Bodies Condemned by Oblivion

Join us for an evening of powerful theatre, personal storytelling and conversation exploring love, memory, resilience and the power of queer voices across cultures. 

Bringing together artists and LGBTIQ+ communities from the UK, Colombia and Mexico, for one night only we invite audiences to explore how creativity can preserve memory, challenge injustice and imagine more hopeful futures. Through theatre, shared experiences and discussion the event will reflect on the ways stories connect communities across cultures while honouring the distinct histories from which they emerge.

Experience the world premiere of the first English translation of Bodies Condemned by Oblivion (Cuerpos Desahuciados por el Olvido) by Colombian playwright Jhonnathan Velásquez, presented as a rehearsed reading by LGBTIQ+ actors from Oxford. Set during Colombia's armed conflict, the play follows two young men forcibly recruited into guerrilla forces. As they navigate war and displacement, they must also reckon with their love for one another.

The evening continues with a sharing of original work from local community members developed in workshops led by Jhonnathan Velásquez and Mexican author Julio Díaz Calderón, connecting local stories with wider conversations about queer memory, violence and resistance. The work shared is rooted in lived experiences of love, identity, discrimination, joy and belonging.

The evening will conclude with an open discussion featuring artists, actors and academics who will explore the role of queer storytelling, artistic collaboration and art as acts of remembrance, resistance and hope—and invite you to be part of the conversation.

Whether you're passionate about theatre, interested in queer histories and contemporary voices, or simply curious to experience something thought-provoking and moving please join us for an evening of shared reflection and dialogue. Everyone is welcome.