The pandemic has exacerbated loneliness among LGBTQIA + people in the South West, with queer spaces disrupted and support mechanisms blocked. This online event invites you to a sneak preview of a new play by Exeter-based writer, Natalie McGrath, which dramatizes the experiences and histories of LGBTQIA + loneliness and belonging across the region. Performers will stage extracts from The Beat of Our Hearts, which is inspired by the experiences of local LGBTQIA + people who attended creative workshops throughout the summer and autumn of 2021.

After the performance, discussions will be led by a panel of LGBTQIA + practitioners and researchers. You will get the chance to listen and respond to a conversation about renewing queer communities in the South West after the pandemic, and help envision how a sense of belonging might begin to take root again after months of disruption.

Cost: Free

Accessibility Statement: This event will include BSL interpretation and automatic closed-captioning.