Going Out

Rainbow colours at Norwich Pride

The second Norwich Pride takes place this weekend with a riot of rainbow colour from the parade and a host of other events on what is an important celebration for the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community. SIMON PARKIN reports.

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Norwich will be a rainbow nation tomorrow as the second Norwich Pride sees a huge variety of events for all the family, including exhibitions, performances, picnics and the colourful parade.

The organisers hope it will raise awareness and tackle intolerance as well as acting as an important celebration for the city's lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community.

Pride chair Michelle Savage said: “The first Norwich Pride was wonderful and the atmosphere was absolutely brilliant.

“We were so proud to live in a city where thousands of people came out onto the streets to show their support for the LGBT community.

“This year's Norwich Pride promises to be just as lovely and we invite everyone to take part in the celebrations.”

The main focus of the event will be the colourful carnival procession through the city centre, when more than 3,000 people are expected to parade from Chapelfield Gardens to Millennium Plain outside the Forum.

The parade will pass past City Hall, where a giant rainbow scarf knitted by people from all over Norwich and Norfolk will be hung from the balcony.

There will be a picnic with walkabout theatre and family fun before the parade begins at 2pm, and events all day at the Forum including dance sessions, performances, discussions and lectures.

The Pink Punters Rainbow Bus - the “biggest, gayest bus in the world” - will also be on Millennium Plain all day.

Norwich bars, cafes and shops are also getting involved and the celebrations will continue in the evening and on Sunday in venues across the city.

Organisers hope to build on last year's Pride, the first of its kind in Norfolk, which was attended by an estimated 3,000 people who paraded through the city, blocking Theatre Street and marching through the market to finish in a grand celebration outside the Forum.

Dancers, drummers and supporters came together to turn Norwich into a rainbow for the event, which surpassed all expectations with thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people turning out along with friends and families.

www.norwichpride.org.uk.



PRIDE EVENTS

Carnival Cabaret

Norwich Arts Centre, July 30, £10, 18+, 01603 660352, www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

Launching Norwich Pride tonight is this special carnival cabaret night from Hocus Pocus Theatre, which promises to be a wondrous show of magnificent proportion.

Prepare to be amazed as they unveil some special side show oddities and present a host of top class cabaret acts. An all singing all dancing spectacular with a healthy dose of comedy and a few naughty bits too.

Among the wild and wonderful performers doing their stuff will be London's dark chanteuse Miss Annabel, Norfolk's the living fashion doll Clementine, comedy duo Hewlett & Eaton, Minsky, who combines modern clowning and traditional vaudeville, Natalya Umanska's classic cheeky showgirl striptease routine and locals treasure and London burlesque prize winners Hot Boppin' Girls. Dress vintage, sideshow and circus inspired!

Proud Arts Trail

July 31, from 11am.

The Norwich Pride team of arts volunteers have been busy festooning the city with fabulous creations. Pride HQ at St Gregory's Centre for the Arts in Pottergate provides the start of the Proud! Arts Trail and there are lots of fabulous exhibitions by a selection of LGBT and LGBT-inspired artists to check out. Among them is an exhibition of memorabilia from 90s AIDS Activism at The Greenhouse, Bethel St; illuminating prints by Katya Bowker at The Bicycle Shop, St Benedicts; Fliss Cary paintings, Rosie Mackenzie digital images, and pictures by Chris Hann at Norwich Playhouse; Eloise O'Hare's super solo show at Tea Lounge, Ber St, and an exhibition entitled Dandies at Studio Art Gallery, Upper St Giles. Also don't miss Mark Alexander's glass mosaics at the Edith Cavell pub and specially created graffiti art by Sticky Fingerz, St Augustines, opposite the Catherine Wheel pub. Arts trail maps can be picked up at any of the participating venues.

Mammoth Woolly

Norwich City Hall, July 30, 1pm-2pm

After months of knitting by hundreds of people across Norfolk a giant rainbow scarf is to be hung from the balcony of City Hall this afternoon.

It's the brainchild of artist Helenofnorwich who asked people to knit a square to show support for Norwich Pride, the scarf is over 30m long and all the colours of the rainbow.

“I wanted a way for people from all walks of life to be able to be part of Norwich Pride, the response has been absolutely amazing she said. “I particularly asked churches to be involved and we have had knitting groups from all over the county busy making squares for the project.”

Out 140

Norwich Arts Centre, until August 28, admission free, 01603 660352

Cud u tell ur coming out story in 140 characters or less? This project by Shelly Telly and Vince Laws invited people to tweet their coming out tales. Out 140 began life on the giant Fusion screen in the Forum in January, moved to two old tellies at the Dandies exhibition in May and now arrives at the Arts Centre as a text-based installation. They've printed and hung 40 favourite stories and Pride Poet Laureate Vince Laws has chosen one to create as a piece of art. There's also a live Twitter feed for you to upload your own story to join the over 200 stories on the website: www.twitter.com/out140.

Pride Speakers

The Curve, The Forum, July 31, 11am-5.30pm, free admission.

A series of thought provoking talks in The Curve, downstairs in The Forum, including activist and author of cult lesbian novel Cherry, Charlotte Cooper examining censorship laws, UEA lecturer Dr BJ Epstein, on children's literature for LGBT families and a variety of speakers debate about how the LGBT community label themselves and whether this progresses equality.

The Pride Picnic

Chapelfield Gardens, 12pm-2pm

Take a delicious lunch and relax enjoying the entertainment. There will be activities for the kids, a poetry corner and performance artists around the park. The Warhol Factory Rejects will be showcasing the best in party antics, walk about theatre and as ever dressed in the latest Trash Carnival costume designs. Ever seen a giant floating pair of lips? Norwich Pride 2010 is you chance to witness the weird, wonderful and down right fabulous. Plus DGAS drummers, the Ukulele Society, Jess Morgan, Golden Star Morris dancers, poetry corner, the Gay Play, The Human Library and Wendy's Treasure Hunt.

Norwich Pride Parade

Departs Chapelfield Gardens 3pm, arrives Millennium Plain 3pm.

The Lord Mayor, the Town Crier and the Norwich Samba Band will once again lead the second ever Norwich Pride Parade. The procession leaves Chapelfield Gardens, heads along Theatre Street, Gentlemen's Walk and up to Millenium Plain.

It will be colourful, loud and impossible to ignore. Anyone who wants to support Pride is welcome to join in. Some people dress-up, some people are in groups or come along individually - but it is about you; so wear what you want to wear and join the community spirit. Be loud, be proud, but most of all... be yourself!

The Pride Show

Millennium Plain, from 3pm.

As the parade arrives they'll be a celebratory showcase of the talent including The Killer Queens, Jessica Todd, Vince Laws, Pequlia Bigtopp, Angie Bannister (winner of LGBT History Month Talent Show), the Pride Choir, Eileen Mascoll, Bispatial and Crude Apache. Also on Millennium Plain will be the Rainbow Bus.

After Pride Parties

Henry's Cafe Bar, Haymarket - Barbecue from 5pm, DJs from 9.30pm.

The Castle, Kett's Hill - Special Pride celebrations with a barbeque from 5pm and entertainment from 7.30pm with vocalist Jessica Todd and drag artiste Candy C.

The Bridge House, Rosary Road - A special Pride sneak preview of Norwich's new gay venue and sister of The Castle. Open for one night only with a 70s & 80s party 3pm-1am.

The Coach & Horses, Union Street - Kicks off at 4pm, featuring acoustic electric duo Talisman playing gay anthems, karaoke from 10pm and Drag Idol 2008 winner Tanya Hide.

The Catherine Wheel, St Augstine's - Amazing Pink tribute, Pinked Up with her full "Funhouse" show featuring her dancers The Dolls. Plus Drag Racing at 6pm and performances from The Killer Queens and Pequilla Biggtopp, the resident ring masters who will be whipping punters in to a frenzy all night!

Pride Punk Picnic

King Edward VII, Aylsham Road, from 12pm, free admission.

The creator of Sheffield Pride's hugely successful T'Other Stage has turned her hand to livening up her hometown with this all day music and cabaret event. Acts include local grrrl band Compact Pussycat, glam rock bands, cabaret, fire performers and an appearance from Norwich's Alternative Popes.