Belvedere Road, South Bank, London
Sat 19 Sept · 19:00 · £24
Join the singer, actor and LGBTQIA+ advocate for a talk tackling challenges to queer media and uncovering the bold voices telling the queer stories that matter. Alexander curates a panel including writer, film-maker and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi; actor and writer Jade Anouka; and writer Juno Dawson to tackle the future of queer storytelling, and discuss pressing concerns about shrinking opportunities for the next generation of queer creators. The past decade delivered a remarkable wave of LGBTQIA+ storytelling across TV, literature and film that shifted cultural conversations and influenced real-world change – including the acclaimed drama It’s A Sin, starring Alexander – prompting many to declare a golden era for queer stories. But in recent years, that sense of steady progress has begun to falter, with representation of LGBTQIA+ characters in major media rapidly falling and increasing bans on and challenges to queer media. The Future of Queer Storytelling turns to some of the boldest creative voices of today to ask: How can we respond to this shift and shape the future of queer storytelling? Who is telling the important stories? What action can we take to sustain the stories that matter at a moment when visibility and creative freedom feel increasingly uncertain? Olly Alexander remains a defining force in pop culture, spanning music, stage and screen. As Years & Years, he earned two UK No.1 albums, ten Top 40 singles and amassed billions of streams. He’s performed in global arenas and on the West End, and his role in It’s A Sin earned him a BAFTA nomination.