The Queer Gaze

Facilitator, producer, choreographer, and former vogue house mother Darren Pritchard is our guest this week. Darren recounts how he was an unapologetic queer from a young age, tells us about his experiences as a working class, queer, person of colour in the arts and his transition from performer on the vogue scene to a facilitator and creative producer.   A huge thank you to North West Cancer Research for sponsoring this series. Cancer is something that effects all of us in some way, NWCR’s award winning engagement work helps the region tackle the cause, improve the care and find a cure for cancer. In light of this, we’ve made this years podcast theme ‘You Know Your Own Body Best’, to not only encourage members of the LGBTQIA+ community to be aware of changes in the body but to also affirm their identities. You matter and you are who you say you are. Each guest interprets this theme for themselves, relating it to their queerness, art and personal experiences. You can learn more about the incredible work North West Cancer Research do here:  https://www.nwcr.org/ The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ohashleighdarling / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

This weeks guest is artist and artists model Sue Tilley. Sue is an ordinary person who was destined for an extraordinary life! In this episodes she talks about how her life changed after modelling for Lucian Freud, the unusual places and people she's found herself amongst and how she grabs onto as many experiences and opportunities as possible. A huge thank you to North West Cancer Research for sponsoring this series. Cancer is something that effects all of us in some way, NWCR’s award winning engagement work helps the region tackle the cause, improve the care and find a cure for cancer. In light of this, we’ve made this years podcast theme ‘You Know Your Own Body Best’, to not only encourage members of the LGBTQIA+ community to be aware of changes in the body but to also affirm their identities. You matter and you are who you say you are. Each guest interprets this theme for themselves, relating it to their queerness, art and personal experiences. You can learn more about the incredible work North West Cancer Research do here:  https://www.nwcr.org/ The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ohashleighdarling / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

This weeks guest is performance artist and access consultant Vijay Patel. In this episode Vijay talks about the process of making a new show about neurodiversity with his autistic brother and how TV programmes such as Little Britain and The Catherine Tate Show made coming out harder. Vijay also gives us an insight into his access consultancy work and how he wants artists to advocate for their access needs and disabilities.  A huge thank you to North West Cancer Research for sponsoring this series. Cancer is something that effects all of us in some way, NWCR’s award winning engagement work helps the region tackle the cause, improve the care and find a cure for cancer. In light of this, we’ve made this years podcast theme ‘You Know Your Own Body Best’, to not only encourage members of the LGBTQIA+ community to be aware of changes in the body but to also affirm their identities. You matter and you are who you say you are. Each guest interprets this theme for themselves, relating it to their queerness, art and personal experiences. You can learn more about the incredible work North West Cancer Research do here:  https://www.nwcr.org/ The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ohashleighdarling / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

Our guest this week is performance artist Tom Marshman. Tom discusses his passion of telling hidden queer stories, the changes he's seen in the arts during the past 20 years and he gives us an insight of his processes of making work.  A huge thank you to North West Cancer Research for sponsoring this series. Cancer is something that effects all of us in some way, NWCR’s award winning engagement work helps the region tackle the cause, improve the care and find a cure for cancer. In light of this, we’ve made this years podcast theme ‘You Know Your Own Body Best’, to not only encourage members of the LGBTQIA+ community to be aware of changes in the body but to also affirm their identities. You matter and you are who you say you are. Each guest interprets this theme for themselves, relating it to their queerness, art and personal experiences. You can learn more about the incredible work North West Cancer Research do here:  https://www.nwcr.org/ The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ohashleighdarling / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

This week we are joined by make-up extraordinaire and star of BBC THREE's Glow Up Alex Ogden Clark. Alex reveals how make-up helped her through depression, her experiences and impact on Glow Up and how she's recently got into stand up comedy.  A huge thank you to North West Cancer Research for sponsoring this series. Cancer is something that effects all of us in some way, NWCR’s award winning engagement work helps the region tackle the cause, improve the care and find a cure for cancer. In light of this, we’ve made this years podcast theme ‘You Know Your Own Body Best’, to not only encourage members of the LGBTQIA+ community to be aware of changes in the body but to also affirm their identities. You matter and you are who you say you are. Each guest interprets this theme for themselves, relating it to their queerness, art and personal experiences. You can learn more about the incredible work North West Cancer Research do here:  https://www.nwcr.org/ The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ohashleighdarling / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

Series 2 baby!  The first guest of our second series is writer and performer Tabby Lamb. Tabby talks about telling stories of queer and trans joy, how the Gen Z's are pathing the way and how life is a journey of self-discovery.  A huge thank you to North West Cancer Research for sponsoring this series. Cancer is something that effects all of us in some way, NWCR’s award winning engagement work helps the region tackle the cause, improve the care and find a cure for cancer. In light of this, we’ve made this years podcast theme ‘You Know Your Own Body Best’, to not only encourage members of the LGBTQIA+ community to be aware of changes in the body but to also affirm their identities. You matter and you are who you say you are. Each guest interprets this theme for themselves, relating it to their queerness, art and personal experiences. You can learn more about the incredible work North West Cancer Research do here:  https://www.nwcr.org/ The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ohashleighdarling / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

We are back with a very special bonus episode with actor and poet Jade Anouka. Jade talks about representation for black queer artists, coming out publicly during lockdown and not knowing queerness was an option growing up. The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ashleighoohlala / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

For the final episode of the series Ashleigh chats to self-taught artist and writer Scottee. Scottee talks about hanging out with the mums growing up, getting into the arts through the back door and creating closure on the grief work he is so well known for. We also hear from our listeners as they share their art & artist recommendations. The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ashleigh___owen / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

This week Ashleigh is joined by performance artist, writer and access assistant Toni-Dee Paul. Toni talks about political resistance through theatre, communicating access requirements and creating inclusive and activist work for children. In our spotlight on section, we hear from Felix Mufti-Wright of Transcend Theatre, who was part of last year's Homotopia QueerCore programme and finally we have some art recommendations from our community. The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ashleigh___owen / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

This week Ashleigh is joined by artist Amy Pennington, who uses humour to connect human experiences and socio-political issues. Amy talks about being a gabby child, collaboration over competition and the future of their work. In our spotlight on section, we hear from Rebecca Clarke of Mooncup Theatre, who were part of last year's Homotopia QueerCore programme and finally we have some art recommendations from our community. The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ashleigh___owen / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

This week Ashleigh is joined by award winning theatre-maker, writer and performer Travis Alabanza. Travis talks about starting their career performing at London night-clubs, creating their smash-hit show Burgerz and the need for more black, trans and gender non-conforming voices on our stages. In our spotlight on section, we hear from Flood Theatre, who are part of this year's Homotopia QueerCore programme and finally we have some art recommendations from our community. The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ashleigh___owen / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

This week Ashleigh is joined by theatre-maker, facilitator and spoken word artist Katie Greenall. The pair chat about the complexities of self-acceptance and navigating the world in a fat body. Katie talks about the process of making her debut solo show FATTY FAT FAT, how she discovered her queeness and her ongoing journey of understanding her gender. In our spotlight on section, we also hear from Dan Chan, a member of Homotopia's QueerCore programme, with some art recommendations from our community at the end. The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ashleigh___owen / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).

For our first episode, Ashleigh chats to Westend performer and internet sensation Rob Madge about how lockdown inspired them to share hilarious childhood videos of them recreating Disney parades in their living room. Rob talks about how revisiting the videos sparked the idea of creating a solo show with a message for parents to encourage their children’s creativity and flamboyance. In our spotlight on section we also hear from Mo Kassabian Svendsen, a member of Homotopia's QueerCore programme, with some artist recommendations from our community at the end.  The Queer Gaze is a LGBTQIA+ arts podcast produced and hosted by Ashleigh Owen (@ashleigh___owen / ashleighowen.co.uk) and supported by Homotopia (@homotopiafest / homotopia.net).