A celebration of LGBT+ culture headlines three days of literature, music and performance at Eden

A celebration of LGBT+ culture headlines three days of literature, music and performance at Eden

The Eden Project’s first ever showcase of LGBT+ creativity opens the attraction’s forthcoming Arts Festival, between September 8 and 10.

The Arts Festival starts on Friday September 8 with Proud Eden, which will feature two stages of artists celebrating LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans) culture. Top book publisher Penguin Random House and Gay Times will be curating the action on the stage in the Mediterranean Biome.

This will feature Matthew Todd, former editor of Attitude magazine, talking about his book Straight Jacket: How to be Gay and Happy, and Dean Atta, award-winning poet and voted one of the most influential LGBT+ people in the UK.

Also on the Mediterranean Biome stage will be Paul Diello, award-winning singer-songwriter who has released two solo albums, toured across the UK, Europe and America supporting artists such as Texas, Jarvis Cocker and Nick Harper.

Elani Evangelou, a singer-songwriter from Plymouth, Toby Campion, an award-winning writer and spoken word artist and musician Zee Gachette, otherwise known as Z Star, will also be playing.

On the dome tent stage, situated in Eden’s arena, will be the acclaimed West End show Outings, Lucy Le Brocq’s photos of drag kings, and a performance called Beacons, Icons and Dykons, inspired by the spectacularly bad sci-fi musical The Apple.

Kate Francis, Eden’s programme producer, said: “We’re really pleased to be bringing the best of LGBTQ arts to Eden as part of our Arts Festival. We don’t often see this kind of event in Cornwall so we’re excited to introduce our audience to some of the most exciting and vibrant artists and performers in the country.”

The Arts Festival continues on Saturday and Sunday September 9 and 10, featuring a celebration of the new edition of Roald Dahl’s final story for children, Billy and the Minpins, which is published by Penguin Random House and is being released with new illustrations from iconic Dahl collaborator Quentin Blake.

Billy and the Minpins, which has been renamed to reflect the author’s original title, is the story of heroic Billy who saves the Minpins, tiny tree-dwelling people whose children are the size of matchsticks, from the fearsome Gruncher. Eden’s storytellers will be reading from Billy and the Minpins throughout the weekend.

Also on the Saturday and Sunday will be puppet performances from Squashbox Theatre (Saturday) and Aunty Emily and the Missing Melody (Sunday)and showings of Miracle Theatre’s feature film Tin.

Music will be provided by Jamie Crowe and Kezia playing songs from their magical appearance at Eden’s Festival of Light and Sound last Christmas, Vicky Abbott and her choir and folk singers Kate Kirt and Rich Williams.

The acclaimed Kakatsitsi Master Drummers from Ghana, one of Africa’s leading drumming groups, will be performing and running workshops throughout the weekend.

On Sunday only, juggler and comedian Jon Udry will be bringing his ABC Tour to Eden. The ABC Tour sees the Bristol-based entertainer play a show in venues whose names begin with every letter of the alphabet.

All activities are included in the Eden Project admission price.

For a full schedule and more information, click here: