30 January to 20 February: Fangirls
Catch Yve Blake’s uproarious, award-winning musical Fangirls, a deep dive into boy band fandom. The show is playing at the Seymour Centre. Find showtimes and tickets here.
2 February: Other Worlds Book Club, Better Read than Dead
The Other Words Book Club will meet on Zoom at 6.30pm to discuss works of speculative fiction. February’s meeting will involve discussion of Alix E. Harrow’s The Once and Future Witches and Ten Thousand Doors of January.
4 February: Gary Lonesborough in conversation with Will Kostakis on The Boy from the Mish
Author Gary Lonesborough will appear in conversation with Will Kostakis from 6.30 to 7.30pm. Lonesborough’s The Boy from the Mish is a heart-warming queer Indigenous YA novel set in a rural Australian community, about first love, identity and self-belief. Register to join the Zoom event, hosted by Better Read than Dead.
4 February: Bondi Literary Salon
Join the Bondi Literary Salon for their first Book Club get-together of 2021. They will be discussing Tiffany McDaniel’s novel, Betty. Arrive at Gertrude & Alice Bookclub at 6.45pm for a 7pm start. Make sure to book here.
7 February: Lost in Books in conversation with Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas, author of the acclaimed The Hate U Give will be in conversation with Lost in Books to discuss her new book, Concrete Rose. Tickets are free but make sure to register here.
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February: In conversation with Carly Findlay on Growing Up Disabled in
Australia
Hosted by Better Read than Dead, Growing Up Disabled in Australia editor
Carly Findlay will appear in conversation with contributor El Gibbs and ABC reporter
Nas Campanella. The new anthology is a rich collection of writing from those
negotiating disability in their lives. This event takes place on Zoom from 7.30
to 8.30pm. Book in here.
11 February: In conversation with Danielle Celermajer on Summertime Hosted by Better Read than Dead, philosopher Danielle Celermajer is appearing in conversation with ABC’s Scott Stephens. They will discuss Celermajer’s new essay collection Summertime, written in the shadow of last year’s bushfires. The Zoom event begins at 6.30pm. Register here.
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February: Queerstories Western Sydney at Riverside Parramatta
The storytelling project Queerstories is heading to Western Sydney
for an evening with incredible local storytellers. Speakers include Jane Marsden,
Miranda Aguilar, Mark Mariano, David Moutou, Naomi Mourra and Madhuraa Prakash.
Buy your tickets here.
16 February:
Sappho Open Stage
The Sappho Open Stage is back for 2021! All kinds of performers are invited
to take part and showcase anything from music to dance, and poetry to comedy. Sign-up
for the open section starts at 6:30pm and the event will begin at 7pm. Entry is
free.
18 February: The B List with Bri Lee & Rebecca Starford
The B List Bookclub is returning for the year. Bri Lee will be in conversation with Rebecca Starford. Starford’s new novel The Imitator is a page-turning World War Two spy thriller. The event begins at 7pm and takes place online, hosted by the State Library of NSW. Register here.
18 February to 4 March: Mardi Gras Film Festival 2021
Run by Queer Screen, The Mardi Gras Film Festival is bringing you the best LGBTIQ+ cinema from around the world. There are over 60 cinema screenings taking place in Sydney. You can also experience it from home as the festival going online and on-demand across Australia. Check out the program.
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February to 7 March: The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival
The festival is packed with shows, music, cabaret, movies, and talks taking
place throughout February and March. Take a look at their exciting program here.
24 February: Inqueering Minds Book Club, Better Read than Dead
Hosted by Better Read than Dead, The Inqueering Minds Book Club is meeting on Zoom to explore the complexity of LGBTQI+ literature. The book in discussion this week is Throat by Ellen van Neerven. The online meeting starts at 6.30pm.
27 February: THOU SHALT NOT! [and so I DID! ]: A Queer Life on the World Stage
Tim McKew will perform at the State Library of NSW Auditorium as part of Sydney Mardi Gras. Come on the biographical journey of one of Australia’s unsung queer heroes. The event begins at 7pm. Book here.
27 February: Queer Thinking: The Fight Ahead
Writer Benjamin Law will converse with activists, parents and policy-makers to identify the new anti-queer culture wars, and discuss what needs to be done to defend the most vulnerable in our communities. The event takes place at the NSW Teachers Federation at 4pm. Book an in-person or virtual ticket here.
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