Queer festival returning with online format

By Greg Bobinec on February 9, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDgbobinec@lethbridgeherald.com

The Quaint, Quirky and Queer Festival, formally known as the Pretty, Witty and Gay, returns for its 16th year with an online format, for everyone to enjoy from the comfort of their own home.
The three-day event, taking place from Feb. 18-21, will host three events presented to celebrate the queer community of Southern Alberta and provide an opportunity for entertainment during the ongoing lockdown.
“While the last year has been incredible hard on nor just us as a theatre community, but many of our supports and patrons, we felt that it was very important for us to find a way to move ahead with the festival in some capacity,” says Jay Whitehead, co-artistic director.
“There are so many stories to tell and voices to celebrate in Lethbridge, and from our family around the world, that we wanted to not only give them a platform to do so with, but in a way that makes this festival accessible for those among us who may not be able to afford tickets to events at this time.”
To kick off the festival, Theatre Outré will be presenting the reading of 333, a new Canadian play by Whitehead, which takes place during the bath house raise in Toronto during the 1980’s and features three diverse characters for the audience to experience the tragic and forgotten part of Canadian history. The play reading of 333 will take place on Feb. 18, at 7 p.m.
From Feb. 19-21, the festival will welcome Halifax’s HEIST’s production of Frequencies, an innovative solo show mixed with reality performance, viewed through the eyes of a second actor wearing a VR headset with a special camera attached.
This show explores his connection to his family, and has a variety of matinee and evening show times.
To conclude the celebration of the Quaint, Quirky and Queer Festival will celebrate all that is queer in Lethbridge with a cabaret. The evening will feature a variety of local performers and acts in everything from theatre to music, dance and poetry. The Cabaret takes place on Saturday, Feb 20, at 8 p.m. and will be broadcasted online.
Various ticket prices are available for all events to ensure that those who may be facing financial hardship due to the pandemic are still able to access the show. Tickets for all the events, as well as a festival pass are available at theatre-outre.ca.

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