03/05/2013 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: Douze points!: tonight

Posted on 03/05/201303/05/2013 by Besi

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: Douze Points!

Amidst claims that Eurovision has had it’s day, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus imagine what might happen should Brighton attempt to stage an alternative song contest. What would be the highs and lows, the delights and disasters? Would it be a fabulous folly or a scandalous success? Join them as they scale the musical heights and plumb the emotional depths.

Douze Points! is at the Brighthelm Centre on North Road on Friday 3 and Saturday May 4 at 7.30pm (as part of Brighton Fringe Festival)

Event: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: Douze Points

Where: Brighthelm Centre. North Road,

When: Friday 3 and Saturday 4 of May

Time: 7.30pm

To book tickets, CLICK HERE:

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: Pride Special

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus star for an evening of vocal highlights in the Ladyboys Pavilion on Pavilion Gardens, bringing their unique mix of rock and pop classics to the stage including Man in the Mirror, Islands in the Stream, Rolling in the Deep and Hung up among many surprises! One of Whatsonstage.com’s “highlights of the Fringe 2012”.

Event: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: Pride Special

Where: The Sabai Pavilion, Victoria/Pavilion Gardens, Brighton

When: Sunday, May 12

Time: 8pm

To book tickets, CLICK HERE:

La bohème: ENO: Opera Review

Posted on 03/05/201303/05/2013 by Eric Page

This is the second revival of Jonathan Milers by the book interpretation of La bohème and along with director Natascha Metherell the ENO have managed to give this smart and polished production a slightly rougher edgier feel than the last time I saw it, more grit and thus more real.

Never a great fan of La bohème I dutifully went along and tried not to sigh at the endless trauma that unfolds in this drama but tonight I was touched, not quite as much as the people around me who were moved by this evenings production, but the music was sublime and swept me and my cynical old self up into a beautiful elevated world of bliss.

Oleg Caetani conducted with masterful style last night, full of engine, pulling us effortlessly into the action and steaming on through with no time to pause, it was on occasion slightly overbearing but his relentless pace made the evening fly by and gave a really feeling of emotional urgency to the story. I was impressed with the orchestra last night, they gave their all.

Read the synopsis here:

Kate Valentine as Mimi was soft, sad and innocent lost in a confusing world and seeing real and emotional warmth, I felt sorry for her with her voice conveying desperate urgency well but she failed to convince me of her despair. Gwyn Hughes Jones as Rodolfo was excellent and he pushed his voice gymnastically and effortlessly around the score and was impressive.

Richard Burkhard’s Marcello was warm and believable and his voice is pure and resonant, but the real star of the night was Angel Blue’s Musetta who was stunning, bringing believable nuance to this sometimes shallow role and being as sexy and knowing in her acting and look as she was in her singing. She was exceptional, harnessing the power of the orchestra to her whim and ringing out across the Coliseum, just sublime, and each time I see her sing I want more.

Amanda Holden’s libretto was a bit of on the brutal side with some laboured rhymes which seemed over emphasised and unintentionally funny. The set of slowly revolving opened-out shabby apartments and streets striking the right note of early Brassai’s photograph of 20^th century Paris and designer Isabella Bywater gets the muted pallets and shabby community feeling just right.

All in all a good night out at the ENO, something easy to access and understand, accomplished and nonthreatening and one for Puccini fans to revel in. A good show to take as your first visit if you’re interested in going along to opera this spring and it’s warm, inviting atmosphere of this quality and assured production is classic ENO at it’s best.

Performances in May: Sat 04, Wed 08, Fri 10, Tue 14, Thu 16, Fri 24, Fri 31,

Performances in June: Fri 07, Wed 12, Sat 15, Wed 19, Sat 22, Sat 29

For more information or to book tickets see the ENO website here:

Sexy Sailors: Book review

Posted on 03/05/201303/05/2013 by Eric Page

Sexy Sailors: Edited by Neil Plakcy

This all new collection of gay erotic stories is great steamy fun, with a strong focus of sexy seafaring tales from a collection of established gay erotica writers. A traditional and much lusted after figure, the seaman is the tanned, toned and rugged hunk of many a gay mans fantasy. These stories explore lots of different ones and have a laid back and easy to read style.

‘Sexy Sailors’ boasts a crew of the hottest men of the sea, navy men, yachtsmen, thick limbed dockers and even a pirate or two and has a collection of naughty and nautical stories covering all aspects of life at sea, some historical, some navel some simple love stories with the sea set as background.

From the straight foreword raunchy to the more sophisticated and romantic this anthology covers most bases and should keep your one handed reading habit occupied. Plakcy knows his stuff and as editor of these anthologies has kept the quality of writers he has included high, keeping the focus on the storytelling but not at the expense of the sex.

There’s a good range of stories and all the erotic content is steamy and relentless and I found it was pretty good, good enough for me to finish reading it all.

Out now £10.99

Published by Turnaround-uk for more info or to buy a copy see the website here:

Alison Moyet signs to appear at Brighton Pride

Posted on 03/05/201303/05/2013 by Besi

Iconic Diva Alison Moyet has been added to the main stage lineup for this years Brighton Pride on Saturday August 3. Alison Moyet made her name in Yazoo with Vince Clarke before moving on to a successful solo recording and acting career in the West End.

Programming director Dulcie Weaver, said:

“Alison Moyet is a true Icon and a hero to many LGBT people. We are so excited to be able to confirm such an amazing legend for Pride 2013. We will be announcing even more thrilling acts in the run up to what is already looking to be the best Brighton Pride line-up ever!”

MKS featuring original lineup of the Sugababes

This year the main stage returns as a focus on Preston Park. Alison Moyet will be joined by the original lineup of the Sugababes. Mutya, Keisha and Siobahn have reformed the original Sugarbabes line-up and are performing under the name MKS with brand new material being written for them by none other than Emeli Sande. This is one of the most anticipated reunions in years.

Dulcie Weaver said:

“MKS will be performing some new material as well as some of The Sugababes biggest hits live on our fabulous main stage. I can’t tell you how excited we are about it, they are truly an iconic pop act and are going to make a huge impact on the day.”

Already confirmed for a completely unique DJ appearance on the main stage is Paloma Faith!

Dulcie said:

“I’m delighted to be able to announce Paloma’s appearance this early in the planning stages, she will be doing a DJ appearance unlike anything you’ve seen before”

Popular girl group Stooshe are also joining the line up. Their single Black Heart was one of the largest selling and airplay records of 2012. She will be joined by multi Brit award winner Ms Dynamite who will be performing her signature sound of R&B, grime and UK garage. Ms Dynamite has had recent chart success with DJ Fresh track Gold Dust and Katy B’s Lights On.

Dulcie added:

“I’ve seen this lady perform and she’s guaranteed to make the crowd go wild!”

Pride wouldn’t be complete without some boy band action and so far the line up in this category includes Britain’s Got Talent finalists The Mend and up and coming boy band Class A have been confirmed.

Other confirmed artists joining Alison Moyet, MKS, Paloma Faith, Stooshe, Ms Dynamite, The Mend and Class A on the main stage include; Lindy Layton, Stacey Jackson and disco legend Hazel Dean who will be helping create a day for the city to remember.

The anti is being upped this year in the Women’s Performance Tent with the appearance of lesbian Icon Horse and X-Factor’s Lucy Spraggan.

Dulcie Weaver concluded saying:

“With are thrilled with the line that has been organised so far for this year Pride, and with so many other major acts to announce anyone who takes advantage of the £12.50 early-bird ticket offer this year is getting themselves a serious bargain!

Brighton Pride 2013 takes place on Saturday 3rd August 2013.

Brighton Pride is administered by a CIC Company formed to manage the 2013 event. It’s Directors are Paul Kemp of Aeon Events Ltd. David Hill of E3 and Dulcie Weaver. £1 per head for each ticket sold is ring fenced for the Rainbow Fund to distribute through their grants program administered by the Sussex Community Foundation to LGBT organisations, along with any profits after bills and expenses have been settled after the event.

Start your week with Michael Rosen

Posted on 03/05/2013 by Besi

May Bank Holiday’s Start The Week on Radio 4 is to come from Brighton, in honour of the Brighton Festival.

Already recorded at the Dome Studio Theatre this week, it features Guest Director of the Festival Michael Rosen, artist Mariele Neudecker, writer Jay Griffiths, and Blast theory artist Matt Adams.

Rosen will be talking about how the 1920s Weimar children’s novel, Emil and the Detectives, is at the heart of the festival, while Neudecker discusses how she has brought the outside world inside in her Regency Town House Festival piece.

Griffiths will cause sparks when talking about her latest book Kith: The Riddle of the Childscape and her thesis that the rise of CCTV in the UK exactly mirrors the rise of the hoodie.

Lastly, Blast Theory’s Adams talks of their latest piece, Fixing Point, which involves an electronically guided walk through Stanmer Woods.

Catch Start The Week on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6 on Radio 4 at 9am.

Get fit at BLAGSS’ Big Gay Sports day

Posted on 03/05/201324/05/2013 by Kat Pope

Those Brighton lads and lasses from BLAGSS, determined to get us all fit and Adonis-like, are giving us a taster of all the sports on offer in the city, handily packaged in one Big Gay Sports Day next month.

Taking place at the Stanley Deason Leisure Centre on June 19, almost all the sports you can think of will be there for all to see and try.

Laid Back Lindas can give yoga and tai chi a go, Sporty Sidneys will get a kick out of tennis and volleyball, while Bulging Berthas will be well at home with boxing and ‘bootcamp’.

In addition there’ll be badminton, trampolining, ju-jitsu, walking, cycling, golf, petanque, football, softball, beach volleyball, rock-climbing, squash, and just plain stretching and exercising.

BLAGSS (Brighton Lesbian & Gay Sports Society) is the city’s largest LGBT group and, having formed nearly 20 years ago, must now be responsible for many a bulging Brighton muscle.

They run over 700 sports events throughout the year, but if you’re just too nervous to plunge in at the deep end, this taster day is a perfect ‘in’ for everyone, young and old.

It’s part of the council’s now established Take Part Festival, happening around town from June 22 to July 7,

The Big Gay Sports Day will be a social occasion too, with the midday meal being provided by Lunch Positive, the HIV charity who provide nutricious meals for people with HIV once a week and there will be a lovely big ramble at the end of the day up on the South Downs with BLAGSS most popular group, the Walkers.

BLAGSS Big Gay Sports Day is at the Stanley Deason Leisure Centre, Wilson Avenue, Brighton on June 29, from 10am to 6pm. It’s a ‘turn up at the door’ event.

Event: BLAGSS Big Gay Sports Day

Where: Stanley Deason Leisure Centre, Wilson Avenue, Brighton

When: June 29

Time: 10am to 6pm

Entry: is a £2 donation to ‘Mind Out’ charity.

For more information view: www.blagss.org and www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/takepart