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ME Society launch new website

The charity that cares for those in the region affected by Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) has a new website designed to cover the latest local and national news and developments in an easily understood format.

Colin Barton
Colin Barton

The organisation soon to mark its 30th year is supported by some of the leading medical professionals in the field who contribute regularly to the charity’s work.

ME sometimes follows a viral infection or trauma and affects around 6,000 adults and children across Sussex including a significant number of the LGBT+ community some of whom are virtually housebound and in need of care.

Sussex ME Society chairman and former bar manager Colin Barton, said: ”We have seen much progress over the years both in the recognition and treatment of the illness but there is still some way to go before those affected receive services equal to that afforded to those with other neurological disorders”.

To view the new website, click here: 

 

Fan group mark LGBT history month at Amex Community Stadium

To celebrate LGBT history month, two ten meter long banners were unfurled by football fans in the stands at the Amex Community Stadium as the Albion and Bolton teams came onto the pitch at the beginning of their Football League Championship game on February 13.

Football V Homophobia

The banners welcomed all LGBTQ fans to Brighton and Hove Albion games and the Amex Stadium.

The fan group North Stand Kollective who were behind the huge banners are well-known for using the Amex stands to promote a message of inclusivity. They are at the forefront of challenging homophobia and racism in the stands and in football fandom. They attend games at other stadiums displaying their banners challenging prejudice and bigotry, presenting a positive, inclusive football environment that is safe and welcoming to all fans.

A spokesperson for the group, said: “This is also about Football verses Homophobia Month of Action running during February,  a European campaign and we, the fan group wanted to play a visible part in that month and to make a good strong positive message as part of the campaign, as a lot of terms used can be negative around anti-homophonic language and behaviour, we wanted to turn it into a positive thing, thus the welcoming banner.”

For more information about the North Stand Kollective, click here:

 

REVIEW: Warhorse, New London Theatre

Last month, an exciting announcement was made that in January 2018 the National Theatre production of Warhorse is coming to the Brighton Centre for a two week run – part of a prestigious tour of just seven UK cities.

Warhorse

The arrival of this iconic, multi-award winning production is a major coup for Brighton Centre and for the city. Warhorse premiered in London in 2007, and by the time it finishes its current run at the New London Theatre on March 12 it’s estimated that 2.7 million people will have seen the show in the capital, with over seven million people seeing Warhorse worldwide.

So what’s all the fuss about?  I took the train up to London last week to see for myself.

This is a compelling theatrical experience from the moment the curtain rises and we get our first glimpse of the mesmerising puppetry which is at the heart of the play.  In a beautiful, pastoral tableau, a young foal frolics in a summer field as swallows swoop and sing and the sun shines down. It’s a brief, wordless scene filled with nostalgia and innocence, and a world away from the drama, horror and destruction which is to follow.

The foal is bought by a local farmer on a drunken whim. Joey, as he is named, is entrusted to the farmer’s young son, Albert, to be raised as a working farm horse and sold for profit further down the line. Albert and Joey, two innocents, immediately form a bond, and the rest of the play follows their story as they are separately drawn into the epic conflict of the First World War, with Joey first sold to the yeomanry cavalry and shipped abroad, and Albert, underage, enlisting shortly after in a quest to be reunited with his horse.

The first time we see the adult Joey on stage, he has grown into a magnificent, noble beast, and though he has a wooden like skeleton and translucent skin, through which we can see three skilled puppeteers at work, the effect is more than just stylised and impressionistic – it’s incredibly lifelike as well as utterly captivating, moving, and at times even breath-taking.

As the story unfolds it’s largely told through the eyes of Joey. It’s a device for communicating a powerful message about the loss and futility of the Great War, and indeed any war, in a way that isn’t partisan or judgemental. Joey is forced to fight for both sides, and is befriended and loved by people on both sides, before eventually ending up stranded, literally, in no-man’s land.

Another great strength of this production is its innovative, unfussy, multi-media staging, with Rae Smith’s brilliant design and Paule Constable’s wonderful use of lighting seamlessly transitioning scenes from bucolic pastures to terrifying battlefields.  They are supported by a fine score, with John Tam’s wistful folk songs introducing and linking the narrative, and Adrian Sutton’s orchestral backing track, full of power and emotion, highlighting the drama.

The large cast of over thirty company members gives a solid, honest supporting performance. This is a family play based on a children’s book, and as such the human characters are to some extent drawn quite one-dimensionally. They are essentially providing a narrative for Joey’s journey and fate, though ultimately their interaction with the horse is also the thing that makes them appear more human. It’s something the play asks us to learn from, whatever our age.

Warhorse, Brighton Centre, January 25 to February 10 2018.

To book tickets, click here:

Brighton’s Drag King competition is back! – Heat Two on March 11

Brighton’s only drag king competition is back and tougher than ever! It’s time for bois to become men as they battle it out over three heats to make their way to the final on May 12.

Freddie Pluto at Heat 1
Freddie Pluto at Heat 1

The second heat of King of the Fringe to find Brighton’s top drag king is on Friday, March 11 at the Marlborough Theatre, Brighton.

The Kings will get a chance to strut their stuff before the extra special judges decide who deserves a place (and a shot at the £100 prize money) in the grand finale during Brighton Fringe.

Expect bulging biceps, protruding packages, fierce facial hair, all slathered in sass as they try to find the next King of the Fringe!

Contestants confirmed for the second heat include:

♦ Ollie (Forest Fringe co-runner and performance-maker Ira Brand’s alter-ego)

♦ Richard Von Wild (Star of BBC Newsbeat documentary, Drag Kings of the UK)

♦ Rico Del Ray (The latest sensation to hit London, BOiBOX regular)

♦ Apple Tart (Slightly surreal, but ever so real)

They’ll be joined by three judges: Ingo Cando (Wotever World), Valentina (Director, King Doc UK) and Roni Guetta (Traumfrau).

The host for the evening will be former King of the Fringe winner, Sammy Silver.


Event: King of the Fringe Heat 2

Where: Marlborough Theatre, Princess Street, Brighton

When: Friday, March 11

Time: 9pm – 10.45pm

Entry: £8, concs. £6

To book tickets online, click here:

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New monthly LGBTQ pub crawl round the gay village

A new monthly Pub Crawl visiting some of Brighton’s famous gay bars and pub’s, meets at the Marine Tavern every third Friday of the month from 8pm.

WEB.600

Go along, meet new people and enjoy Brighton’s best-loved LGBTQ venues into the early hours of the following morning. Most bars on the route will be offering free shots and the event is free for everyone to attend.

So mark in your diaries, Friday March 18 starting from 8pm at the Marine Tavern in Broad Street. Pubs being visited include Queens Arms, Poison Ivy, Bar Broadway, Zone and Bulldog to name a few. This is a great chance to make new friends and visit bars you might not normally visit alone in the company of the lovely Stephanie Von Clitz and the outrageous Linda Bacardi who will be your accompanying guides for the evenings fun. A wild night out is promised for all.

 

For more information, click here:

MindOut for the Laughs returns!

Due to popular demand, the comedy cabaret extravaganza supporting MindOut, the LGBT mental health charity is returning soon, showcasing great comedy with a good dose of musical entertainment thrown in.

Zoe Lyons
Zoe Lyons

The line-up includes award-winning Zoe Lyons. If you haven’t had the chance to catch her before at one of her sold out performances or if you missed her on BBC’s Live at the Apollo, this is the perfect opportunity to see her live.

The compere for the evening is Spice who will also lend his vocal prowess. The evening will be featuring the hilarious Debra-Jane Appelby, the sparkly talented Dolly Rocket, the entertaining Sally Vate, members of the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus and more.

The venue, St Georges Church in Kemptown is fully accessible and will have a licensed bar.

Go along, take your friends and enjoy a fun-filled evening while raising vital funds for LGBTQ mental health charity MindOut!

To donate to MindOut online, click here: 


Event: MindOut for the Laughs

Where: St George’s Church, Kemptown, Brighton BN2 1ED

When: Thursday, March 17

Time: Doors 6.30pm for 7.30pm start

Tickets: £12/£10 concessions

To book tickets online, click here:

PREVIEW: David Bowie Choirs Tribute

Inspired by the USA’s Choir! Choir! Choirs! tribute to David Bowie, musical director of the Rainbow Chorus, Aneesa Chaudhry will lead a local choirs tribute to David Bowie inviting singers from all around to take part!

David Bowie

You’ll learn a simple vocal arrangement of SPACE ODITTY and sing it altogether in his honour! You don’t have to be a professional, you just have to want to go along, sing, have some fun and celebrate the life of a cultural icon!

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!


Event: David Bowie Choirs Tribute

Where: The Latest Music Bar, Manchester Street, Brighton

When: Sunday, March 6

Time: 4-6pm

Entry: £21: £1 from each ticket will go towards a charity that either supported David Bowie (cancer related charity) or to a charity he supported.

To book tickets online, click here:

PREVIEW: International Women’s Day Song and Music Making Workshop

To celebrate International Women’s Day, Aneesa Chaudhry, musical director of the Rainbow Chorus will be taking a Song and Music Making Workshop at the Latest Music Bar.

Aneesa Chaudhry
Aneesa Chaudhry

Enjoy a musical exploration of song and music making where you’ll learn some songs with Aneesa. You can have a dabble at songwriting and making music together!

Learn harmonies, explore vocal percussion and what your voice is capable of in this workshop. Guitars, ukuelele’s, drums and percussion, in fact all instruments and any contraptions for making music are welcome!

Plus if you’d like to perform a solo or group piece here’s you chance.

Everyone is welcome.


Event: International Women’s Day Song and Music Making Workshop

Where: Latest Music Bar, 14-17 Manchester St, Brighton BN2 1TF

When: Sunday, March 6

Time: 1-4pm

Entry: Workshop £30, Performance Ticket £10, Audience Ticket £10

To book tickets online, click here: 

Towner receives Arts Council England funding

Towner Art Gallery receives major funding for a new cinema and auditorium for artists’ moving image, film, talks and live performances.

Towner Art Gallery
Towner Art Gallery

The Eastbourne Gallery has been awarded £450,000 from Arts Council England’s Small Capital Grants fund. The award will be used to develop a ground floor auditorium for presenting artists’ moving image, a film programme, live performances, talks and other events.

Executive Director of Towner, Emma Morris said: “The new space will be an incredible asset for both the gallery and Eastbourne. Having a dedicated, fully accessible auditorium, equipped with high quality AV will allow us to deliver a richer and more diverse programme of moving image and digital works, support artists’ professional development and create new audiences.”

This major award complements the announcement in 2015 of Towner and Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, as the first partners to participate in the Art Fund’s new Moving Image Fund.  This enables Towner to acquire important moving image works for a growing collection that includes artists Joao Penalava, Yael Bartana, Ori Gersht, Tacita Dean and Adam Chodzko.

In recent years Towner has collaborated with many artists working in film and moving image including Bill Viola, Dorothy Cross and Joachim Koester, and in April opens the first survey show of moving image work by Melanie Manchot.

Hedley Swain
Hedley Swain

Hedley Swain, Area Director, South East, Arts Council England, said: “Towner’s plans are a great example of how our capital investment can create powerful change in an organisation that supports its long-term sustainability. As well as supporting a more diverse programme which will hopefully increase audiences, it will also generate increased commercial revenue from commercial hires.”

The new capital award is also enhanced by a donation of £100,000 from Eastbourne Arts Circle (EAC), a membership organisation dedicated to supporting Towner.

Elizabeth Muir-Lewis ARCM Hon ARAM, Chairman of ECA, said: “This was a much wished for addition to our wonderful gallery, and our organisation will look forward to presenting our programs in this exciting new space. We are proud that we have been able to help to make this important project a reality.”

Recently, Towner also received funding from Arts Council England to present and curate work from the Arts Council Collection to celebrate their 70th anniversary. Through this investment Towner, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, will curate twenty-four exhibitions drawn from the Collection over the next three years, as well as developing eight new commissions.

Towner is an award-winning gallery set in Eastbourne presenting major exhibitions of contemporary and historic visual art, as well as displays from the internationally renowned 4500-strong Towner Collection, which is best known for its modern British art – including the largest and most significant body of work by Eric Ravilious (1903-1942) – and a growing collection of international contemporary art.

You will find Towner Art Gallery at Devonshire Park, College Road, Eastbourne BN21 4JJ. Open Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00am – 5:00pm, Bank Holiday Mondays, 10:00am – 5:00pm and admission is free.

For more information on the Towner Art Gallery, click here:

LGBT+ students and staff continue to be bullied in colleges and universities

New research reveals harassment and bullying of LGBT+students and staff continues to be a problem in colleges and universities.

 

NUS

Sixty per cent of students have witnessed bullying based on sexual orientation, with one in 10 saying they see it every day, warns a new report released today.

The report, looking at bullying of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LBGT+) staff and students, also found that 17 per cent of staff have experienced name-calling at work, and one in 10 had been threatened or intimidated.

Pride and Prejudice in Education was produced by the National Union of Students, the Equality Challenge Unit, the Learning and Work Institute, the Skills Funding Agency, the University and College Union and the Forum for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equality.

It calls on universities and colleges to provide good quality training and support for staff. It also recommends that institutions develop an inclusive curriculum, have zero tolerance for harassment of LGBT+ students and take action to prevent students dropping out due to discrimination.

Key findings from the report include:

♦    60% of respondents had witnessed a learner acting negatively towards people because of their sexual orientation at least once. One in 10 respondents saw or heard this behaviour every day.

♦     51% of lesbian and gay students and 59 per cent of non-binary students had experienced homophobic or transphobic name-calling.

♦     47% of non-binary students have seriously considered dropping out of their course, compared with 35 per cent of respondents on average.

♦     17% of staff respondents had experienced biphobic, homophobic or transphobic name-calling at work.

♦     13% had been harassed, one in 10 had been threatened or intimidated and 3 per cent had been physically assaulted.

♦      11% reported that they had experienced another kind of biphobic, homophobic or transphobic bullying.

♦      78% of respondents said they did know who to go to in their place of work if they experienced bullying.

♦     52% of staff said that no sexual orientation or gender identity equality training was provided for staff or learners where they worked.

Robbiie Young
Robbiie Young

Robbiie Young and Fran Cowling, National Union of Students LGBT+ officers, said: “It is deeply concerning to see how widespread the bullying and harassment of LGBT+ students is. Every student should feel safe while at college or university. They shouldn’t have to face name-calling and other bullying, or have to consider dropping out of their course because of the way they are treated by other students. NUS will be working with students’ unions to implement the recommendations in this report to create learning environments that are inclusive and welcoming for all LGBT+ students.”

Helen Carr
Helen Carr

Helen Carr, University and College Union head of equality, added: “While much is being done to address bullying and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity in colleges and universities, there is no getting away from the fact that it is still a problem. The findings in this survey are consistent with a recent House of Commons report on transgender equality that called for better, and more readily available, training. While there is greater awareness of the issue and better structures in place to deal with bullying, this has not translated into incidents being properly dealt with or even reported.”

Clare Pavitt
Clare Pavitt

Clare Pavitt, Equality Challenge Unit senior policy adviser, said: “The experiences of LGBT+ staff in higher education appear to have improved from when we conducted similar research in 2008. However, there are still significant concerns that need addressing. The fact staff are still suffering physical attacks because of their sexual orientation is unacceptable. The recommendations in this report are sensible and achievable and ECU will work with higher education institutions to help them be delivered.”

 

 

 

 

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