find themselves waking up together one Saturday morning.

Drag Bingo | Thursday 31 October, 8pm | Rough Trade | £6
Wicked Witch of the East Midlands, Marilyn Sane, and the monster from your closet, Nana, host this night of ghoulish games, petrifying performances, devilish DJ sets. And much more.

Queer Up Duck Comedy Showcase | Friday 1 November, 7.30pm | Squire Performing Arts Centre | £12
A night of titillating comedy. Queer Up Duck presents some of the funniest LGBTQ+ comedians, featuring Britain’s Got Talent finalist, Alex Mitchell, alongside Juliette Burton, Katie Mitchell and Friz Frizzle.