menu

INTERVIEW: Elijah W Harris chats about his role in Rotterdam

Gscene chats with actor Elijah W Harris who plays the role of Josh, a trans man in the UK tour of Rotterdam which comes to the Theatre Royal, Brighton on Monday, April 8 – Wednesday, April 10.

THE producers felt it was important to work with trans and non-binary actors to bring this very important show about relationships and the process of transitioning to life.

Elijah said: ‘Trans stories told by trans people are vital to the progression of theatre. I grew up in the Midlands and seeing something like Rotterdam when I was younger would have been life changing. I was drawn to the tour for that very reason- to be able to bring this story to people all over the country, challenge perspectives and, more importantly, reach trans and non-binary people who cannot see themselves represented in popular culture. I am thrilled to be playing the part of Josh and so excited to be able to be a visible trans person in the role of the cis-gendered brother!”

ELIJAH, a London based actor and writer works in film and theatre. His acting credits include: And The Rest of Me Floats (The Bush Theatre), Rituals in Romance (Spill Festival), The Butch Monologues (Birmingham Rep, Soho Theatre, WoW Festival), Brand New Boy (Contact Manchester, The Marlborough Theatre), Corpus Christi (The Arcola), Affection (The Glory), and The Poetry We Make (RADA Festival, The Old Red Lion).

He has appeared in three award winning short films: Bleach and Eyelash both directed by Jesse Lewis-Reece and Dusk directed by Jake Graf and has also contributed to Dazed Beauty and Ladybeard Magazine, writing about his experiences as a trans man.

Tell us about Rotterdam: “Rotterdam is a play about a couple navigating their relationship when one of them, Adrian, comes out as a trans man. It is a lot to do with identity and how one’s identity can grow and shift, and the impact that has on those around us.”

What do you hope the audience will take away from the production? “Well I hope they enjoy it! Jon Brittain’s writing is very nuanced but has an everyday feel to it, which makes it so easy to see yourself in the characters and their words, whatever the subject matter. It has definitely made me think about my relationships and how I communicate so I hope it does that for the audience also.

“And of course, I hope that the content plus seeing trans and non-binary people on stage will encourage people to embrace the trans people around them. And allow the LGBTIA+ audience members to feel seen, because it doesn’t happen often enough!”

Rotterdam has had a very successful life in London. How do you think the show will be perceived by audiences around the country? “I am so excited to be touring this show; it often feels like everything happens in London and it is easy for creatives to become London-centric. I am from Leicester and seeing this show growing up would have changed my life, and I am not just saying that. Of course, the internet connects anyone at any time but seeing someone like you, telling a story like yours, in the flesh, in your space? Well there is truly nothing like it.”

Cast of Rotterdam
Cast of Rotterdam

Tell us about you and your story: “I grew up in Leicester and moved to London when I was 18 for university. I never really knew where I fit within society and struggled with my mental health for a long time. I started to understand that I needed to transition at some point along the way, between acting and seemingly endless bar jobs. I began medically transitioning about 3 years ago – transitioning doesn’t solve all of life’s problems but now I walk down the street with a straight back and my eyes up.”

Did you always want to act? “Yes, though I was also really into sports growing up and played pretty much anything I could.

“I remember playing one of Fat Sam’s gang in Bugsy Malone at High School and just feeling like that made a lot of sense. When I moved to London, I got a degree because I thought that was the most sensible Option – I would be able to get a ‘proper job’. I didn’t know anything about drama schools and I certainly didn’t think that I was welcome in a place like that. They can’t teach that confidence or entitlement in state schools that private education seems to create. You are automatically on the back foot, feeling like an intruder somehow.”

Any advice for budding actors? “Be kind to yourself, the industry can be hard and sometimes not very nice, so make up for that by giving yourself time and be patient. Learn to lift yourself up, make your own contacts and create opportunities for yourself.

“If you or your experiences are not represented on stage or TV then create something, be the change, be the person that you needed to see growing up.”

What would you say to encourage people to buy a ticket? “This show has so so so much heart and is a lot of fun. It won’t be like anything else you’ve seen or will see for a while so don’t miss it!

Rotterdam is currently touring the UK.

To book tickets online, click here:

 

Police release film warning about online grooming

Breck’s Last Game, a short film about a 14-year-old boy who was murdered by a man he met on a gaming site, is now available online this week.

THE film was made to raise awareness of online grooming and carries an important message – do you really know who your online friends are?

It was provided to schools across Surrey from September last year as part of a wider resource pack and has already been shown to children across 66 schools in the county as part of controlled screenings. Many secondary schools will now adopt the resource as part of their yearly curriculum.

The film is at the heart of the latest, multi-agency project to help raise awareness of child exploitation. It was launched in autumn 2018 when the resource pack was sent out to schools to be included in their PSHE lessons, but up until now, only the trailer was available for public viewing.

T/Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said: “All young people have an online life, but many do not appreciate the dangers that come with forming online relationships.  We all have a responsibility to educate ourselves about what to look out for and how to help.  As a police officer, but probably more importantly as a parent, I really hope that this film will promote and provoke us to have conversations at home as well as in the classroom.  Knowing the right questions to ask as a parent or guardian can go a long way to keeping our children safe.

“I am so grateful to the Breck Foundation, to the other police forces involved, and colleagues in education that have put this project together, so that something positive can come from such a terrible tragedy.”

Breck’s Last Game is about Surrey teenager Breck Bednar who was killed by Essex computer engineer Lewis Daynes in 2014.

Daynes ran an online server where Breck, and several of his friends, played games online. It was through this forum that Daynes groomed Breck over 13 months – telling him a series of lies, turning him against family and friends and eventually luring him to his flat on the promise of handing over a fake business.

Through the use of avatars, the film captures the events leading up to Breck’s death and also features the real 999 call made to police by Daynes.

Breck’s mother Lorin LaFave said: “The Breck Foundation are so pleased that thousands of children have already benefited from learning important life lessons through Breck’s story by viewing and engaging in our film Breck’s Last Game at their schools delivered with focussed lesson plans.  

“We are positive with the film going public that millions of young people can also be educated and empowered to realise that they can play an important role in the well-being and safety of themselves and friends by recognising signs of grooming and exploitation and disclosing concerns to a trusted adult, school, police and CEOP. We hope that Breck’s lessons reach far and wide so that children themselves help stop online predators from harming children.”

The project is the work of an innovative collaboration between four police forces – Northamptonshire, Leicestershire Essex and Surrey – and has been made with the active support of Breck’s mother Lorin LaFave, who appears in the film as herself.

The film has been funded by Leicestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Lord Willy Bach, with additional contributions from Northamptonshire, Essex and Surrey police forces, and until now online a short trailer was publicly available.

Breck’s Last Game carries a trigger warning and a notification that, if it were to be screened at a cinema, it would carry a 15 certificate.

 

 

EU Elections: Vote for LGBT+ families

The Network of European LGBTIQ Families Associations (NELFA) launches EU election campaign asking MEP candidates to show support for LGBT+ parents and their children within the next legislature from 2019 to 2024.

The campaign, which aims to advise LGBT+ families of who supports them openly and actively, addresses a series of questions to all MEP candidates within the EU, such as:

  • What legislation will you propose or support in order to give equal rights to LGBT+ families in the EU?
  • What actions are you willing to engage or support to raise awareness of the European Parliament and all of its members on the lack of rights affecting the LGBT+ families and their children?
  • Will you participate or otherwise contribute to the work of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on LGBT+ Rights?
Eleni Maravelia
Eleni Maravelia

Eleni Maravelia, NELFA President, said: “Within the last years, the European Parliament has already raised its voice for rainbow families on different occasions. We appreciate this very much and would like to rely on the backing also in the future.

“For sure, LGBT+ people with children may be a less important group of voters. And family matters may be a nearly exclusive competence of Member States. But the EU must guarantee at least the compliance of national laws with the Fundamental Rights Charter (i.e. non-discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity) and the citizen’s freedom of movement. These are core values for absolutely everyone, regardless of the number of people concerned.”

Björn Sieverding
Björn Sieverding

Björn Sieverding, NELFA Vice President, added: “Currently, we have a legal patchwork situation within the European Union. Until now, rainbow families – children and parents – can lose a lot of their rights only by crossing a border, even their legally established familial ties.

“In our campaign, we confront EU politicians with this reality and ask them to promote a sustainable change. It begins by answering our six questions and could lead to a clear stance for a mutual recognition of the content of civil documents like marriage or birth certificates.”

NELFA is a European platform of LGBT+ families associations, bringing together LGBT+ parents and parents-to-be from all over Europe. NELFA currently represents 34 organisations in 28 European countries with more than 20,000 members.

For more information, view: www.nelfa.org

Extra tickets for ‘Big Dick’ go on sale at The Phil Starr Pavilion box office from noon today

Tickets for The Brighton Alternative Panto, Big Dick and his Pussy will be on sale at the Phil Starr Pavilion Box office from 12 noon on Thursday, April 4.

THE Box Office will be staffed by volunteers from The Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum and tickets can be purchased using debit card or cash.

The Alternative Panto forms part of The B RIGHT ON LGBT+ Community Festival and extra tickets have been released for all performances after the seat capacity of the venue was increased on Monday.

Big Dick! Whittington and his pussy, written by Andrew Stark and directed and staged by Quintin Young stars; Jason Lee as Big Dick Whittington, Dave Lynn as Fairy Vape-Juice, Davina Sparkle as Queen Rat, Lola Lasagne as Alice, Allan Jay as Wicky Woo, Sally Vate as Sarah the Cook, Stephanie Von Clitz as chief Ratling, David Anthony as Alderman Fitz-Tightly and Miss Jason as the Pussy. Mrs Moore will make a special guest appearances on April 5 and 7.

The B RIGHT ON LGBT+ Community Festival celebrates LGBT+ history, lives and culture, 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 located on Victoria Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1WN.

For more information on The B RIGHT ON LGBT+ Community Festival and its other free community events, click here: 

To volunteer or take part in the festival email Colin: admin@lgbt-help.com or pop into the Rainbow Hub at 93 St James’s Street, Brighton, BN2 1TP

X