19/05/2016 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

REVIEW: Brighton Fringe: Borde Hill Sculpture Exhibition

Posted on 19/05/201624/05/2016 by Eric Page

Borde Hill Sculpture Exhibition

Borde Hill Garden
Balcombe Road
Haywards Heath
West Sussex
RH16 1XP

Ah…the long reach of the Brighton Festival these days took me out on an enjoyable day to the werewolf* ridden wilds of Sussex hurtling through Haywards Heath, rushing roof down through the other side of that withering misery and bursting out into the glorious Sussex countryside and the superb gardens of Borde Hill.

Their sculpture exhibition – its 16th year – is a celebration of art and sculpture, showcasing works by both established and up and-coming-artists. The team at Borde Hill garden has transformed them into an interesting and fragrant outdoor gallery, with a wide range of sculpture, although none of it thrilled me or made me ponder much but it is set within stunning formal gardens and woodland and that rather makes up for the un-challenging sculptures on show. My delighted companion Ms Brunnen was transfixed by the Magnolias, they are utterly breathtaking at the moment. The pieces on show all fit well in the landscapes, are sensual and well executed but it was the flowers, trees and blending of the garden space which really caught my eye. You can lead a horticulture…as Ms Parker once said.

There are some organic heaving sensual pieces set in the woodland, life size and made from clay and cloth which caught my imagination, as much for their settings as style but one of the permanent sculptures soaring arms wide in the Italian Garden is by far one of the best placed and stunning pieces on show.

However, it’s a lovely place to wander; the hidden tea-shop is simply perfect with gushings of tea and huge slices of cake tucked into a little shaded dell with bluebells basking under the mottled sunshine, it was simply perfect.

Running until June 3.

*there are no werewolves in Borde Hill Gardens.

REVIEW: Brighton Festival: SpyMonkey

Posted on 19/05/201624/05/2016 by Eric Page

SpyMonkey & Tim Crouch

Brighton Festival

May 13th

Theatre Royal

Performed by Spymonkey: Aitor Basauri, Stephan Kreiss, Petra Massey & Toby Park

Directed by Tim Crouch

Well, what’s not to like about all of Shakespeare deaths rolling out in front of you for an evening’s entertainment. Certainly when it’s done with such aplomb and style as the Spymonkey crew have. All of the Bard’s 74 scripted deaths in one show but in a myriad of styles which just adds to the pure electric delight of this wonderfully talented group of performers and the tight watchful eye of director Tim Crouch, it’s a pairing which takes all their talents and kicks it up into the high stratosphere of utter daftness. This was quality clowning done with serious love for the subject matter and I was horrified as much as I laughed. Spymonkey make us focus on the actions more than the effect of the violence and this brings home the awful imagination of Mr Shakespeare and his infinitely unpleasant mind.

See full details for this show here

From the Roman suicides in Julius Caesar to the carnage at the end of Hamlet. From snakes in a basket in Antony & Cleopatra to young Macduff. There were countless stabbings, severed heads, poisonings, two mobbings and a smothering. Enorbarbus just sits in a ditch and dies from grief. And then there’s the pie that Titus serves the Queen of the Goths.

It felt close to a Tudor night out too, grand old space, deadly seriously comedy, loads of blood, endless smutt and silly sexual stuff, farts and gurglings of every type and a baying, up for it crowd. Spymonkey are a superb group of performers and this show was a delight from it’s first to last gasping, broken breath.

This is a solemn, sombre and sublimely funny tribute to the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, who – so it’s said- died himself of the ill affects of a hangover. One never imagined the Bard to be such a lightweight.

REVIEW: Brighton Fringe: Aphrodite in Flippers

Posted on 19/05/201624/05/2016 by Eric Page

Aphrodite in Flippers

The Warren

May 12

Today is Georgie’s 40th birthday, her friends spy something strange lodged in her ear. Its discovery propels the three women on a surreal, darkly comic journey through their (extra)ordinary world. This was a world premiere by Bold & Saucy Theater for people who don’t always do as they’re told.

Full details of the show here

Kate Driver Jones and Sarah Davey-Hull, have written this wacky, colourful and cheery new show: Aphrodite in Flippers. They are the Bold & Saucy Theatre Company. The show is great, strong female characters, wonderful (and very cleaver) visual humour with props and minimal sets converging, combining and sometimes breathtakingly elegantly redefining the Warrens’ space. It’s a classic protagonist’s journey, in this case 40 year old Georgie, which at its heart follows the heroines overcoming obstacles and having to accomplish, collect and achieve to redeem herself, and yet it’s much more than that also.

The writers have a wonderful surreal sense of the absurd, but with such a fine, light and careful touch that it soars and takes wing into a special place of belief where performers and audience all agree to conspire in the daftness for the sake of the narrative journey

I like it a lot, I laughed a lot and left feeling cheered up after a dark day their final engaging full powered uplifting rendition of ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ was done with aplomb, dancing and singing their huge hearts out. Was there a message? Well yes an obvious one about self-acceptance and loving where and who you are, but also a deeper one about taking a risk with some seriously intelligent material and hoping an informed and educated audience want something ( ache for it!) more than trite obvious tripe. Sarah (Sarah Goddard) and optimist Vicki (Vicki Manderson) are the friends and loyal champions of Georgie (Georgina Roberts) and show us what can be done when you put your mind to it, on many different levels.

Great fringe show, well written, superbly performed and in an excellent venue, although the traffic noise did intrude a little during some of the quieter moments.

For more on The Warrens up and coming shows see their website here.

The Warren: Studio 2
St Peter’s Church North
York Place
Brighton

Montréal Pride to travel to India on humanitarian mission

Posted on 19/05/2016 by Besi

Montréal Pride has been committed to the fight against injustice around the globe since 2010.

This year, the country they have chosen to support is India, where the rights of LGBT communities remain unrecognised.

Members of the Montréal Pride team will visit Mumbai and Delhi from May 18 to 30 to take part in discussions on the advancement of human rights.

Among others, they will meet with the director of KASHISH, the Mumbai International Queer Film Festival, Sridhar Rangayan who has been included on the British Council’s fiveFilms4freedom 2016 Global List of 33 inspiring people from around the world who use culture to promote equality and LGBT rights.

The filmmaker and activist will also be one of the Grand Marshals for Montréal Pride 2016.

The team at Montréal Pride began its humanitarian missions in 2010 with a first trip to Latvia. Then came Cameroon in 2011, France in 2012 (before Marriage for Everyone), Poland in 2013, Serbia in 2014 and Ukraine in 2015.

Strengthened by these successes, the tradition now continues with India, where homosexuality is still largely taboo and where LGBT communities are the victims of discrimination and violence.

On July 2, 2009 an important milestone was reached with the Delhi High Court’s declaration that Section 377, the law which criminalises homosexuality, is unconstitutional.

It had then been determined that the law violates the fundamental rights of Indians. However, the Supreme Court overturned that decision on December 11, 2013, reinstating the validity of Section 377. The Supreme Court is currently debating this discriminatory section of legislation.

In addition to the visit, India will be honoured at the 10th edition of Montréal Pride who will showcase the country’s rich and diverse culture as part of the festival’s programming.

Scheduled for this summer are a Bollywood-style extravaganza and a screening of the The Pink Mirror, a film by Sridhar Rangayan, which was banned in India for exploring themes such as drag queens and transsexuality.

Montréal Pride President Éric Pineault, said: “We want to inspire the communities of the world who live with injustice by going to meet them and by using our festival to exercise a positive influence on the international scene. We want to send a forward-looking message of hope to all those who are deprived of their rights and freedoms.”

Founded in 2007 at the initiative of Montréal’s LGBT communities, Montréal Pride is now the largest LGBT gathering in the Francophone world and will celebrate its 10th edition in 2016. A multifaceted cultural festival, Montréal Pride offers more than 125 activities that include something for everyone over the course of seven days.

Active all year long, the organisation’s primary mission is to support and promote local LGBT communities while serving as a beacon of hope for people around the world who continue to battle injustice.

This year, Montréal Pride will take place from August 8-14 attracting 500,000 local and international visitors to the city.

For more information about Montréal Pride, click here:

Sexuality and Gender Diversity Toolkit launched for faith groups

Posted on 19/05/2016 by Alice Blezard

A new Faith, Gender and Sexuality Toolkit has been launched, which aims to build knowledge and provide crucial support for faith communities and leaders working to promote social justice in relation to gender and sexuality.

Across the globe, religion plays a critical role in shaping attitudes about people’s gender and sexuality, which in turn have a profound effect on people’s everyday lives.

The new Faith, Gender and Sexuality Toolkit seeks to build knowledge and provide much-needed support for faith communities and leaders working to promote social justice in relation to gender and sexuality.

Developed by the Institute of Development Studies, Sonke Gender Justice and the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies alongside communities and leaders from a range of faiths, the free interactive Toolkit debunks dangerous myths whilst encouraging different ways of thinking about sexuality and gender diversity.

Crucially, the Toolkit highlights how faith leaders and communities can be effective allies in advancing human rights. It demonstrates how some religious and cultural practices enhance human life and how some can be misused to deny rights.

Institute of Development Studies research fellow Elizabeth Mills, who led the development of the Toolkit, said: “Increasing knowledge about the links between sexuality, gender and faith is a vital step in tackling the social injustices that affect millions of people globally, and faith leaders have a critical role to play in influencing attitudes, culture and policy. We hope the Toolkit supports faith leaders and communities doing vital work to promote the wellbeing of gender and sexuality minorities and we welcome their feedback on how it can be further developed.”

Comprised of six modules and drawing on faith-based case studies, the Toolkit helps to broaden understanding of key issues such as gender-based violence, sexual diversity, sexual and reproductive health rights and women, gender and power.

Designed for use with all faith-based groups including those of mixed faith, the Toolkit provides useful information and practical exercises that can be used to promote human rights and gender equality from the perspective of faith, and includes a wide range of further resources and information produced by leading research and faith-based organisations.

The Toolkit documents the learning from the Institute of Development Studies’ Sexuality, Poverty and Law Programme.

Follow #faithgendersex for further discussion around the Toolkit.

For more information about Institute of Development Studies, click here:

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Day: May 19, 2016

REVIEW: Brighton Fringe: Borde Hill Sculpture Exhibition

REVIEW: Brighton Festival: SpyMonkey

REVIEW: Brighton Fringe: Aphrodite in Flippers

Montréal Pride to travel to India on humanitarian mission

Montréal Pride has been committed to the fight against injustice around the globe since 2010.

Sexuality and Gender Diversity Toolkit launched for faith groups

A new Faith, Gender and Sexuality Toolkit has been launched, which aims to build knowledge and provide crucial support for faith communities and leaders working to promote social justice in relation to gender and sexuality.

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Montréal Pride has been committed to the fight against injustice around the globe since 2010.

Share this:

A new Faith, Gender and Sexuality Toolkit has been launched, which aims to build knowledge and provide crucial support for faith communities and leaders working to promote social justice in relation to gender and sexuality.

Share this:

Latest News