The Coast is Queer

The Coast is Queer returns to the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts from 15 to 18 October, the UK's only LGBTQ+ literature festival. It's run by New Writing South and queer-led arts producer Marlborough Productions, and it's grown since it started in 2019 into one of the biggest celebrations of queer writing in the country, bringing together authors, poets, performers, scriptwriters, academics, activists and readers.

The programme this year is wide. There's a performance lecture by Topher Campbell, conversations with Juno Dawson and Munroe Bergdorf, and talks with Damian Barr and Yael van der Wouden. Travis Alabanza leads workshops, Joelle Taylor performs, and Juno Dawson hosts the Lovely Trans Literary Salon. An open-mic night is hosted by Aflo the poet, and there's a bisexuality panel, zine-making workshops, and talks on writing and publishing. You'll also find a Queer Girls Book Club meet-up and a 'Letters to My Younger Trans Self' session, with Ali Smith in conversation with Jackie Kay. Sea Sharp is Writer in Residence, and artist Robin Whitmore is Artist in Residence with The Queer Chorus.

Beyond the talks and workshops, there's the Queer Heritage Hub, which holds rare LGBTQIA+ archives alongside installations and a commissioned Queer Literary Family Tree by Robin Whitmore. New Writing South's Lesley Wood describes the festival as a 'defiant, joyful, energising antidote to the constant conflict and noise of our times.' Over the years it's welcomed thousands of people and featured names like Patrick Gale, Douglas Stuart and Val McDermid.

It runs from 15 to 18 October at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, University of Sussex, Gardner Centre Road, Brighton, BN1 9RA. Tickets start from £5.