Hull in print : Culture

It’s one of the largest festivals of its kind in Yorkshire and this year offers a wider-than-ever range of events for the whole community to enjoy.
Gay movie nights, a ‘coming out’ balloon release, a comedy night, a hate crime workshop, a gay business breakfast, community projects, and a free, day-long music festival in West Park all form part of Hull Pride 2009.
Now in its eighth year, the event is supported by Hull City Council, Humberside Police, NHS Hull and Humberside Fire and Rescue, and the organisers (who are all volunteers) are hoping the event can attract a wider audience.
“Hull Pride is for everyone,” says Damian Chapman, one of the organisers of the event.
“Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender people will certainly be there for what is a great occasion for the city, but we also want to reach out to more people in Hull.
“Equality is extremely important to us so whatever people’s sexuality, colour, creed or background, they will all be very welcome to join us.”
A safe sex message will be promoted this year to help reduce the rate of sexually transmitted infections in Hull, and the event will celebrate diversity in all its forms and challenge prejudice based on sexual orientation.

Hull Pride begins on 18 July and ends with the West Park music festival on 25 July.
For more information visit www.hullpride.com

See stars of the future

Some of the top young performers in the UK will be treading the boards at Hull Truck theatre this summer.
A total of 40 young people from the National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT), will stage a production of The Hired Man, a musical, between 5 - 8 August.
The NYMT is famed for producing stars of the future in TV, film and on stage.
Its former members include Matt Lucas, Jude Law, Connie Fisher and Tom Chambers.
“We chose to come to Hull because we didn’t want to be London-centric,” said NYMT producer Dominic Francis.
“We’re an organisation with a national reach and we work with young people from all over the UK.
“It’s also very exciting for us to put on the very first piece of musical theatre at Hull Truck.” The group of young people, aged between 11 and 21, who come from all backgrounds, are made up of musicians, and stage technicians as well as performers.
They will stay at Hull University’s halls of residence from 24 July while preparing for the performance.
The Hired Man, written by Melvin Bragg and Howard Goodall, is set in Cumbria in the early part of the last century.
It tells the story of ordinary working couple John and Emily, and traces their hardships as John, a hired land worker, becomes a coal miner, then survives The Great War.

Tickets for the production are on sale from the Hull Truck box office on 323638 or by visiting www.hulltruck.co.uk


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