Members of the North East’s LGBT+ communities are being invited to show their support for those who have lost their lives – and those who keep fighting – for LGBT rights worldwide, with a special event held during Newcastle Pride.
On Sunday, July 23 – regional charity, Northern Pride, which organises Newcastle Pride, will be hosting a candlelit vigil to mark the end of this year’s tenth annual festival.
The candlelit vigil, which begins at 9pm at Newcastle Civic Centre will feature a reading from a member of the LGBT+ asylum community from Rainbow Home – an organisation in Newcastle helping LBGT refugees.
Anyone affected by tragedies such as the Orlando nightclub shooting or Chechnya’s gay concentration camps, is invited to attend the vigil and show their respect for those involved.
Mark Nichols
Mark Nichols, Chair of Northern Pride, said:“The Co-op candlelit vigil is the perfect place for the LGBT community to share a moment of reflection for other members of the community who are being persecuted around the world.
“We still have such a long way to go in the fight against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and we refuse to tolerate anti LGBT violence anywhere in the world.
“The fight for equal rights continues and we hope everyone will join us in lighting a thousand candles to not only remember – but celebrate – all those who have dedicated their lives to fighting for LGBT rights.”
he popular festival, which attracted more than 73,000 visitors and contributed more than £10.4m to the economy in 2016, is returning with its largest ever line up on the 21 to 23 July weekend at Newcastle Town Moor.
For full listings for all of this year’s satellite events and the official Newcastle Pride weekend, click here: or search northernprideuk on Facebook and Twitter.
The festival itself is free to attend, however a number of Gold Circle and VIP tickets are available for those who want to guarantee prime viewing spots for the performances on July 22 and 23.
“Innovative fearless & funny!”……. Trudy Howson, UK LGBT Poet Laureate
Photo by Alan Brooksby, the Faust cast in action at the launch of Dandifest, April 2017.
Trigger Warning! Contains adult themes and language, nudity, mental health, HIV, DWP Deaths, Lucifer, and poetry, but no Nazis.
Poet, artist and contrary queen, Vince Laws, is bringing his brand new play, A Very Queer Nazi Faust, to Norwich Pride 2017.
“The best theatre production you’ll see all year! Telling the sad story that faces so many of our most vulnerable citizens with fantastic wit and compelling drama.”……..Lewis Martin
The play aims to highlight the plight of disabled humans under the current Tory government and the previous Tory/Lib Dem coalition.
It features the DEAD PEOPLE DON’T CLAIM banner, and a host of local legends, telling ‘The Tragic True Life & Deserved Death of a Benefit Scrounger by Himself, John Faust’.
“I love it John,” exclaims Lucifer, “but I think that title deserves a Dandy tweak?”
Faust’s benefits have been stopped without warning, he’s overdrawn, he can’t pay his rent, the bailiffs are coming, his car needs a new clutch, his dog’s at the vets with blood poisoning, the DWP brown envelopes keep piling up, in despair, Faust throws himself off Beeston Bump, but Lucifer won’t let him drown. “Finish your book John, I love it! But I want a bigger part and a happy ending!”
“Fearless storytelling. The performance in the church, especially, reminded me that theatre began in churches in England . And if ever we needed miracle plays, today is the time. Great writing. Great delivery. And never have chains been worn so stylishly.” …..Dugald Ferguson
Although the controversial title and theme were left out of the printed version of Norwich Pride’s programme, A Very Queer Nazi Faust will be performed in the big tent on Chapelfield Gardens at 4pm on Pride Saturday, July 29, and lasts about an hour.
“Dramatic and hard-hitting. A visual and sensory feast with a strong and topical message.”….. Nick O’Brien, Norwich Pride
“I thought long and hard about the title,” said Vince. “I realise some people find the word queer triggering, and I’m sorry if that upsets anyone on the day, that is not my intention. Context is king. Queer is a more inclusive term, i.e. there are non-LGBT+ people who identify as queer. It can mean strange, different, other, and I think we queers have thoroughly reclaimed it by now.”
“The first people the Nazis killed systematically were the disabled, after demonising people with disabilities as a burden on taxpayers in the press. Sound familiar?” explains Vince.
“Look up Aktion T4. ‘Under the programme certain German physicians were authorized to select patients “deemed incurably sick, after most critical medical examination” and then administer to them a “mercy death”…’ Wikipedia.
“Today, the United Nations has found the current UK Tory government ‘guilty of grave and systematic abuse of disabled people’s human rights’, twice.
“People are dying because of the way the benefit system is being used as a weapon against them. I feel like an enemy of the state because I have disabilities. Fuck that. ‘If the system cripples you, you must cripple the system!’ Oscar Wilde. This play is my way of fighting back.”
“I loved it ❤️ Jan McLachlan [Lucifer] total star ⭐️ well written , totally got it 👍 left me wanting more”
A Very Queer Nazi Faust has been made on a shoestring budget, crowdfunding and enthusiasm.
If you can’t make the show on Pride Saturday, you can see Act 1, 30 minutes, at the launch of the Pride Without Prejudice art show, at St Margaret’s Church of Art, Norwich, NR2 4AQ, on Monday, July 24, at 8pm.
You can see Act 2, 30 minutes, at the closing party for Pride Without Prejudice art show, on Friday, August 4, at 8pm.
All performances are free. Contains adult themes and language.
Everyone is giving their time free, but donations towards props and costumes etc most welcome.
To highlight Queer Solidarity with People With Disabilities, Vince will be carrying the DEAD PEOPLE DON’T CLAIM banner at Norwich Pride, and anyone who wants to, is welcome to join him.
Vince is also collaborating with artist and activist Lisa Mac to create 100 Triangles of Love, pink/black cardboard triangles to carry on the parade to highlight Queer Solidarity with People With Disabilities, and their shared history of oppression, and the ongoing oppression they face around the world.
If you’d like to carry a Triangle of Love, or make your own and join the, email: vincelaws@gmail.com or contact via Facebook.
Act 1 Monday, July 24 at 8pm at St Margaret’s Church of Art, Norwich, NR2 4AQ, duration 30 minutes, Free.
Act 1 & 2 (whole show) Pride Saturday, July 29 at 4pm in Big Tent on Chapelfield Gardens, duration 60 minutes, Free.
Act 2 Friday, August 4 at 8pm at St Margaret’s Church of Art, Norwich, NR2 4AQ, duration 30 minutes, Free.
“Tori Scott is the Bette Midler of the New Millennium”……. Provincetown Magazine.
Robin Rayner Productions present Tori Scott’s UK debut at The Marlborough Theatre, Brighton followed by a summer season at Live at Zedel in London.
Named one of Time Out New York’s Top 10 Cabaret Artists, Tori Scott makes her UK debut with Thirsty! direct from sell-out performances at The Public Theater, New York.
Tori is a New York-based singer, actress, and comedian. In addition to appearing regularly at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, she has toured her solo shows to Los Angeles, Dallas, San Diego, Provincetown, and most recently as a headliner for RSVP Vacations, where she entertained 2,000 shirtless gay men throughout the Caribbean.
She regularly headlines the Pride celebrations at Joe’s Pub in New York City.
The show celebrates poor life choices and an unconditional love of vodka set to the music of Aretha Franklin, Judy Garland, Miley Cyrus and many more. It is a shameless musical journey of slurred autobiographical stories and songs written by other people.
Referred to as a Garland for the Grindr era Tori has been hailed as “the Bette Midler of the New Millennium” by Provincetown Magazine, “a soul baring singer & sharp comedian” by Huffington Post and “the sound of someone who’s not afraid to show you just how human she is, while her super-human pipes blow you away” by Broadway World.
For more information about Tori Scott, click here:
Event:THIRSTY starring Tori Scott, written by Tori Scott and Adam Hetrick, directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn, musical direction Jesse Kissel
In 2015, film maker Nicholas Feustel made a documentary film about the England PROUD PrEP trial.
The documentary was shown at community events across the UK, and formed the focus for PrEPster’s Pushing for PrEP community education events.
In January 2017, Nicholas returned to London to pick up what has happened to PrEP since the completion of the last film.
PrEP17 explores the stories of over a dozen PrEP activists; current and former PrEP users; clinicians; and policy-makers. The 36 minute documentary film, commissioned by PrEPster, shines a light on how PrEP has become available to thousands of people, despite the failures of the health system.
Join PrEPster, Terrence Higgins Trust South, and the Martin Fisher Foundation for the Brighton launch of PrEP17. The film will be followed by an interactive panel discussion of activists, PrEP users and clinicians chaired by Dr Will Nutland.
Other people on the panel confirmed to speak include: Nicholas Feustel – film maker and director of PrEP17; Greg Owen – I Want PreP Now; Dr Amanda Clarke – Consultant in HIV/GUM and Clinical Trials BSUH
Go along and find out about: how people are accessing PrEP in England; when the new IMPACT PrEP trial will start; PrEP and if it might be something for you, or someone you know.
The event is being co-hosted by Martin Fisher Foundation and Terrence Higgins Trust and will take place at Friends Meeting House on Thursday, July 6 starting at 7.30pm.
The screening and discussion is FREE – but, click here: to reserve an Eventbrite ticket to ensure your place.
The Design Museum in London acquires a series of new objects for its permanent collection.
New acquisitions include the rainbow flag, David Bowie’sBlackstar album, a coffee cup for astronauts and Oculus Rift’s virtual reality headset.
The Design Museum has the UK’s only collection devoted exclusively to contemporary design and architecture and is an important record of the key designs that have shaped the modern world. It tells the history of mass production, from the manufacturing innovations of the nineteenth century up to the digital and making revolution of today.
The rainbow flag, originally created by San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker, is the Design Museum’s first acquisition since moving to its new home in Kensington High Street. Identified as one of the defining designs of the modern age, the flag was part of an original series of ten that Baker designed and created in 1978. Also known as the gay pride flag or LGBT+ pride flag, the design reflects the diversity of the LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) communities.
Originating in northern California, the flag has been adopted worldwide and is now a globally recognised symbol.
One of 2016 defining designs, the ★ (Blackstar) album design by Jonathan Barnbrook has also been acquired. Released on January 8 2016 to coincide with Bowie’s 69th birthday, two days before his passing, the album was met with critical acclaim.
The Unicode Blackstar symbol created a simplistic identity that let the music take centre stage. Designed using open source elements, the artwork for the album became open-sourced itself following Bowie’s death enabling fans to engage and interact with the symbols.
Also acquired is the Space Cup, a coffee cup used by astronauts in zero gravity. Designed and developed using scientific results of experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station, the design allows astronauts to drink coffee from an open cup whilst in outer space. The Space Cup was designed to exploit passive capillary forces to replace the role of gravity to create an earth-like drinking experience in space.
The museum’s collection aims to keep up with the latest technological advancements and has acquired the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, which was released on March 28, 2016. Developed and manufactured by Oculus VR, a division of Facebook Inc., the headsets allow the user to enter an entirely immersive computer-generated environment.
To coincide with the museum’s current exhibition, California: Designing Freedom, the museum has also acquired a number of innovations from California that have created a lasting impact on the world of design. The original Frisbee by Wham-O Frisbee from 1958, the Atari VCS/2600 (the home video game console developed by Atari, Inc. in 1977), and the full run of both the Whole Earth Catalog (an American counterculture magazine and product catalogue published by Stewart Brand between 1968 and 1972) and the Emigre magazines (a quarterly publication devoted to visual communication founded by Rudy VanderLans and Zuzana Licko and published between 1984 and 2005) have all been incorporated into the museum’s expanding collection.
California: Designing Freedom explores how the ideals of the 1960s counterculture morphed into the tech culture of Silicon Valley, and how Designed in California became a global phenomenon. The central premise is that California has pioneered tools of personal liberation, from LSD to surfboards and iPhones. This ambitious survey brings together political posters and portable devices, but also looks beyond hardware to explore how user interface designers in the San Francisco Bay Area are shaping some of our most common daily experiences. By turns empowering, addictive and troubling, Californian products have affected our lives to such an extent that in some ways we are all now Californians.
The Design Museum is the world’s leading museum devoted to architecture and design, its work encompasses all elements of design, including fashion, product and graphic design. Since it opened its doors in 1989 the museum has displayed everything from an AK-47 to high heels designed by Christian Louboutin. It has staged over 100 exhibitions, welcomed over five million visitors and showcased the work of some of the world’s most celebrated designers and architects including Paul Smith, Zaha Hadid, Jonathan Ive, Miuccia Prada, Frank Gehry, Eileen Gray and Dieter Rams.
On November 24, 2016, The Design Museum relocated to Kensington, West London. Leading architectural designer John Pawson has converted the interior of a 1960s modernist building to create a new home giving it three times more space in which to show a wider range of exhibitions and significantly extend its learning programme.
Event:DESIGNING FREEDOM Exhibition
Where: The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London, W8 6AG
When: May 24, 2017 – October 15, 2017
Times: Open daily 10:00 – 18:00 (last admission 17:00)
Cost: Adult £10.50 – Student/concession £8* – Family (1 adult + 3 children) £17 – Family (2 adults + 3 children) £24 – Child (6 – 15 years) £5.25 – Children under 6 years free – Members free
For more information about the Design Museum, click here:
Casting announced for Bent at the National Theatre: Queer Theatre: LGBT+ Stories and Social Change – in partnership with Pride in London.
The National Theatre will mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales by staging its first Queer Theatre event series from July 6-10, 2017.
A group of world-class actors and directors will look at how theatre has charted the LGBT+ experience through a series of rehearsed readings and post-show discussions in the Lyttelton Theatre.
Stephen Daldry
The fourth play in the NT’s Queer Theatre series of rehearsed readings is Bent by Martin Sherman (1979), directed by Stephen Daldry on Sunday, July 9, 2.30pm.
Following Nazi Germany’s Night Of The Long Knives in 1934, gay lovers Max and Rudy are taken away to Dachau by the Gestapo. Desperate to avoid the dreaded Pink Triangle, Max claims to be Jewish. In amongst the horrors of the Camp, he meets Horst who wears his Pink Triangle with pride.
The Bent cast will include:
George Mackay, Simon Russell Beale, Giles Terera, Pip Torrens, Paapa Essiedu, John Pfumojena and Adrian Grove.
The NT’s Queer Theatre event series is hosted in partnership with Pride in London and includes:
♦ Neaptideby Sarah Daniels, directed by Sarah Frankcom, Thursday, July 6, 7.30pm
♦ Wig Out! written and directed by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Friday, July 7, 7.30pm
♦ Certain Young Men written and directed by Peter Gill, Saturday, July 8, 7.30pm
♦ Bent by Martin Sherman, directed by Stephen Daldry, Sunday, July 9, 2.30pm
♦ The Drag by Mae West, directed by Polly Stenham, Monday, July 10, 7.30pm.
Free post show talks (40 mins) will follow each reading exploring the issues in the plays and in a wider context for the LGBT+ communities.
For more information and to book online, click here:
Current responses to Hate Crime in the UK are failing and letting down victims, says new report entitled Identifying and Dismantling Barriers to Justice.
New research by University of Leicester experts highlights the barriers that victims face in accessing justice and identifies ways of overcoming them.
Hate crime victims throughout the United Kingdom are being let down by the Government and criminal justice agencies, according to a new report undertaken by University of Leicester experts in collaboration with Amnesty International UK.
Through a series of case studies the report, which is based on research by experts from the University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies, illustrates significant levels of under-reporting, inadequate support provision for victims, insufficient training for police officers and low investment in educational and rehabilitative interventions.
Ways in which the state is failing in its duty to prevent and tackle hate crimes include:
♦ failure to increase public awareness of hate crimes across all sections of society
♦ failure to embed diversity-related themes within the curriculum
♦ failure to support victims of online hate
♦ failure to make public transport safe
♦ failure to provide parity in legislative protection
♦ failure to maintain a responsible tone around issues of immigration and ‘difference’
Professor Neil Chakraborti and Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy
Dr Stevie-Jade Hardy, Lead Researcher from the University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies, said:“Recent spikes in hate crime which have followed the terrorist attacks in Manchester and London show that existing responses to hate crime are not working.
“Research shows that the impact of hate crime can be devastating for victims, spreading fear amongst communities and so the Government must do more to address the problems raised in this report.”
The report puts forwards a number of recommendations, including more effective awareness-raising campaigns, increased prioritisation of community engagement, better training for frontline practitioners, and greater investment in victim support and preventative programmes.
Professor Neil Chakraborti, Director of the Centre for Hate Studies at the University of Leicester, added:“In the context of escalating tensions and rising levels of prejudice we all need responses to hate crime to be swift, supportive and effective. All too often victims are let down by responses which do not address their needs, experiences or expectations, and as such the recommendations within this report are both timely and instructive.”
The Centre for Hate Studies is based at the Department of Criminology, University of Leicester. Drawing from more than ten years’ worth of empirical research, the Centre undertakes a wide-ranging portfolio of research in the field of hate studies, and delivers training and continuing professional development to local authorities, victim support agencies and organisations within a variety of different sectors, including criminal justice, health, social care and education.
To read the full report entitled Identifying and Dismantling Barriers to Justice, click here:
Following his triumphant set on The Other Stage at Glastonbury on Sunday July 2, the biggest UK breakout star of 2017, Rag’n’Bone Man, AKA Rory Graham, announces seven UK and Eire dates for this November including a show at the Brighton Centre on November 28.
Photo: Deans Chalkley for Sony Records
Without doubt 2017 has been the year of Rag’n’Bone Man. His debut album Human has been a huge hit worldwide selling an astonishing 650,000 copies in the UK in under 5 months!
It contains the global hits Human, which has gone to Number 1 on itunes in over 40 countries selling nearly 4 million copies in the process, and Skin, which has sold over 1.2 million globally and peaked at No.2 in the UK Airplay Chart.
Live, the 2017 double Brit Award winner who are supporting, have played sold out shows across Europe and the UK including two nights at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire in April.
Event: Rag ‘N” Bone Man with the Overproof Tour, supported by Live
Where: Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton
When: Tuesday, November 29
Time: Doors open 6.30pm
Cost: £22.50
To book tickets on-line, from Friday, July 7 at 10am, click here:
The 5th Annual Trans Pride Film Night, the curtain raiser to Trans Pride 2017 on Friday July 21, celebrates trans lives and trans representation through film.
Outside Marlborough Pub and Theatre
Trans Pride film night
♦ It will feature trans film makers, stories about trans people and will be curated by My Genderation and Eyes Wide Open. The evening will include opening speeches, a selection of trans films and musical entertainment. Trans Pride merchandise will be on sale to help towards the cost of staging this years event. Trans Pride Film night will take place at Dukes at Komedia, 44-47 Gardner St, Brighton on Friday, July 22 starting at 6pm. Tickets cost £5/£7.
♦ The main event, the 4th annual Trans Pride March (5th Trans Pride event) will assemble at the Marlborough Pub in Princess Street, Brighton on Saturday, July 22 at 11.30am.
♦ After welcoming speeches from the organisers, marchers will set off towards Brighton Palace Pier, where they will turn right and proceed along the seafront to Brunswick Gardens in Hove for the party in the park, featuring music, spoken word and poetry as well as community stalls profiling Trans and LGB+ community groups. No dogs are allowed on the park, except for assistance dogs. Entry to the park is free but please put a donation in the buckets as this event costs a great deal of money to stage.
Trans Pride parties – Later in the evening there will be a choice of events to support;
♦ Trans Pride Brighton presents a Night of D.I.Y at The Synergy Centre, 78 West Street, Brighton, BN1 2RA (£5) from 7.30pm to midnight. Rock the night away with five great bands and help raise funds for Trans Pride Brighton 2017.
There will be metal, hard-core punk, post punk, gothpunk bands. These bands are loud and are all Breaking rules about gender, some a bit angry, some political, but they all have something worthwhile to sing and shout about, so pease bring earplugs, (they will have some at the door as well).
Event: Trans Pride Brighton presents a Night of D.I.Y
Venue: The Synergy Centre, 78 West Street, Brighton, BN1 2RA
When: Saturday, July
Time: Door open 7.30pm to midnight
Cost: £5 available on door and on Brunswick Gardens
Drinks will be sold on site (18+) and the venue is accessible
♦ Trans Pride the Party! hosted by Traumfrau at North Laine Brewhouse, 27 Gloucester Place, Brighton, will be headlined by international DJ S/HE (Tomboys Don’t Cry), the Transgender DJ from Milan where they run Gender Sux! a weekly queer event, S/HE has played for various LGBTQIA+ parties in London (Club Lesley, T Club, Wotever and Lemon Juice) and is part of the queer collective Tomboys Don’t Cry. Their high-energy DJ sets are a mix of deep-house, electro, queer hop and tech-house. Last years event sold out quickly so make sure you book your tickets in advance so as to not be disappointed on the day.
♦ New to Trans Pride this year is, Trans Sauna Night at Brighton Sauna on Monday, July 24 from 6pm-1am. Once a month The Brighton Sauna opens its doors to trans and non-binary folk and their significant others, friends, families and allies (by their invites only). Cost: £15 for standard entry (single entry, once you leave you leave), £16 for a day pass (allowing you to come and go throughout the day), or £8 for the night owl ticket (late entry after 11pm, for the last two hours).
For a complete list of events happening during Trans Pride, click here:
To checkout all of Pink Fringe’s events at The Marlborough, click here:
A Gay Outing is Charleston’s annual celebration of its queer heritage.
Painting by Duncan Grant
Taking place in a beautiful canvas marquee in the Paddock, Tate Britain curator Clare Barlow will explore the stories behind the Queer British Art exhibition, from unrequited love to cross-dressing on the British stage, from prison doors to visions of queer community.
There will also be music from male voice choir Resound, time to explore the House and Garden, and an exclusive opportunity to see erotic drawings and paintings by Duncan Grant.
You must be logged in to post a comment.