Spotlight On: Alice Parsons

Welcome back to our Spotlight On series, where we celebrate the exceptional Local Associate Producers of Marlborough Productions’ New Queers on the Block initiative! Today, we’re thrilled to introduce Alice Parsons (she/her), a trailblazing Creative Producer and Curator from Liverpool, now making waves in Bradford. Through her visionary platform Castles in the Sky Projects, Alice is redefining the LGBTQIA+ arts scene in the North with dynamic events, drag innovation, and community-building initiatives.

The Castles in the Sky logo, which is turquoise text reading ‘Castles in the Sky’ on a bright blue background. Underneath, it says ‘Bradford’s home for LGBTQ+ art and culture’.

Alice’s journey is a testament to her deep commitment to queer arts and culture. She is the founder of the Bradford Queer Film Festival and OUT OUT, a transformative drag king project that supports emerging and established performers through residencies, cabaret nights, commissions, and mentoring. Alice’s work is underpinned by a passion for spotlighting drag kings and expanding the boundaries of live performance.

Her expertise doesn’t stop there: Alice has been Associate Producer of Right Queer Right Now at Theatre in the Mill, Programmer and Lead Producer of Bradford Pride, and a key figure in LGBTQIA+ programming for Bradford’s UK City of Culture 2025. As a museum exhibitions and engagement specialist, she’s collaborated with institutions like the National Science and Media Museum, British Library, and People’s History Museum, further amplifying her commitment to community storytelling.

Earlier this year, Alice and Sonia Sandhu (she/her) teamed up with Theatre in the Mill to present Right Queer Right Now, a six-day festival of LGBTQIA+ performance, live art, and unapologetically bold queer joy. Highlights included seed commissions from pioneering artist and Chinese drag king Whiskey Chow and Leeds-based artist and writer Jamal Gerald. With a programme that was described by Theatre in the Mill as “intellectually smooth, emotionally chic, and fashionably early,” the festival firmly positioned Bradford as a hub for queer creativity.

The Castles In The Sky Programme

Now, Alice is programming an exciting roster of upcoming events under Castles in the Sky, Bradford’s home for LGBTQIA+ centred live art, performance, and film. This programme, as Alice puts it, is all about creating space for self expression:

“What people need is a space for release and celebration—a space where they can express themselves freely, however that might look. It’s about fostering connection and participation, with activities like food workshops designed to encourage people to come on their own and leave with a new pal. Bradford, while well-connected, isn’t always the most social place, and this programme aims to fill that gap—not just as a place where you can see someone who shares your experiences, but as a space to actively build a supportive, thriving community.”

Here’s a look at what’s on the horizon:

• Dec 4th – Out and Brown w/ Out and Loud: LGBTQIA+ POC Open Mic
  Hosted by Zee, this open mic invites POC artists to share comedy, music, poetry, or anything in between.
• Dec 7th – South Asian Queer Dance Showcase
  Workshops and an evening performance featuring Nikhita Devi and Bollyqueer, hosted at Kala Sangam and Mind the Gap. Dance, connect, and celebrate queer South Asian excellence!
• Dec 14th – Kings of the Castle: OUT OUT Event
  A drag king extravaganza at Common Space, showcasing the brilliance and creativity of performers supported by OUT OUT.

With these events, Alice is creating spaces where individuals can not only enjoy world-class queer art but actively connect and grow as a community. Whether it’s a vibrant drag night, a dance workshop, or an open mic for emerging voices, her programme is a love letter to LGBTQIA+ joy, resilience, and celebration.

For more details, follow Castles in the Sky Projects and prepare to be inspired.