For immediate release Thursday, June 7 2007
In the footsteps of Dickens
Armistead Maupin to visit Liverpool’s St George’s Hall
Renowned author will appear as part of Homotopia festival
Tickets on sale now
BRITAIN'S favourite gay author is set to make a rare appearance at St George’s Hall.
Armistead Maupin – who last year was voted the country’s most popular author in the Big Gay Read – will read from his new novel, ‘Michael Tolliver Lives’, and talk about his life and work, at a special event organised by Liverpool’s gay arts festival, Homotopia, on July 4.
Often compared to Charles Dickens, Maupin will appear in the newly refurbished Small Concert Room – the same venue where Dickens took part in the famed ‘Penny Readings’ in the mid-nineteenth century.
His Liverpool appearance is the first date in a national tour, and the only major event outside London. Best known for his series ‘Tales of the City’, which was adapted for television, Maupin is widely regarded as one of America’s greatest living gay writers.
Gary Everett, Homotopia Festival Director, said: “I am thrilled that such a high profile author has agreed to attend this special one-off event and give a reading at the festival.
“Armistead Maupin has also kindly agreed to attend several community events in the day, before taking part in what promises to be a glittering occasion in the grand surroundings of the Small Concert Room.”
Amongst the community projects that Maupin will visit while he is in Liverpool is the Armistead Centre – the gay health project that was named in his honour.
Homotopia, which is supported by the Liverpool Culture Company, celebrates its fourth birthday in 2007. Although it is responsible for events throughout the year, the main focus of the programme is in November. The festival celebrated a massively successful year in 2006, with audiences of more than 6,500 attending a wide selection of events in genres including theatre, film, art, and heritage.
Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool city council, said: “Homotopia is a fantastic example of a homegrown arts festival that has developed into a major event on Liverpool’s cultural calendar.
“It’s a great reflection of the vibrancy of the city’s arts sector.”
Tickets for the Armistead Maupin event are on sale now, priced at £6 each, available from Unity Theatre, (0151) 709 4988; or News From Nowhere, (0151) 708 7270. Doors open at 6pm, the event begins at 7pm.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Homotopia 2007 takes place from November 1 to 18. For more information visit www.homotopia.net
Armistead Maupin was born in Washington DC in 1944, but was brought up in North Carolina. A graduate of the University of North Carolina, he served as a naval officer in Vietnam before moving to California in 1971 as reporter for the Associated Press. In 1976 he launched his daily newspaper serial Tales of the City, in the San Francisco Chronicle. The first fiction to appear in an American daily for decades, Tales grew into an international sensation when compiled and rewritten as novels. Maupin's six volume series are now multi-million copy bestsellers published around the world. In 2006, Tales of the City won the coveted UK's Big Gay Read (the UK's favourite gay/lesbian novel) beating Sarah Waters, Alan Hollinghurst, Jeanette Winterson and Annie Proulx amongst others. www.armisteadmaupin.com.
St George’s Hall was re-opened on April 23 2007 (St George’s Day) following a £23m, five-year renovation programme, which included the restoration of the Small Concert Room.
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Liverpool Culture Company is delivering Liverpool’s 800th anniversary celebrations in 2007 and co-ordinating the 2008 European Capital of Culture programme.
A high resolution image of Armistead Maupin is available on request.
For more information, please contact Helen Johnson, on (0151) 233 4032 or 07725 150 738.
For the latest news from Liverpool, European Capital of Culture 2008, visit
www.liverpool.gov.uk or
www.liverpool08.com.
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