Dean was being supported by a Federation of Scottish Theatre Producer Placement Bursary with funding from Creative Scotland.

1. Who are you?

I’m an event producer and musician. I organise Queer Theory - a Glasgow cabaret show with a focus on the subversive and experimental. I’m one half of the electropop/comedy duo Alternative Cracks. I also play for the soul band Melisa Kelly & the Smokin’ Crows and a community choir in Ayrshire called the Infinity Choir. 

I’m a gay man who is very passionate about queer history and culture. Queer Theory gives me an opportunity to pay tribute and celebrate icons from our shared queer history, relating them to our current moment. I’ve organised events themed around John Waters, Leigh Bowery, Marsha Johnson, Judith Butler as well as more local legends like Jo Clifford. If I could have been around at any time, I would have loved to be a musician in the early 80s at the birth of groups like Bronski Beat, Eurythmics, Associates & Soft Cell.

2. How did you get here?

I grew up in Arbroath near Dundee, a scenic but culturally dreary seaside town. From a young age I wrote music in a duo called Black Doves - a theatrical and glam pop group who were later the resident band of Queer Theory for our first couple years.

I studied Commercial Music at UWS in Ayr and spent a lot of time at uni learning about event promotion. I was the booker of the Basement Coffee House which, in its first year, won Best Small Music Venue in Scotland from NME magazine. I also organised club nights at Furys: Double Dunt (EDM) and Pilgrimage (funk and soul).

After moving to Glasgow, I co-organised a Northern Soul night called Night Owl before launching Queer Theory in 2016. Through Queer Theory, I met the wonderful Annabel Cooper who graciously asked me to get involved in Sanctuary. 

3. What does Sanctuary mean to you?

Sanctuary to me is about people - my family of choice. It’s about having a network of like-minded people who understand and support each other, lift each other up and have a good time together!

4. What does your Sanctuary look like?

It could be anything from producing music alone in my flat, a hedonistic party with friends, a walk in the countryside or playing video games in bed with my boyfriend.