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Month: May 2016

Trans area returns to Brighton Pride Festival curated by Alice Denny

Posted on by Graham Robson

Poet Alice Denny will curate the Pride Trans Community Area at the Brighton Pride Festival on Saturday, August 6.

Alice Denny
Alice Denny

An integral and important part of the Pride Community Village on Preston Park, The Pride Trans Community Area is a community led initiative created from a working party of local community members and representatives of local trans organisations.

Supported fully by the organisers of Brighton & Hove Pride, the Pride Trans Community Area is a celebratory and welcoming space, providing key information, points of reference and entertainment for and by Brighton & Hove’s trans community.

After it’s sparkling debut last year, the Pride Trans Community Area will be curated by local poet Alice Denny and will host a dazzling variety of live performances throughout the day.

A truly joyous addition to the Pride Festival in Preston Park in 2015, Brighton Pride organisers are delighted to welcome the Trans Pride tent back to the 2016 Carnival of Diversity, as Pride continues to place the trans community at the heart of the city’s proud celebrations.

To book tickets for the Brighton Pride Festival, click here:

 

Line dancing at Brighton Pride Pleasure Gardens

Posted on by Graham Robson

Line dancing is always a popular attraction at Brighton Pride.

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This year the line dance tent returns to Brighton Pride in the new city-centre Pride Pleasure Gardens area on Old Steine hosted by London’s Cactus Club.

The Cactus Club, a unique group of line dance enthusiasts will be offering lessons and a variety of dances throughout the afternoon on Sunday, August 7. Beginners as well as those with more experience are welcome.

Peter Flockhart from the Cactus Club, said: “We are really happy to be involved in the new area and hope it will be a great success.”

“Bring your boots and join in the fun!”

Line dancing kicks off from 1pm.

Event: Line Dancing

Where: Pride Pleasure Gardens, Old Steine, Brighton

When: Sunday, August 7

Time: From 1pm

Cost: Entry to the Pride Pleasure Gardens is free, but a Pride Village Party wristband is required.

To book tickets for Brighton Pride Festival, click here:

PREVIEW: Chichester Festival Theatre: Half a Sixpence

Posted on by Contributor

 

Chichester Festival Theatre and Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of HALF A SIXPENCE introduces two young actors, Charlie Stemp as Arthur Kipps and Devon-Elise Johnson as Ann Pornick.

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They will both appear alongside three times Olivier-nominated actor Ian Bartholomew as Chitterlow, three times Olivier-nominated actress Emma Williams as Helen Walsingham, and Vivien Parry as Mrs Walsingham.

Playing in the Festival Theatre from July 14, this new stage version of HALF A SIXPENCE, the musical adaptation of H.G. Wells’s disguised autobiographical novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul, is a completely fresh adaptation which reunites book-writer Julian Fellowes (Oscar-winning screenwriter and creator of Downton Abbey) with George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, the musical team that co-creator Cameron Mackintosh first put together to create the hit stage adaptation of Mary Poppins with Disney.

The score is inspired by and features several of composer David Heneker’s exhilarating songs from the original production, including Flash Bang Wallop, Money To Burn and Half A Sixpence.

Charlie Stemp and Devon-Elise Johnson have both recently completed the international tour of Mamma Mia!. Charlie has also appeared in Wicked in the West End, while Devon-Elise’s London theatre credits include Taboo, and Susan Parks in Billy Elliot as a child performer.

Ian Bartholomew’s extensive West End credits include Mrs Henderson Presents, for which he received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical; Into The Woods and Radio Times (for both of which he also received Olivier Award nominations), Shakespeare in Love, Tommy, Dead Funny and many roles for the National Theatre. The most recent of his many television appearances include Maigret, New Blood, DCI Banks and South Riding.

Emma Williams is currently playing Maureen in Mrs Henderson Presents, for which she received her third Olivier Award nomination. Her London theatre credits also include Jenny in Love Story (which premiered at Chichester) and Luisa in Zorro, both of which earned her Olivier Award nominations. She made her West End debut as Truly Scrumptious in the original cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and went on to play leading roles in Bat Boy: The Musical and Desperately Seeking Susan. Emma’s screen credits include The Parole Officer with Steve Coogan, Bleak House with Gillian Anderson and, most recently, Silent Witness (both BBC).

Vivien Parry’s stage work includes The Girls (UK tour); A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Shoemaker’s Holiday (RSC); Top Hat, Mamma Mia! and Fame in the West End.  Her film and television credits include Beauty and the Beast, Crash and Holby City.

Arthur Kipps, an orphan and over-worked draper’s assistant at the turn of the last century, unexpectedly inherits a fortune that propels him into high society.

His childhood companion, Ann Pornick, watches with dismay as Arthur is made over in a new image by the beautiful and classy Helen Walsingham. Both young women undoubtedly love Arthur – but which of them should he listen to? With the help of his friends, Arthur learns that if you want to have the chance of living the right life, you need to make the right choices.

HALF A SIXPENCE will be directed by Rachel Kavanaugh and designed by Paul Brown, with choreography by Andrew Wright and orchestrations by William David Brohn.

The musical supervisors will be Stephen Brooker and Graham Hurman, who will also conduct; with lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter and video design by Luke Halls.

Due to a scheduling conflict, Chichester Festival Theatre agreed to release Bryan Dick, who was originally announced to play Kipps, from his commitment to Half a Sixpence. He will continue with his role in Hobson’s Choice in the West End.

Event: HALF A SIXPENCE

Where: Chichester Festival Theatre, Oaklands Park, Chichester

When: July 14 – September 3

Time: Evenings at 7.30pm matinees at 2.30pm

Cost: Tickets from £10:

To book online, click here:

Prologue: An allocation of tickets for 16 – 25 year olds priced at just £8.50 will be available for all performances of Half A Sixpence. Tickets go on sale on June 14; to sign up, click here:

To book online, click here:

Box Office: 01243 781312

 

 

 

REVIEW: Brighton Festival: Stella

Posted on by Michael Hootman

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Neil Bartlett’s two-hander (technically a three-hander) is a complex meditation on gender and identity. It’s based on the life of Victorian cross-dresser Stella (born Ernest) Boulton who survived a scandalous court case and went on to have a successful career as a female impersonator.

Bartlett’s text for the piece is very dense with allusions, ruminations and symbolism on the theme of gender and performance. So much so that I think a very interesting biography gets somewhat lost. From the play I got a vague impression of a few drag shows and a bit of prostitution, but Bartlett’s interview in the Latest shows that Stella’s career was more, well, stellar. I certainly wish I’d read it before seeing the show as then knowing the main facts of the case I could just enjoy the brilliantly realised character of Stella herself.

The heroine of the piece is presented by two performers: Oscar Batterham is Stella at twenty-one, and Richard Cant is Stella living in straitened circumstances, dying of cancer and waiting for a taxi to take her to hospital – a journey from which she knows she will not return. Both actors share both a physicality and emotional core which makes the audience see them both as the same person. Batterham, the beautiful youth, is flirty but also fiercely angry at the many injustices she suffers at the hands of lovers, the police and large portions of society.

Cant gives one of the most remarkable performances I’ve ever seen. He gives the fullest possible representation of a living, breathing Victorian; without being showy or ‘acting’, everything he says, every gesture goes towards summoning up this vastly complex character. Dressed in male clothes – as Bartlett explains it was the only way Stella could get hospital treatment – Cant is by turns fragile, imperious, angry, dignified and perhaps a little mad. Or maybe it’s the opiates Stella is taking for the pain. There are parts of the evening that are truly heartbreaking. When he talks about a lover having possessed “the last hands ever to touch me” it’s presented so matter of factly that it becomes more devastating than any show of maudlin sentimentality.

The third character is referred to in the programme as The Attendant (David Carr). He is a shaven-headed black man wearing a modern suit who observes the two Stellas as they speak. Who, or what, he represents is beyond the powers of my intellect to fathom.

I’d recommend Stella to everyone. It’s intelligent, literate, it’s also funny – I hope I’ve not portrayed it as some kind of Gender Studies lecture as it certainly isn’t. But it really has to be seen for its spellbinding central performance.

Continues at Hoxton Hall from Jun 1 –Jun 18.

For interview with Neil Bartlett, click here.

For more details and tickets, click here.

Brighton foodies support Stronger in Europe Campaign

Posted on by Gary Hart

Directors of the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival, and Ridgeview Wines join volunteers in spreading the word about the benefits that being a member of the EU brings to local businesses at the festival on Hove seafront.

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Nick Mosley and Andrew Kay joined local chefs from iconic Brighton eateries, such as Terra a Terre, Pizzaface, Boho Gelato and the Curry Leaf Café, to show their support for remaining in the EU.

Many of the stalls that make up the event on Hove lawns this weekend are small businesses which benefit from being part of the single market. Without the levelling effect of EU regulation, supporters of Britain Stronger in Europe claim of many of these businesses would not be able to compete against larger businesses and may even go bust.

Nick Mosley, the Director of the Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Festival, said: “From the vineyards and farms of Sussex to the restaurants and bars that serve us, it’s an absolute reality that we rely on the freedom of movement of people. The skills and professional dedication of our European partners are vital.

“Anything that impacts on our ability to freely employ from Europe would seriously affect our ability to deliver the quality agricultural, hospitality and tourism we enjoy. A Brexit would be tremendously to our businesses, our lifestyles and the service economy of the UK.”

Being in the EU might even be responsible for UK families eating healthier and more sustainable foods. The EU supports local farmers and promotes consistent, safe and sustainable food standards across Europe.

 

Peter Kyle MP
Peter Kyle MP

Peter Kyle, MP for Hove and Portslade, said: “In Brighton and Hove our food producers are primarily small businesses.  Leaving the EU will create masses of red tape for them when they trade in Europe.

“Big businesses can absorb additional regulation, red tape and extra costs and if they don’t like it they can often leave the country for one they feel is a better environment for them. Small businesses simply go bust.”

Catherine Bearder, MEP
Catherine Bearder, MEP

Catherine Bearder, MEP for the South East, added: “The Food and Drink Festival is a great time to show how the EU promotes and protects our traditions and culture.  Just as the EU recognises champagne, Parma ham and feta cheese it also protects us from cheap imitations of Cornish pasties, Cumberland sausages, Stilton cheese and, soon, Sussex wines.

“The status that the EU confers protects the identity of our traditional products and helps us sell more of them across the Europe.  The EU is also considering extending this protection to traditional non-food crafts items such as the Sussex trugs. Another example of how our membership of the EU has brought great benefits to UK businesses.”

 

 

 

PREVIEW: Something Rotten

Posted on by Contributor

From Glengarry to Black Antler – and now on to Elsinore and Something Rotten.

WEB.600Fresh from award-winning success with Glengarry Glen Ross and national press acclaim for Operation Black Antler, Robert Cohen continues his festival-season voyage into the heart of darkness with a one-man show about Hamlet’s murderous uncle.

A punishing schedule has found the Brighton-based actor preparing simultaneously for three shows in the run-up to the Festival and Fringe: as part of the ensemble for the Hydrocracker/Blast Theory show Operation Black Antler, as Aaronow in David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross, and as King Claudius of Denmark in his own one-man show Something Rotten.

The hard work is now paying off. Operation Black Antler, an immersive exploration of police surveillance and right-wing politics, was hailed as “serious and challenging” by the Guardian’s Michael Billington, while the Rialto Theatre’s production of Glengarry Glen Ross, David Mamet’s darkly comic dissection of the American dream, received a highly-coveted Argus Angel award.

Robert Cohen fully captures the edgy neuroses of a potential loser…..the Argus

Now, while continuing his work in Black Antler, Cohen is preparing to launch a week of shows at Sweet Waterfront, playing King Claudius of Denmark, Hamlet’s homicidal uncle, in Something Rotten.

Written and performed by Cohen, with direction by Jenny Rowe, the show presents the events of the world’s most famous play from the viewpoint of the uncle-turned-stepfather whose regicidal, fratricidal activities awaken vengeful impulses in his nephew-turned-stepson, Prince Hamlet.

Acclaimed as “masterful” by the Northern Echo, the show has also been hailed by the Argus as “both entertaining and intellectually satisfying”, while remotegoat.com spoke of Cohen’s “enviable ability to hold an audience’s attention for a sustained period and have them hanging on his every word”.

Event: Something Rotten

Where: Jurys Inn Waterfront Hotel, King’s Rd, Brighton

When: Monday May 30 to Sunday, May 5, 2016

Time: 7.50pm

Cost: Tickets £8 (concs £6.50)

To book tickets online, click here:

 

Brighton Equality Walk raises over £30,000

Posted on by Graham Robson

Stonewall, the lesbian, gay, bi and trans (LGBT) equality charity, raised more than £30,000 at its Brighton Equality Walk last month.

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The Walk, the charity’s largest annual community-based event, took to the streets of Brighton for its sixth consecutive year with more than 700 registered walkers raising awareness of LGBT equality and the issues faced by the lesbian, gay, bi and trans community.

Ruth Hunt, CEO, Stonewall said: “The Equality Walk is an important time to come together as a community to be visible and to celebrate the LGBT community.

“However, it’s also a time to reflect on how much work there is still left to do, and remember that we must never be complacent about the progress of lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality.

“This could not come at a more poignant time, after the violent homophobic attack we’ve witnessed this week on a same sex couple in Brighton, a city renowned for celebrating diversity and inclusion.

“We are standing by the side of all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people who have experienced discrimination, abuse or even violence simply for being who they are. And our work will continue until all lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, in Britain and overseas, are accepted without exception.”

Brighton’s Deputy Lord Mayor opened the proceedings, alongside Stonewall CEO Ruth Hunt and Tamsin Bartlett, a teacher from a Stonewall School Champion secondary school.

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In addition to the walk, entertainment in Brighton’s Pavillion Gardens was hosted throughout the day by Brighton community station Radio Reverb 97.2fm.

Performers included spoken word artist and UK SLAM! Champion Rachel Nwokoro and singing acts Pete the Barber and Brighton’s Gay Men’s Chorus.

Kathy Caton
Kathy Caton

Kathy Caton, Producer, Radio Reverb said: “It was an absolute pleasure and an honour for Radio Reverb 97.2fm to be asked to be involved in the Stonewall Equality Walk.  As the presenter of Brighton’s only LGBTQ radio show, I feel representation, visibility and solidarity are absolutely vital – and that the work is far from done.  We live in an age where to call someone or something ‘gay’ is the ultimate playground insult, and I fully support Stonewall’s work in schools to challenge, educate and inspire around this.”

Money raised by either the 10K or family friendly 3K route will help support Stonewall’s work in schools and with young people.

FILM PREVIEW: A Tough Act To Follow

Posted on by Contributor

A Tough Act To Follow is a documentary film, co produced by comedian Sampson McCormick, and Emmy Award winning filmmaker Todd Clark.

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The film, chronicles some of the experiences of Sampson, a nationally touring black, LGBT stand up comedian and writer, who has been performing for well over a decade. He shares some of his experiences with both racism and homophobia, while working to make a living as a comic.

A Tough Act To Follow sheds light on some of the experiences, of working artists, and the fact that the lack of diversity and equal opportunities for minorities, does exist in the entertainment world.

The film includes special appearances from notable television and stage entertainers, who share some of the experiences that they work through as minority entertainers, adding to the current conversation on the state of diversity in television, stage and film.

The film also features music by R&B singer Tony McIver, and LGBT hip hop artists, Bry’Nt, Tori Fixx, and Kaoz.

To view a teaser of the documentary which has been touring film festival in the US and Canada and being screened during select stand up performances by Sampson, click here:

 

 

 

Gay Christians mark major milestone

Posted on by Gary Hart

 

A pioneering gay Christian group celebrated its fortieth anniversary with a service in central London last weekend.

WEB.600.2LGCM – founded as the Gay Christian Movement in 1976 – returned to St Botolph’s church, Aldgate for a service of thanksgiving and celebration.

Tracey Byrne
Tracey Byrne

Tracey Byrne, the charity’s CEO, said:  “This is a really important milestone for us, and it’s wonderful to have an opportunity to reflect on all that’s changed since 1976.”

“Many of our members have been involved in activism through some really challenging times – the very worst of the section 28 years, and of course, the AIDS crisis.  Many of them were heavily involved in caring and campaigning, as well as living with the devastation of losing their friends to the virus.  And of course, many paid a heavy price for their visibility – losing job, friends and family –  when society was much more hostile towards gay and lesbian people than it is today.”

St Botolph’s was home to the Movement in its early years, before it was evicted by the Bishop of London in a high-profile legal case.

After almost 30 years in Bethnal Green, the charity moved its operation out of the capital to Nottingham last year, but still works across the Christian denominations, both nationally and internationally.

Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, was the preacher.  Founder member and former rector of St Botolph’s, Malcolm Johnson, spoke and poet Rosie Miles wrote special prayers for the occasion, as she did for the Movement’s 25th anniversary service at Southwark cathedral.  A quarter peal was rung in celebration, prior to the service.

Ms. Byrne, continued: “Over the past couple of years, we’ve lost a number of our founding members including Ken Leech and Jim Cotter, and it feels important to continue to honour their memory and to give thanks for all that’s brought us to where we are today.  It will be a day of both thanksgiving and celebration.  We’re expecting members and supporters, current and former trustees of all ages to join us, and we’re especially delighted that both Martyn and Malcolm are able to be with us.  I should be a really special day, when we celebrate our heritage and commit ourselves to all that remains to be done.”

 

PREVIEW: Ball and Boe together at Brighton Centre

Posted on by Contributor

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe bring their UK Headline Tour Together to the Brighton Centre on November 15.

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Two of the greatest voices in the world, the nation’s leading musical theatre star, Michael Ball and the nation’s favourite tenor, Alfie Boe, are joining forces for the first time, to record a brand new album as well as take to the stage for a unique UK headline Tour.

Entitled Together, the album is to be released on Decca Records on October 21, 2016, and will feature repertoire from the greatest Broadway shows as well as classic songs both Alfie and Michael have always wanted to record.

These recordings will then be brought to life on the month-long Together tour, which starts on November 3.

Having first met 10 years ago, performing together in Kismet at the London Coliseum, the stars became lifelong friends. That same year, Michael Ball made history as the first musical theatre star to be given a solo concert at the Royal Albert Hall’s BBC Proms, and asked Alfie Boe to join him to perform at the classical music festival.

This instant personal connection and professional mutual admiration makes for the perfect pairing and, to the delight of their hundreds of thousands of fans across the globe, is finally realised with this compelling collaboration.

Michael Ball says of the project: “It’s been my experience that there is only one thing I enjoy more than working with someone whose talent I admire and who constantly challenges themselves to try new things and keeps getting better, therefore making me work harder and try to be better, and that is to work with someone who makes me laugh, has my back and is a real friend. With Alfie I think I’ve hit the jackpot. This is going to be such a great experience for us and hopefully the audiences….bring it on!!!”.

Alfie Boe adds: “My job provides me with great opportunities and none more so as this.The chance to perform with an artist, whose work and talent I’ve admired for years, is such a great honour for me. Michael has inspired so many singers, including myself, to push themselves further in the crossover field. My philosophy on crossover is more about crossing over the audience than the music, and Michael proved years ago that this was possible. His mainstream appeal in contemporary, musical theatre and classical is evident in his history. A great artist, a fabulous singer, and a wonderful friend. As Michael says, Bring It on!!!”

The two critically acclaimed artists have received a plethora of prestigious awards, record-breaking sales and chart successes.

Over his 30 year career, Michael’s outstanding performances have made smash-hit box office history. He is a double Olivier Award winner, multi-platinum recording artist, top-selling live concert performer and a hugely popular radio and TV presenter.

Alfie’s exceptional voice has made him Britain’s most popular and biggest-selling tenor. He has conquered the world’s greatest opera stages and arenas, led the cast of Les Misérables, stole the show at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace – and performed at the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations at Windsor Castle – as well achieving UK album sales of over a million, and four top ten albums.

The Together tour will take the dynamic duo to 18 of the country’s best music venues including a show at the London Palladium on November 12.

Tickets for Brighton Centre concert cost £65, £50, £35 (subject to per-ticket charge plus order processing fee)

To book tickets online, click here:

Box Office: 0844 847 1515

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