Why do they make swimwear like that? (uniting trans and cis people against Big Swim Wear ™)
For Trans Day of Visibility 2025, Shout are sharing an anonymous piece of short writing that explores a trans person’s perspective on swimwear. At the bottom of the piece readers are signposted to trans support services available from Birmingham LGBT.
Artist in residence update by Louis Wharton
I always start with music. I find it helps. On other projects it has ranged in style, genre, and mood. Donna Summer’s I Feel Love, the soundtrack to Disney’s Inside Out, or Stefan Gregory’s sound design for an Australian production of The Glass Menagerie. Breeders was no different – it started with multiple repeats of Why by Bronski Beat.
Artist in residence update by Natasha Taheem
Hello! I’m three months into my Artist Development Residency with Shout running from November ‘24 – February ‘25. The key thing I wanted to focus on was finding a way to bring together my queerness, my heritage and my printmaking.
Call out for lgbtq+ Brummie photographers, content creators & videographers
Shout is now an all year programme of queer arts & culture and we have a lot in the works (stay tuned).
We are looking to expand our network and connect with LGBTQ+ Brummie photographers, content creators and videographers to support our future projects.
‘Breeders’ First Sharing
“I was so pleased by the generous and supportive response we received at the first public sharing of Breeders. This is only the beginning – but I’m grateful for the meaningful conversations we started, the connections we formed, and what’s in store for the future of the script!” – Louis Wharton, Artist in residence
Welcoming Natasha Taheen
“I am excited to work with Shout as it provides the opportunity and platform to share and express what being a South Asian Lesbian means for me. My project will draw out, specifically, the connection to Indian arts and crafts through wood block printing and incorporating contemporary queer experiences into the patterns- not just to express myself, but to locate these experiences in a language and practice many South Asian people are familiar with but do not always find themselves articulated in. This project feels like a big step towards being loud and proud in the big bad world.”
Welcoming Louis Wharton
“I’m so excited to be working with Shout to tell a story that is local, unique, and has a huge intergenerational appeal. This city has a rich and vibrant queer history that deserves to be celebrated – it’s my distinct pleasure to collaborate with Shout to offer these histories time, space, and an active imagination. I hope our work together inspires and provokes audiences; and maybe, also, just makes them want to get up and dance!”
Casting call out – Breeders
We are looking to recruit four, versatile LGBTQ+ performers for a workshopped reading of a piece of original writing, Breeders by Louis Wharton.
Welcoming Eric Scutaro
“I’m looking forward to working with Shout because I will be able to bring joy, new ideas, inspiration and representation to their audience. I will be able to create a space for activism and celebration through dance and community, bringing to Shout a part of my soul.”