Homotopia Festival 2023

Kristy Stott, Theatre Editor

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Homotopia Festival

11 November-2 December 2023

Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.

Homotopia Festival 2023
Image courtesy of David Hoyle/ Homotopia.
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Liverpool’s longest-running LGBTQ+ arts and culture festival, Homotopia returns with its 20th anniversary edition. For three weeks this November, the festival will bring a cutting-edge programme of performances, screenings, workshops, live music and conversation to the city.

With a focus on queer history and heritage, the festival theme for 2023 will be ‘Gods and Monsters’ and festival-goers can expect to see circus performances, cabaret and live music alongside theatre, talks, workshops and family events.

The festival will bring a cutting-edge variety of performances, screenings, workshops, live music and conversation to the city.

With festival events exploding across multiple spaces in the city, this year’s venues include Unity Theatre, Liverpool Playhouse, Invisible Wind Factory, FACT, Open Eye Gallery, the Museum of Liverpool, Granby Winter Gardens and Williamson Tunnels.

The festival launches on 11 November with a raucous pro-wresting drag and cabaret night in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. Clash of the Titans will see wrestlers and Queer cabaret Fist Club bring a fierce amalgamation of comedy, drag and live wrestling to the opening party of Homotopia.

Black Sheep at Homotopia Festival
Black Sheep at Homotopia 2023. Image courtesy of Rod Penn.

Theatrical highlights of the festival include Queer icon and living legend David Hoyle.

Theatrical highlights of the festival include Queer icon and living legend David Hoyle with his critically acclaimed show, The Ten Commandments (Unity Theatre, 17 November); a compelling and lyrical autobiographical show, Black Sheep (Unity Theatre, 15 November) by performer Livia Kojo Alour exploring Blackness and LGBTQIA+ identity, and The Chosen Haram (Invisible Wind Factory, 16 November), an extraordinary physical theatre and gravity-defying circus show examining themes of sexuality, faith, addiction and human connection.

The Chosen Haram at Homotopia Festival
The Chosen Haram at Homotopia Festival. Image courtesy of Glen McCarty.

We love that the festival also offers a platform for emerging artists to showcase work-in-progress performances.

We’re also championing Liverpool’s fearless and fabulous drag cabaret EAT ME, who will bring fantasy, sin and pleasure to the historic Williamson Tunnels for a full weekender of club nights, art and theatre (24 – 26 November).

Alongside critically acclaimed and already established work, we love that the festival also offers a platform for emerging artists to showcase work-in-progress performances. A beloved festival of Liverpool, be sure to check out the full programme of events happening at Homotopia via the link below.

Where to go near Homotopia Festival 2023

City Centre
Hotel
Hope Street Hotel

Hope Street Hotel is a stylish and contemporary boutique affair in Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter, with cosy rooms and two excellent restaurants

bar
City Centre
Brewery
Ye Cracke

Hidden in the Georgian Quarter, Ye Cracke is a historic Liverpool pub, known for being John Lennon’s local in his student days

City Centre
Restaurant
92 Degrees Coffee

Since 2015, 92 Degrees have been roasting and serving the finest coffee, whilst providing a friendly atmosphere in a comfortable space.

food and drink
City Centre
Café or Coffee Shop
COFFI

A speciality coffee shop in Liverpool’s historic Georgian Quarter, COFFI serves some of the best coffee in the city.

hotel 1
Liverpool
International Inn

A pleasant and affordable place to stay in Liverpool, International Inn is hidden away in a quiet street but still close to everything you need.

Photo of Frederiks bar
City Centre
Bar or Pub
Frederiks

Frederik’s neighbourhood kitchen & bar has been the hub of the Georgian Quarter since 2013. Award winning cocktails and a great Sunday roast!

food and drink
City Centre
Café or Coffee Shop
Artefact

Artefact combines vintage finds with a laid-back coffee shop experience, plus a busy schedule of events from open mic nights to exhibitions

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