Glasgay! Festival - Main Events

Main Events

The Glasgay! Festival includes theatre, visual art, music, dance, comedy, film, clubs, literature and exhibitions, covering a variety of venues across the Merchant City, City Centre and West End areas of Glasgow.

In 2008 Glasgay! became the Tennessee Williams Festival for one year only. A major celebration of the life and work of the author on the 25th anniversary of his death. The festival features four UK premieres of lesser known works, a major classic revival, and a six week classic film series at London's BFI Southbank, Glasgow Film Theatre and Edinburgh Filmhouse.

On 29 March 2008 the Glasgay! festival secured a doubling in its funding till 2011 and announces an exciting programme of premieres for 2008 as part of its Tennessee Williams Festival. The Scottish Arts Council have awarded the annual Glasgay! festival flexible funding for a fixed term till 2011. At £60k annually this effectively doubles the Company's past annual grants.

The festival has also won a three year deal from Glasgow City Council as well as enjoying the continued support of Event Scotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau. This new support takes the festival to almost £¼ million turnover and secures its long term future growth and development.

2008 line up features Laurance Rudic (formerly Citizens’ Theatre) in the UK premiere of The Parade, written when Tennessee first fell in love in 1940. The Scottish premiere of And Tell Sad Stories of the Deaths of Queens, a lost gem about misdirected passions, deluded drag queens and seedy straight boys. The Municipal Abattoir and The Chalky White Substance, one act plays in which two men battle for survival in post apocalyptic worlds where institutional murder is sanctioned. The festival will also feature a new bio-play called Elysian Fields by Derek McLuckie focussing on the life and curious death of Tennessee Williams.

The line-up also includes performances from Stephen Petronio Dance (New York, USA) Scotland's Theatre Cryptic; Pacitti Co.(UK); Dillie Keane (Fascinating Aïda); visual art from David Trullo (Spain) and Gregor Laird (Scotland); as well as BOUT!QUE, a four-week programme of contemporary performance from newly emerging Scottish artists.

The 2007 festival ran from 12 October to 11 November and was bigger than ever.

Theatre highlights include: Little Johnny's Big Gay Musical by Randomaccomplice at The Arches, Venus as a Boy by National Theatre of Scotland at Citizens Theatre, Tamburlaine Must Die by Tron Theatre Company at Tron Theatre, Amie Lame's Mama Cass Family Singers at Tron Theatre and FIT by Queerupnorth and Stonewall at CCA. Boutique theatre will also feature across the four weeks of the 2007 festival at Q! Studio. Performances include; Colette, The Secret Scenes by Yvonne Caddell, Reality by Martin O'Connor, Stick It in My Party Hole by Glass Eyed and 3 Minutes: A Speed-Dating Road Show With A Difference by The Glitterbox Paradox.

Music highlights include: Mauricio Virgens and Paul MacAlindin in We Two Boys Together at RSAMD, Carol Laula and Band performing songs from her forthcoming new album at St Andrew's in the Square, David Paul Jones performing Palmstar Poppy.

Visual art highlights include: Glittering Shadows by Dani Marti at Q! Studio and Beyond the Surface by Andrew Printer at ].

Film highlights from Glasgow Film Theatre (GFT) include: The Bubble by Eytan Fox, Puccini for Beginners by Maria Maggenti, Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds by Philip Bartell and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Duncan Roy.

Comedy highlights include: The Music of Dirty Dancing at King's Theatre, Grumpy Old Women LIVE at Theatre Royal, Tina C at The Stand, Comedy Explosion at The Stand, Wicked Wenches at The Stand, Licence Pending at Tron Victorian Bar, Craig Hill Makin' A Big Song & Dance! at Tron Theatre and Scott Capurro's Premature Gift at The Stand.

Clubs highlights include: The Big Gay Prom at St Andrew's in the Square, Death Disco at The Arches and Utter Gutter with two nights during the 2007 Festival, including Cock, Rock & Frock Fancy Dress Birthday Bash to celebrate being three years young.

This year a major exhibition forms part of Glasgay!; Kylie - The Exhibition at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum showcasing 'All Things Kylie' from across her career.

Highlights from the 2005 festival included music from Marc Almond, comedy from Pam Ann and Topping & Butch and readings from Chloe Poems and Queer Stories, launching a year of storytelling with the LGBT community in Scotland.