18/03/2017 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

University of Southampton researcher looks at the impact of cuts to housing benefit in the private rental sector on LGBT+ people.

Dr Iliana Ortega-Alcázar, Research Fellow in Geography and Environment at the University of Southampton is focussing on the Shared Accommodation Rate, a policy that affects single people between 18 to 35.

Since 2012 single people under 35 can only claim housing benefit at the rate of a room in a shared house as opposed to the rate of a self-contained property.

The project is seeking to understand the effects this policy change has had on ‘protected groups’ as defined under the 2010 Equalities Act (women, ethnic minorities, LGBT+ people, and people with disabilities).

The researchers are presently conducting in-depth interviews to assess the impact this policy has had on their daily lives and their ability to access safe and secure accommodation.

For further information about the research, click here:

A multi-award winning, West End superstar was spotted on Brighton Beach and in Pavilion Gardens this week as Joey, the life-sized, equine puppet and star of War Horse came to town to promote the arrival of the acclaimed National Theatre production, which premiers at the Brighton Centre from January 25 – February 10, 2018.

Joey visits Royal Pavilion in Brighton ahead of his UK tour

The play has been seen by over seven million people worldwide, and completed a record-breaking eight year London run at the New London Theatre on March 12 2016.

It has won 25 awards, including a Tony Award for Best Play on Broadway, and has been seen in 97 cities and 10 countries, including productions on Broadway, in Toronto, Berlin, the Netherlands, Belgium and China.

Although War Horse has toured in the UK and Ireland before, this will be its first appearance in Brighton and as such it represents a major coup for the city and for the Brighton Centre.

War horse is a deeply moving story of a boy and his horse – a remarkable tale of loyalty, friendship and supreme courage set against the backdrop and horrors of the First World War. Its ground-breaking puppetry work and innovative, multimedia staging has thrilled audiences around the world, and the play has become the most successful production in the National Theatre’s history.

During the run The Brighton Centre is promising to introduce special “atmospheric changes” to the venue which will help bring the passion and emotion of the production to life in the auditorium.

To purchase tickets online, click here: