Pick up a Brick: DEBATE SERIES

Pick up a Brick (EdFringe19 debate series)

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising in New York City, Civil Disobedience has partnered with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society to create three free public debates/provocations, as well as an ambitious LGBTQ+ mixer that aims to be the biggest toast in the city, all celebrating the past while looking to the future.

Part of the Fringe Central programme, these events are designed for Fringe participants but open to the public. The Pick up a Brick debate series consists of the following events:

  • LGBT INCLUSIVE EDUCATION (debate): 9 August, 16:30 (90 minutes)
  • PERSISTENT & NASTY (debate): 15 August, 15:30 (120 minutes)
  • PICK UP A BRICK – Art as Activism (debate): 16 August, 16:30 (90 minutes)
  • BOTTOMS UP; AN LGBTQ+ MIXER: 16 August, 18:00 (60 minutes)

LGBT-inclusive education (debate)

At this event we’ll chat with educators and queer artists about the rollout of the LGBT inclusive curriculum in Scottish schools this September, exploring effective ways for queer creatives to tell their stories to young people.

Friday 9th August, 16:30 (90 minutes) at Fringe Central: Inspace
FREE, but ticketed: Book your ticket now.

Persistent & Nasty (debate)

STPNastyFollowing on from the success of last year’s Persistent & Nasty series and our Fringe debate with a provocation delivered by Orla O’Loughlin, this discussion on the female-identified voice on stage and screen is back!

Persistent & Nasty takes on gender parity in a non-binary world; expect lively debate and a ban on toilet chat.

Thursday 15th August, 15:30 (120 minutes)
Fringe Central: Inspace
FREE, but ticketed: Book your tickets now.

Pick up a Brick: Art as Activism (debate)

This event, which gave name to our 2019 debate series, ties together the general themes of the other two events as well as the Bottoms Up mixer, looking at art as a means to push social boundaries and facilitate progress. Specifically, it celebrates the role of queer artists in generating social and political change. Come along and help us explore how artists have amplified the voices of their communities with a panel of brilliant queer creatives and activists talking queer erasure, creative protest and progress.

Friday 16th August, 16:30 (90 minutes) at Fringe Central: Inspace
FREE, but ticketed: Book your tickets now.

Bottoms Up: an LGBTQ+ (and allies) mixer

Stormé_DeLarverieImmediately after the Pick up a Brick debate, we’re hosting Bottoms Up, a tongue-in-cheek social for LGBTQ+ participants and their allies/friends, where we plan to raise a glass to the forbears of the modern queer civil rights movement, Marsha P Johnson, Stormé DeLarverie and Sylvia Rivera – as well as that infamous moment at Stonewall in New York City 50 years ago.

Come along to our queer celebration for drinks, mingling, laughs and (hopefully) the biggest group toast of the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe!

Friday 16th August, 18:00 (60 minutes) at Fringe Central: FREE, non-ticketed.

For more information or media enquiries, just get in touch.