PERFORMERS from all over the world are set to descend on Belfast for the 10th anniversary of Outburst, the UK’s premier LGBT arts festival.
Next month, 10 days of plays, concerts and visual arts shows will take place in venues across city.
Performers from 15 countries are taking part – many from as far a field as Brazil, Trinidad and Haiti.
Iconic film director John Waters, known for the hits Hairspray and Pink Flamingos, will be the guest of honour, drawing the festival to a close with his one-man show This Filthy World at the Lyric on November 19.
Northern Ireland’s first ever Irish-language LGBT event will also be taking place, as well as a reading and talk by award-winning, Belfast-born author Paul McVeigh – recipient of the 2015 McCreagh Literary Award.
Run by the British Council, with support from the Department for Communities and the Belfast City Council, the audience for the festival is expected to be in the thousands.
Outburst’s artistic director Ruth McCarthy said that the festival has an important role to play in the modern climate.
"Homophobia and transphobia are still huge issues globally and the arts are a powerful tool for challenging that," she said.
"We are very excited to make Outburst a home for amazing artists from all over the world and to invite others into our festival space that is an inclusive home where everyone is welcome."
Outburst Queer Arts Festival runs from November 10-19 in venues across Belfast.
