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DWP Deaths In Cambridge   

Artist and a former Miss Gscene, Vince Laws, has produced a series of DWP Deaths Make Me Sick shrouds, 14 of which will be on display at Cambridge Junction on Friday 26 and Saturday, April 27, 2019.

THE DWP Deaths Make Me Sick shrouds describe the circumstances of death of named people dealing with the DWP, and give more information about the current hostile environment for disabled people.

For example, the 6 in this photo read from left to right:


Elaine Morrall
Severely depressed, anorexic mother of 4  died alone, one afternoon, in a freezing flat after a Universal Credit cut. Elaine was told being in Intensive Care was not sufficient reason for failing to attend a UC interview. Stop U.C. Alliance – www.suca.org.uk


John Walker 
Saddled with debt due to the bedroom tax.  John took his own life. Dead People Don’t Claim!


Jodey Whiting
Missed a work capability assessment while very ill.  Disability Benefits stopped. She took her own life.

To sign the petition for an Independent Inquiry into Deaths linked to the DWP, click here: 

DWP Deaths Make Me Sick


Victoria Smith 
Suffered agoraphobia + fibromyalgia, in constant pain. PIP re-assessed by Capita. “A pack of lies,” said her mother. Appeal turned down. Condition got worse. Admitted to hospital, where she died of a brain haemorrhage.

A week later a Tribunal decided she was eligible for PIP.

Dead People Don’t Claim – DWP SETS YOU FREE  – 100 Deaths Every Day

While The Tories Lie, Ignore the Facts, & Cover-Up Coroners’ Reports. Dead People Don’t Claim.

For more information, click here:


Karen Sherlock 
Multiple health issues. Found Fit For Work by Atos (now I.A.S.). Denied benefits. Fought long battle for E.S.A.. Got it. Month later died of a heart attack.


The DWP Deaths Make Me Sick shrouds were the backdrop to a live performance called A Very Queer Nazi Faust staged by Laws and 13 Norfolk based disability rights activists at Norwich Arts Centre in September 2018.

A Very Queer Nazi Faust was commissioned and supported by Unlimited, celebrating the work of disabled artists, with funding from Spirit of 2012.

In it, poet John Faust is suicidal. His benefits have been stopped without warning, the bailiffs are due to evict him, his dog is in the vets dying, his car needs a new clutch, and he can’t finish his poetic masterpiece while the voices inside his head torment him.

In despair, he throws himself off Beeston Bump, Norfolk’s highest peak, clutching ‘The Tragic True Life & Deserved Death of a Benefit Scrounger by Himself’, but Lucifer won’t let John drown because she loves his work and wants a bigger part.

To listen to the podcast free click here:

To view the DWP Deaths Make Me Sick FACEBOOK page, click here:

Vince Laws
Vince Laws

Images of the 25 shrouds made so far are on the page, with the text printed under them. The shrouds will be on display around the UK in 2019.

“I want to get them seen,” said Laws. “I feel the need to carry on screaming about the human rights abuses of this current Tory government. The shrouds are actually quite painful to make. I take breaks. They are very sad. But also very powerful because they are the truth.”

If you want to display some shrouds email Vince Laws at vincelaws@gmail.com

Vince Laws’ DWP Deaths Make Me Sick can be seen at Cambridge Junction on April 26 and 27 April as part of I’m Here, Where Are You?, a new arts festival celebrating disabled artists across theatre, comedy, dance and visual art.

For more information, click here:

To view the DWP Deaths Make Me Sick FACEBOOK page, click here:

A life in cabaret: Legends celebrates Brighton’s own legend Maisie Trollette

Legends will host a very special event, A Life in Cabaret, on, Sunday, April 28 celebrating the 50 Year Golden Jubilee of the Grande Dame of cabaret David Raven, aka Maisie Trollette.

Photo: Hugo Michiels

MISS Jason, Jennie Castell, Lola Lasagne, JP Christian, Davina Sparkle, Jason Price, Krissie DuCann, and The WestEnders with Jae Alexander will be joined by many surprise guests including Jimmy Trollette, reuniting the original Trollettes for one day, to celebrate the support David Raven has given to Brighton & Hove’s LGBT+ communities and organisations, including the Sussex Beacon which over the years David has personally helped raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for.

To get the fundraising off to a great start, owner of Legends Tony Chapman is making a personal gift of £2,500 to thank David for all his performances to audiences at Revenge and Legends over the last 25 years and all his fundraising for LGBT+ organisations not only in the city but all over the country.

Customers will be asked to dig deep and put money in the buckets which will be donated to the Sussex Beacon.

David said: “I would like to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who has organised this fabulous day for me especially all the artists who are appearing. It is wonderful to be surrounded by lovely people not only on stage but also behind the scenes. It means so much to me.”

The entertainment kicks off at around 3.30pm and will continue late into the evening. All artists appearing are confirmed subject to availability

Lola Lasagne: 3:45 – 4:15pm
Davina Sparkle: 4:15-4:45pm
Miss Jason: 4:45-5:15pm

BREAK 6:00-6:25pm

J.P. Christian: 6:25-6:50pm
Krissie Ducann: 6:50-7:15pm
Peter Stanford: 7:15-7:45pm
WestEnders: (Jae Alexander and co) 7.45pm

BREAK 8:00-8:25pm

Jason Prince: 8:25-8:50pm
Pooh la May: 8:50-9:15pm
Dave Lynn: 9:15-10:00pm

Maisie and Jimmy Trollette Maisie will appear throughout the day with special surprise guests, singing and sharing stories. There will also be one or two other ‘surprise’ moments.


Event: Maisie Trollette celebrates A Life in Cabaret

Where: Legends, 31-34 Marine Parade, Brighton

When: Sunday, April 28

Time: From 3.30pm

Cost: Entry free please make donations for Sussex Beacon into buckets and shakers on the day.

TODAY: Traditional Easter Bonnet Parade to raise money for Rainbow Fund

The Bedford Tavern and Grosvenor Bar will once again host Brighton’s annual Easter Bonnet Parade and Drag Races today, Easter Sunday (April 21).

The fun packed day kicks off at noon when Western Street will be closed to traffic and the street party begins.

The traditional Easter Bonnet Parade commences at 2pm where everyone, young and old is encouraged to create a fabulous Easter hat to parade down Western Street before being judged and prizes awarded.

Following on from the parade are the now infamous Drag Races. A gaggle of Drag Queens and Drag Kings will compete against one another in a series of races throughout the afternoon before the final races will see the overall winners being crowned.

To keep things interesting ‘bets’ can be placed throughout the day and should your runner win the final race you can win one of the amazing prizes on offer.

JB’s piano sing-a-long at 5pm leads on to the carnage of The Bedford’s weekly dose of Piano Bingo followed by a fun-filled evening of cabaret.

This fantastic (rather bonkers) community event brings people together raising much-needed funds for The Rainbow Fund, a charity who give grants to local LGBT/HIV groups providing effective services to LGBT+ people in the city.

Registration is now open for Drag Race runners. Anyone over the age of 18 can apply to take part. Contact Adam at The Bedford on facebook to take part in the races or email: ad4mbrooks@gmail.com

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