Queered Up Now
Join Manchester Histories, Contact and Manchester Literature Festival for an evening of original writing inspired by the stories, people and legacy of Queer Up North.
About the Event
Join Manchester Histories, Contact and Manchester Literature Festival for an evening of new writing inspired by the legacy of Queer Up North, the groundbreaking LGBTQ+ arts festival that transformed Manchester’s cultural landscape between 1992 and 2002.
Three acclaimed writers: Louis Glazzard, Ella Otomewo and Okechukwu Nzelu, have each been commissioned to create original work responding to stories, themes and histories uncovered through the Queer Up North archive. Spanning poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction, their new pieces offer fresh perspectives on the festival’s enduring legacy and its relevance today.
The readings will be followed by a live conversation exploring the creative process, the archive and the importance of preserving and reimagining queer histories for new generations.
Hosted by Andrew McMillan, Queered Up Now forms part of Manchester Literature Festival and the wider Queer Up North 1992–2002 project.
🎟️ Book your free tickets here🎟️
Meet the Writers
Louis Glazzard is a working-class writer from Yorkshire. His poems and non-fiction have been published widely, and he is currently working on his debut novel.
Ella Otomewo is a poet, performer, and creative facilitator based in Manchester. She has an MFA in Poetry from Manchester Writing School and is the New Writing Producer at Cultureword.
Okechukwu Nzelu’s two novels, The Private Joys of Nnenna Maloney and Here Again Now have won a range of prizes. In 2024 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and he is a Lecturer in Creative Writing at Lancaster University.
Andrew McMillan’s debut collection Physical was the only poetry collection ever to win The Guardian First Book Award. He was The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year 2016 and his debut novel Pity was published in 2024.
Accessibility
British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation will be provided throughout this event.
Contact is a fully accessible venue with step-free access and accessible facilities.
If you have any additional access requirements or questions, please contact us at info@manchesterhistories.co.uk or call 0161 306 1982.
Stay connected
The Queer Up North website is the best place to keep up with the project. Visit the site and join the mailing list to receive future updates.
