menu

B RIGHT ON LGBT Community Festival: Women only Restorative Circle

Brighton & Hove aims to be a ‘Restorative City’ and is committed to meeting the needs of those harmed by crime and conflict, by ensuring safe, secure and effective restorative practices are embedded throughout the city.

Brighton & Hove’s Partnership Community Safety Team continually seeks to reduce barriers that our diverse communities may experience in reporting harassment or hate crime.

The Restorative Justice Council defines restorative practices as a range of various methods of bringing those harmed by crime or conflict and those responsible for harm, into communication, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward.

The Team will be offering a ‘restorative circle’ workshop for self-identifying women to share their personal experiences of the internal and external barriers that they may have to reporting harassment or crime.

The intention is to offer a fair and equal space for people to speak as openly as they wish about these barriers with the intention of raising awareness for the Team to address these barriers where possible.

The workshop will be facilitated by self-identifying women from the team with support from the LGBT Community Safety Forum.

An hour & 15 minutes duration.

Only 12 spaces per session


Event: Restorative Women’s Circle

Where: Phil Starr Pavilion, Victoria Gardens, Brighton

When: Tuesday, February 20

Time: 2 sessions: Noon & 4pm: An hour & 15 minutes duration: 12 spaces per session

Cost: Free

To reserve a place, click here:

The B Right On LGBT Community Festival celebrates LGBT History Month, is organised by the volunteers of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum and takes place at the Phil Starr Pavilion – a multi functional, fully accessible, heated performance, conference and community space with a licensed bar which is located on Victoria Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1WN.

COMPETITION: Win a trip to San Francisco with Newcastle Pride and Manchester Airport

ONE of the UK’s largest, free LGBT festivals has teamed up with Manchester Airport to offer the chance to win a once in a lifetime trip for two to San Francisco.

Seb Thompson - Manchester Airport, Stephen Willis – Festival Director and Patrick Alexander – Manchester Airport.
Seb Thompson – Manchester Airport, Stephen Willis – Festival Director and Patrick Alexander – Manchester Airport.

Newcastle Pride, sponsored by Newcastle’s business improvement district NE1, is offering the sought-after competition prize thanks to main stage sponsor, Manchester Airport, who offer direct flights to the destination with Thomas Cook Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

The winner of the competition will receive a £2,000 voucher to spend on flights and accommodation in the popular Californian city, which is home to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island – the site of the infamous former prison.

Those hoping to be in with a chance of winning have until May 27 to purchase raffle tickets and the winner will be announced at Newcastle cabaret venue, Boulevard.

Patrick Alexander, Head of Marketing at Manchester Airport, said: “With more than 210 direct routes to choose from at Manchester Airport, we have picked one of our newest and most exciting for this competition.

“We are delighted to be back with Newcastle Pride for our second year and I am sure everyone will love the acts on our Manchester Airport San Francisco Stage over the weekend.

“I’d like to wish everyone good luck in the competition and cannot wait to meet the winner.”

Stephen Willis, Festival Director, added: “We are excited to be working with Manchester Airport to offer this amazing competition for the second year running.

“Last year’s winner had an incredible time in San Francisco and we are thrilled to be able to offer the experience to another pair.

“Not only is it a fantastic prize but money raised through ticket sales will go to LGBT charity, Northern Pride, to help keep the festival free.”

The festival, which attracted more than 73,000 visitors in 2017 and generated more than £9.2m for the local economy, will take place on July 20-22, with a huge musical line up to be announced.

The theme of this year’s Newcastle Pride festival is celebrating 40 years of the rainbow flag, which was designed in San Francisco by LGBT activist and artist, Gilbert Baker.

The rainbow flag has become synonymous with the LGBT communities, with the different colours representing diversity.

Raffle tickets are on sale now at £1 per ticket and will be available to buy at Boulevard, Churchill St or at the Newcastle Pride office at Dance City, Temple St.

The prize can be redeemed up until the end of August 2019 and full terms and conditions are available on the Northern Pride website.

B RIGHT ON LGBT Community Festival: Dine with the Stars!

Eurovision sensation Nicki French to headline the Dine with the Stars dinner, dance, cabaret extravaganza celebrating LGBT History Month.

Your host for the evening Kara Van Park will be joined on stage by local entertainers including Maisie Trollette, Jennie Castell, Krissie DuCann, Sally Vate, Pooh la May and Jason Thorpe.

Tuck into a sumptuous three-course meal prepared and served in the fabulous surrounding of the Phil Starr Pavilion by chefs and waiters from Jurys Inn Waterfront Hotel on Brighton seafront.

The evening will be raising funds for Accessibility Matters who deliver Access for Brighton & Hove Pride.


Event: Dine with the Stars – dinner, dance cabaret extravaganza

Where: Phil Starr Pavilion, Victoria Gardens, Brighton

When: Thursday, February 1

Time: Doors 6.45pm – dinner at 7.30pm

Cost: £29

To book online, click here: 


DINE WITH THE STARS MENU

Starter

Tomato & Mozzarella Tian Served with a crispy lettuce, basil pesto & an aged balsamic dressing.

Main

Lemon Roasted Chicken with carrot & lemon puree served with seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes and a sage jus.

Or

Mediterranean Vegetable Tian. Served with seasonal vegetables, roast potatoes an a Provençale sauce.

Dessert

Chocolate Tart served with dark chocolate sauce and Chantilly cream.

FOOD ALLERGIES

Ask for information on allergens or dietary requirements when making your booking.

The B Right On LGBT Community Festival celebrates LGBT History Month, is organised by the volunteers of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum and takes place at the Phil Starr Pavilion – a multi functional, fully accessible, heated performance, conference and community space with a licensed bar which is located on Victoria Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1WN.

FILM PREVIEW: The Ice King

Tony Fenwick, CEO of LGBT History Month hosts a screening of The Ice King, a feature documentary about John Curry, in the view of many the greatest figure skater of all time and the first openly gay Olympian.

John Curry, a truly remarkable man who took Gold in the mens singles figure skating competition at the Innsbruck Olympic Winter Games in 1976, transformed ice skating from a dated sport into an exalted art form.

Coming out on the night of his Olympic win in 1976, he became the first openly gay Olympian at a time when homosexuality wasn’t even fully legal.

Toxic yet charming, rebellious yet elitist, emotionally aloof yet spectacularly needy, ferociously ambitious yet bent on self-destruction, he was a man forever on the run – from his father’s ghost, his country and himself.

The Ice King is a searing documentary about a lost cultural icon, and a story of art, sport, sexuality and rebellion.

After the screening there will be a Q & A with James Erskine the films director.

Contains moderate sex references and discriminatory attitudes.


Event: The Ice King

Where: Duke’s at Komedia, 44-47 Gardner St, Brighton BN1 1UN

When: Thursday, February 22

Time: 6.15pm

Cost: £12.20

To book ticket online, click here:

OPERA REVIEW: Iolanthe @ENO

Iolanthe 

English National Opera

This all new production of Iolanthe has a different director Cal McCrystal from the ENO G&S smash hit Pirates of Penzance, but looks like being as huge a success as that was. McCrystal – who is newish to opera – plays it straight, proper Gilbert and Sullivan and this is a wise mood as its viciously lampooning of privilege and morals works just as well today as it did then and needs no modern tweaks or wink-wink additions. McCrystal directs a production that embraces the chaotic physical comedy and irreverence that are his hallmarks. His is a sharp knife peeling away the daftness of British Society and romantic tomfoolery to allow us to laugh as it’s fatuousness but still keep respect. It’s a carefully measured slaughter of sacred cows and hardly puts a foot wrong, with very little updating it’s right on the button;  a sad reflection of how little the British institutions actually change..

Iolanthe is a brilliantly funny, satirical fantasy, revealing a typically Gilbert & Sullivan topsy-turvy worldview. Phyllis and Strephon wish to marry, but as Phyllis is a ward of court she requires the Lord Chancellor’s permission. The Lord Chancellor, however, wants her for himself.

This is wonderfully, carefully, beautifully done with an irreverent attention to detail which will charm Operetta buffs and enough slack, wild and wondrous charms which will seduce the G&S fans and even tease in folks who (might think they) like neither with its exuberance fun and silly ditties.

This is classy deconstructiveness, done with such a deft touch and perfect sense of comedic timing that it feels oddly amateur at some points and I need to qualify that by saying in the best possible way – like watching folk you know well do something you love. It’s charm and engaging plotting gives you the feeling that you’re watching something wonderful unfold, full of bumps and offsides, raised eyebrows and sotto voice grumblings, it’s a rather stylish piece of pantomime theatre and the Victorians would have loved it. The audience loved the double entendres – all from the original text unchanged apart from the way that time and contemporary culture has filthified their meaning.

As vulgar in parts as it is romantic in others it doesn’t miss a beat and with so much to get though that’s impressive. Timothy Henty keeps the ENO orchestra on a tight leash and they plough through the score giving it just the right amount of earnest smoothness needed with some extra oomph’s when the staging requires it.   Sullivan’s carful and beautiful musical parodies are given the gentle sincerity required and the orchestra kept form and energy till the last note.

The Chorus, dressed with love  are a constant riot of fairy and lords, clashing and dashing, dancing and prancing, singing and joyfulness are lovely, each and every one of them. Each year there is a production from the ENO which makes me utterly adore the chorus and their work in Iolanthe is flawless.  Choreographer Lizzi Gee is to be commended on her robust sprightly work with them.

You know you are in for a treat and in a safe pair of hands when Andrew Shore’s Lord Chancellor walks on stage and he gets to bounce, dance, do his verbal pyrotechnics and even floats at one point, whatever he does he brings laughter pouring out. His skill is impressive and his voice supports the intricate and demonic words set with such brilliance by Gilbert, although he spoke as much as sang his lines, but all with effortless ease. Shore never lets us forget this is supposed to be fun. Yvonne Howard as Queen of the Fairies gives a wonderful counterpoint, part Valkyrie, part Tinkerbelle her voice warm and resonant giving passion to the role. Marcus Farnsworth’s superbly passionate but on point Strephon was excellent -a heartthrob we could believe in and Ellie Laugharne’s Phyllis was a delight, her conniving charisma convincing as her voice. They did a clog tap dance dressed as Dresden shepherd & shepherdess whilst singing – a piece of ENO magic I’ll not forget in a while.

Never overpowering the singing the comedy in this opera is laid on creamy thick but with such a lightness of touch and perfect comedic timing that it takes the whole thing up a step. Richard Leeming get a Tarantino style beating time and time again as the Lord Chancellor’s Page but his dynamic dancing and very funny face brought forth roars of laughter and Barnaby Rea gives an excellent and handsome Private Willis his profound voice rolling around the auditorium. Ben Johnson and Ben McAteer as Earls Tolloller and Mountararat respectively wrap each other up in tender adoration with a touching (and caressing)  public-school bromance, which gives a delightfully layered gay twist to this lords & fairies tale there’s even a perfectly judged epic Star Wars reference which works so very, very well and elicited delightful giggles from the audience.

Phew, well done ENO on such a superb evenings entertainment.

You can read the full synopsis here

The sets from the late lamented Paul Brown, all painted back drop and stylised Victoriana are a triumph and bring some laughter along with them, Browns sense of Britishness was perfect and yet he still manages to infuse a modern sense to everything we see. There’s some superb big resounding theatrical moments with the entrance of the lords and the destruction of the Arcadian landscape by the industrial revolution and slapstick daftness down in a beautiful House of Lords, all Pugin high gothic carved wood and red velvet. Delightfully silly stuff and given the perfect flush of lighting from Tim Mitchell with flashes of period references. Actor Clive Mantle is lovely as the Monty Pythonesque high Victorian music hall Captain Shaw, a well-known fireman of his day, mentioned in his text and brought to life by McCrystal as the MC of the evening who intervenes to douse the fairy’s magical fire at a few hilarious points.

It’s simply lovely working on many levels a work of art and as charming to watch as it is beautiful to listen to.

If you’ve not thought about going to see a Gilbert & Sullivan work before then this is the one to go see, it’s selling fast, not surprisingly so book now.

Plays until April 9

For more info or to book tickets see the ENO website here

English National Opera

St Martins Lane

London

Been bereaved by suicide and need support?

Free support groups for people bereaved by suicide set up by Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Care have been running in Brighton and Hove since October 2016.

Facing the Future groups – each with a maximum of eight participants – are free of charge and available to anyone over 18 who has been bereaved by suicide.

Each group session lasts for 90 minutes and runs once a week over six consecutive weeks. The bereavement does not have to have been recent, although the service is designed for people bereaved for more than 3 months.

The groups are jointly led by experienced Samaritans and Cruse volunteers who have received specialist training in helping those bereaved by suicide.

Two groups have already taken place and three more are planned for this year. The next one is due to start on Tuesday 25th April at 6.30pm in a central Brighton location.

Feedback from the Evaluation of Facing the Future Summary Report, commissioned by the Department of Health, has been very encouraging:

“It has helped me to stop feeling responsible for what happened, and to understand that it is not unusual to feel that way.”

“It gave me a space where I could process my thoughts and what had happened.”

“It has helped to speed up the healing process, I’m in a better place now than when I started”

If you’re interested in attending a group, click here:  to register or call 0208 939 9560.

It’s really straightforward and you are very welcome to attend even if you’re already receiving other forms of support. Within two working days of registering you’ll get a call and receive all the information you require, including what to expect and when groups are expected to start so you can plan them around your other commitments.

You must have been bereaved by suicide for more than three months when the group starts. Earlier than that people may still be experiencing a high level of shock and could find it difficult to share their feelings.

The groups are open to anyone bereaved by suicide no matter how long ago.

Samaritans is available round the clock, every day of the year. They provide a safe place for anyone struggling to cope, whoever they are, however they feel, whatever life has done to them.

If you need help call free phone number 116 123 (UK) or 1850 60 90 90 (ROI), email: jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org/branches to find details of the nearest branch.

Cruse Bereavement Care is the leading national charity for bereaved people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, offering support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone dies and work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people. To contact them call 08444 77 94 00, email helpline@cruse.org.uk or visit www.cruse.org.uk

X