Festival of LGBT arts and culture coming to Birmingham - with pictures and video

SHOUT Festival is coming to Birmingham from November 9 to 19 with a host of films, theatre, talks, visual arts, performances and more that highlight different intersections of the LGBT community.

This year SHOUT received the news that the festival had been successful in its application to join Arts Council England's National Portfolio for 2018 to 2022, meaning that yhey can expand their work into new areas such as supporting the development of emerging artists.

This year's festival features a wide array of entertainment, including film screenings, live performances and more.

Film screenings on offer incloude the likes of CHECK IT with UNUMTED, Tom of Finland, The Pass, Kiki, Drag Becomes Him and John Waters classics Hairspray and Pink Flamingos all at The Electric Cinema.

The Conjurer's Kitchen are teaming up with The Electric Cinema to provide themed food for the Pink Flamingos screening. Run by food artist Annabel de Vetten, Conjurer's Kitchen have spent the last few years pairing classic films with culinary delights, producing painstakingly crafted edible treats themed to specific scenes. The viewing will also feature a performance from local artist Ginny Lemon.

Drag Becomes Him focuses on the life of performer Jerrick Hoffer in and out of drag, better known as RuPaul's Drag Race season seven winner Jinkx Monsoon. Jinkx will also appear alongside Major Scales in the Vaudevillians as part of the festival on November 19 at Birmingham Hippodrome.

The Vaudevillians travel back to the 1920s as characters Kitty Witless and Dr. Dan Von Dandy toured the United States as The Vaudevillians, wowing audiences with their edgy, original music. One day, while touring through Antarctica, they were victims of a devastating avalanche and were buried under two tons of sleet and snow – instantly freezing them alive.

But thanks to Global Warming, they recently thawed out only to discover that pop artists had stolen their music and passed it off as their own. Now, at long last, they are taking to the stage to reclaim their songs, performing their music as originally composed. It’s a vintage cabaret with a twist of drag.

Other theatre performances include festival opener David Hoyle at mac Birmingham on November 9, Medea at Birmingham REP on November 18, and Trans Creative show You've Changed at mac Birmingham on November 17.

Visual art exhibitions include the likes of Ian Sanderson's We Often Find It Necessary to Keep Our Homosexuality Quiet that charts the history of the Gay Liberation Front in Birmingham in the 1970s, to mark the 50th anniversary year of the partial decriminalisation of male homosexuality in England and Wales. This exhibition will take place at mac Birmingham from November 7 until January 2, 2018.

Other exhibitions include cyberpunk exploration QTOPIA from November 9 to November 18 at BOM - BOM, social and political project Holographic Bonds at Grand Union from November 9 to November 19, multi-media extravaganza Slap In The Face at Vivid Projects from November 10 to November 18, and John Moletress' Untitled Cruising Project at BOM - BOM on November 11.

Other live performances across the weekend include Birmingham Weekender's Drag Queen Story Time at The Library of Birmingham at multiple times from September 23 to 24.

The event is aimed at capturing the imagination and playfulness of self-expression, giving children role models who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagining a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real. Join Ginny Lemon and Yshee Black for a family friendly afternoon of stories, song, dress-up, and joy.

The Polari Literary Salon return to Birmingham on their tenth anniversary tour for short story writing sessions at Birmingham REP on October 8. Comedy will be hosted at The Penthouse on November 12 from the likes of MC Maureen Younger, Shazia Mirza, DebraJane Appelby and Les Kershaw.

Urban Cellar will be presenting live music in It Is What It Is - LIVE at The Loft Lounge on November 19. This special edition of the regular live music event has been commissioned by SHOUT and brings together some of the best musicians, DJs, and performers from around the West Midlands.

Birmingham Gay Symphony Orchestra will perform at mac Birmingham on November 12.

For more information and a full list of events, visit: http://shoutfestival.co.uk/