30/01/2019 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Choir offers free places for young people across the city

Posted on 30/01/201930/01/2019 by Gary Hart

Many under 35’s in Brighton and Hove are facing the toughest conditions to live and work in the city for many years.

HIGH rents, impossible house prices, significant political and economic changes on the horizon, major environmental issues in the headlines daily, long commutes on expensive trains…. the list goes on and on.

To help remedy this, the Hullabaloo Community Quire is offering free places to young people across Brighton and Hove to join them this term when their repertoire centres around beautiful protest songs calling for and demanding political change and social justice.

Working with activist folk singer, Grace Petrie, who recently sold out Brighton’s Komedia, it is the ideal opportunity to get angry and shout about all those things wrong in the world today, find solace, create beautiful harmony and benefit from the many positives that singing in a group brings.

Grace’s music strikes a chord with young people, many of whom are currently suffering the effects of austerity and prejudice. Her most recent track Black Tie is furiously funny, lively, loving, and hopeful. It’s an anthem to the positive, life-changing possibilities of protest songs.

Grace says: “My job is to remind people that there are others who share their vision for society and share their passion for making it a better place.”

Free places to young adults who are financially disadvantaged are offered on a first come first served basis.

If you feel strongly about making an impact in today’s society, are angry and want your voice heard or want to meet new people in the city, then join the Hullabaloo Quire for it’s Protest Term!

Hullabaloo is a totally open access choir. No experience is necessary, and there is no need to be able to read music. Everyone is more than welcome to attend!

For more information, click here:

Or email: info@hullabalooquire.org

PREVIEW: Hancock’s Half Hour @Theatre Royal

Posted on 30/01/2019 by Contributor

Apollo Theatre Company presents the first ever major UK tour of the classic radio comedy.

TONY Hancock fans will be in their element this autumn as the first ever UK tour of the classic radio comedy Hancock’s Half Hour comes to Theatre Royal Brighton on Thursday, February 7 at 7.30pm.

In 1954, Tony Hancock burst onto the airwaves of the BBC Light Programme with a comedy show unlike anything the British public had heard before. Playing a less successful version of himself and surrounded by a cast of fellow comedy greats including Sid James, Hattie Jacques and Kenneth Williams, Hancock’s Half Hour was one of the first programmes in the genre we now know as sitcom.

Written by young up and comers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson, who later went on to create Steptoe and Son, Hancock’s Half Hour redefined radio comedy and has had people laughing non stop for the past 65 years.

Now, 65 years after its first broadcast, Apollo Theatre Company, who recently produced the UK tours of classic radio comedies, The Goon Show and Round the Horne, bring the show to the stage for the first time.

Producer and director Tim Astley says, “Hancock’s Half Hour was one of the greatest comedy shows of all time and it is truly an honour to be able to bring it to the stage. We are so used to sitcoms as a part of the comedy landscape these days that it is hard to imagine a time without them and to appreciate just how ground breaking the show was when it came along in 1954. Tony Hancock’s genius ‘put upon’ persona had such an influence on so many great comedy characters from Basil Fawlty to David Brent and it cannot be underestimated quite how much he helped shape comedy as we know it today.

“Being a radio comedy show, these characters and their world largely exist in people’s imaginations and this show, which recreates the BBC recording studio of the 1950s, gives audiences a chance to see them brought to life like never before and will create a unique experience for fans both old and new.”

The show stars Dead Ringers impressionist James Hurn as Tony Hancock and Colin Elmer reprising his role from Round the Horne as Kenneth Williams, alongside a cast of brilliant actors who will bring to life the stars of yesteryear who may be gone, but certainly not forgotten.

Take a trip to 23 Railway Cuttings, East Cheam to join ‘the lad himself’ and his motley crew for three classic episodes of this hilarious show.

Event: Hancock’s Half Hour

Where: Theatre Royal, New Road, Brighton

When: Thursday, February 7

Time: 7.30pm

Cost: Tickets £13 – £30.90 plus £3.65 booking fee

To book tickets online, click here:

Greens push for ‘Plastic Free Events’ in Brighton and Hove

Posted on 30/01/201930/01/2019 by Gary Hart

Green Party petition signed by 3,495 people calls for Plastic-Free Events in Brighton and Hove.

GREEN councillors push for plastic free events in Brighton and Hove as petition signed by thousands of residents goes to City Council.

The petition, started by Brighton and Hove Green Party, states: “Internationally, each year, over 8 million tonnes of plastic finds its way into our oceans and some of it already turns up on Brighton beach, but the impact is even worse when city events create vast amounts of additional waste such as water bottles from the marathon or disposable plastic glasses during the Festival and Pride. It doesn’t have to be this way. Events should be using alternatives such as stack cup and water refill stations.

“We, the undersigned, call on Brighton & Hove City Council and the organisers and sponsors of the city’s biggest public events to commit to eliminating the use of single-use plastics by 2020 at the latest.”

The request of the petition will now be heard formally at a meeting of Full Council on Thursday, January 31, after the number of signatories received exceeded 1500, the threshold required to trigger a debate in the council chamber.

Green Party Campaigns Coordinator Sarah Nicolls who will present the petition said: “I, and thousands of residents across the city are tired of waking up after major events – which are otherwise brilliant – to find our beloved parks, streets and beaches strewn with plastic that’s been used for all of 30 seconds and then thrown away.

“We want to end the use of Single-Use Plastics altogether, with the exception of a limited number of items which will be required to support the inclusion of people with particular disabilities.

“As the landlord and license-granting body, the Council have the right to stipulate requirements. We also believe it is the Council’s role to support the leaders, like Paddle Round the Pier and crack down on the laggards, who leave our beach looking like a plastic apocalypse”.

The petition coincides with the council’s consultation on outdoor events which asks for residents input on how to improve the Brighton and Hove’s programme of events and in particular focuses on the economic, social and environmental impact on the city.

A spokesperson for Brighton & Hove Pride who run one of the city’s biggest events said: “We are working on a three year sustainability plan which includes initiatives such as reusable cups on the Pride festival sites and encouraging venues within the Pride Village Party footprint to adopt them to. We will be engaging with and encouraging all local businesses to join us in a city wide initiative on sustainability and the reduction of single use plastics. We will be releasing more details on this and targets of the 3 year plan shortly.”

To complete the petition, click here:

Moving on!

Posted on 30/01/201922/01/2019 by Besi

The Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen waved goodbye to two popular members of their staff team last month.

Miguel and his girlfriend Angel returned home to Toledo Spain to start new careers training as school teachers.

They had both worked at the Amsterdam for the last 2 years and were very popular with customers, staff and management alike. Last year, Miguel a manager in the bar, raised £700 for the Sussex Beacon when he ran in the Brighton Half Marathon.

Tony, Peter and Neil, business partners at the Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen said: “We are very sad to see Angel and Miguel leave us and go back to Spain. They were a popular and important part of our team here at the Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen. Their aim long-term is to become school teachers. However, in Spain when you apply you have to be ready to start straight away otherwise they offer any posts to the next person on the list. So they have gone home to register with the relevant authority and then will probably take casual work while they wait their turn. They will definitely be missed by us all and we wish them both all the success in the world!”

Government commit to ending new HIV transmissions in England by 2030

Posted on 30/01/201930/01/2019 by Besi

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP, will today announce the Governments commitment to reach zero new HIV transmission in England by 2030.

THE announcement will be made at the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), Evening Standard and Independent’s AIDSfree Cities Global Forum summit taking place in Mayfair, London.

Mr Hancock is due to say: “So today we’re setting a new goal: eradicating HIV transmission in England by 2030. No new infections within the next decade. Becoming one of the first countries to reach the UN zero infections target by 2030.”

The Department for Health & Social Care has confirmed that an expert group will now be established to develop an action plan over the course of this year. They have said that prevention will be at the heart of this commitment, alongside measurable action points for each group who are at risk of infection, including gay and bisexual men, Black African and minority ethnic (BAME) groups and for all other heterosexuals, and extensive monitoring of progress.

This news follows the UK meeting the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets in November 2018, ahead of the 2020 deadline, with 92% of people living with HIV diagnosed; 98% of those on treatment; and 97% of those have an undetectable viral load, which means they can’t pass on HIV.

Ian Green, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust said: “Today’s commitment is a seminal moment in the fight to end new HIV transmissions in England. In becoming one of the first nations to make such a commitment, the Government has shown decisive leadership on HIV and we applaud them for making this pledge.

“We now have the tools to end HIV transmissions. Through regular HIV testing, condom use, access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), prevention information and advice, and effective treatment which means people living with HIV cannot pass on the virus, we can stop HIV in its tracks. That’s why Terrence Higgins Trust has been vocal in our call for this ambitious but achievable commitment.

“For England to reach zero new HIV transmissions, the Department for Health & Social Care, Public Health England, alongside local authorities, must now urgently work in collaboration to address some of the most pressing HIV issues. These include stepping up HIV testing to ensure the 8,000 people who remain undiagnosed can get onto treatment, immediately adding more places to the PrEP trial and ensuring sexual health services are properly funded. Without these actions, this commitment simply won’t be achievable.

“The clock has now started ticking towards the end of HIV transmissions in England. Today’s commitment demonstrates that the Government has listened to our demand for a bold vision on HIV. Now it must act upon our call to ensure services and interventions are urgently put in place to ensure that by 2030 this pledge is made a reality.”

Deborah Gold, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust) said: “As the Government makes this welcome and important step to formally commit to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, action must urgently follow.

“Meaningful progress to the 2030 goal will not happen whilst sexual health services creak at the seams due to continued underinvestment in public health. People are unable to access the HIV prevention drug PrEP and are now going on to acquire HIV.

“Matt Hancock must act quickly and decisively to ensure that public health is adequately funded and PrEP available to all who need it in England. We look forward to working with him and others on plans to achieve elimination of HIV.”

Call us now

Day: January 30, 2019

Choir offers free places for young people across the city

Many under 35’s in Brighton and Hove are facing the toughest conditions to live and work in the city for many years.

PREVIEW: Hancock’s Half Hour @Theatre Royal

Apollo Theatre Company presents the first ever major UK tour of the classic radio comedy.

Greens push for ‘Plastic Free Events’ in Brighton and Hove

Green Party petition signed by 3,495 people calls for Plastic-Free Events in Brighton and Hove.

Moving on!

The Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen waved goodbye to two popular members of their staff team last month.

Latest News

Call us now

Many under 35’s in Brighton and Hove are facing the toughest conditions to live and work in the city for many years.

Share this:

Apollo Theatre Company presents the first ever major UK tour of the classic radio comedy.

Share this:

Green Party petition signed by 3,495 people calls for Plastic-Free Events in Brighton and Hove.

Share this:

The Amsterdam Bar and Kitchen waved goodbye to two popular members of their staff team last month.

Share this:

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock MP, will today announce the Governments commitment to reach zero new HIV transmission in England by 2030.

Share this:

Latest News