An evening of Burlesque and Vaudeville at The Old Market, Hove.
POP the champagne corks and join Hundred Watt Club for a glittering evening of neo-burlesque, circus, vaudeville and comedy while letting your hair down while you indulge in a heady evening of decadent, vintage inspired entertainment at The Old Market, Hove.
Join your hostess for the evening, the eternally cheeky songbird Gracie as she guides you through a risque and ridiculous night of grown up fun!
Featuring acts from shimmy shakin’,earthquakin’ burlesque whirlwind Havana Hurricane, and gorgeously ridiculous, award-winning comedy from innovator Tracey Collins.
There’ll be neo-striptease antics from chameleonic showgirl Lena Mae Lenman plus more glittering, ridiculous acts to be announced!
Prepare to be seduced and laugh like a drain, in the same breath! It’s going to be naughty, but very, very nice…
Hundred Watt Club employ and embrace adult themes, strong language and partial nudity. It’s not for the faint hearted or easily offended! No refunds if the show is ‘not to your taste’! Over 18s only.
Hundred Watt Club love it when their audiences dress in their vintage finery and red-carpet glamour, but there is no official dress code, if you’re more comfy in jeans and sneakers – wear them!
Central City Media release AFTER 82 via home entertainment on June 20, 2019, previewing in cinemas with events in major cities across the UK.
AFTER 82 brings to the screen the previously undocumented personal stories of the AIDS crisis in the UK. Narrated by Dominic West, Ben Lord and Steve Keeble, this compelling documentary looks back to the very early days of the pandemic when there were no medications available and a positive HIV test meant almost certain death.
Many of those featured have never spoken openly to the media about those traumatic early days, and this may be the only time they will do so.
The film features interviews with the actor Jonathan Blake (portrayed by Dominic West in the BAFTA-winning film Pride) who has lived with the virus for over 30 years. Dr. Rupert Whitaker was still a teenager when he fell in love with Terrence Higgins. The romance was not to last as Terry sadly died from virus complications on July 4, 1982, making him one of the first people to die from an AIDS related illness in the UK. Rupert also discovered that he too was HIV positive and given eighteen months to live, but here he recalls his memories of Terry and life since.
Lord Norman Fowler was part of Margaret Thatcher’s government and is the only man to have changed her mind about the then escalating crisis in the UK. Thanks to his persistence and massive campaign surrounding HIV/AIDS during the 1980s HIV infections started to decline and he is now one of the most respected ministers in the UK and gay community for his supportive work.
Further interviewees, such as the renowned campaigner Peter Tatchell and Lisa Power OBE who co-founded Stonewall, provide testimonies and insight to an era where hysteria from fear spread across the world through lack of knowledge and understanding.
AFTER 82 is a remarkable testament to human compassion, strength, love and resilience and ensures that those voices will never be forgotten.
For more information about Central City Media, click here:
Mary Mac and vocal powerhouse Gabriella Parrish join ex-Collabro star Richard Hadfield at the Golden Handbags on Sunday, June 23 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole.
THE glittering award ceremony will once again this year be hosted and presented by the indomitable Lola Lasagne.
MARY will be jetting in from Lanzerote where she now lives especially for the evening and promises no crowd surfing anywhere near the Mayor’s table. Gabriella Parrish who appeared on a BBC show about Adele impersonators which included, unknown to the contestants Adele herself, returns by popular demand after her stunning debut at the Golden Handbags in 2017 when she won the Golden Handbag for best singer.
Mary and Gabriella will be supporting Richard Hadfield who won Britain’s Got Talent in 2014 with musical theatre vocal group Collabro. Before Richard left the group to pursue a solo career in 2016, Collabro’s first album Stars debuted in the UK album charts at number one and their second album Act Two reached number two. Their first national tour culminated with a sold out headlining show at the London Palladium.
The annual awards celebrating LGBT+ Brighton & Hove takes place in the magnificent surroundings of the Oxford Suite Ballroom at the Brighton Hilton Metropole on Sunday, June 23 at 7.30pm.
Gabriella Parrish
The awards, now in their twenty fourth year, celebrate everything fabulous and supportive about Brighton’s LGBT+ communities while recognising the magnificent work done by volunteers fifty two weeks of the year in LGBT+ Brighton & Hove.
Voting in this year’s awards is now open online at www.gscene.com
All VIP tables have sold out, but individual unreserved tickets on public tables costing £20 are still available from Prowler at 112 St James’s Street, Brighton. Prowler do not charge a booking fee so you need to attend in person at the shop and pay in cash. If you experience difficulties securing a ticket email info@gscene.com
Headline sponsors of the glittering awards this year are Reveries Event Production and Design who are providing the set, stage, lighting design and production on the evening, E3 Events and PSAV®.
Once again this year Security and Event Solutions will provided security personnel for the evening and the tables in the ballroom will be dressed by Billie Lewis Promotions.
Last year, 1,055 young people approached Brighton & Hove City Council for help with their homelessness, which is an increase of 40% over two years. In addition, ‘rough sleeping’ has increased in the City by 929% since 2010.
upset boy against a wall
BRIGHTON-based charity, Sussex Nightstop, has been working to decrease these statistics and, through early intervention, stop the repetitive cycle of youth homelessness by supporting vulnerable young people who are particularly at risk of becoming homeless, especially when a family breakdown is involved. Its summer ‘Sleep Safe’ campaign is particularly poignant at this time of year as, during the summer months, the focus on youth homelessness subsides due to the good weather.
However, the risks to young people are even more prevalent during this time than in the colder months, as they are able to sleep on the beach in the warmer climate, exposing themselves to a great many dangers. Sleeping rough on the beach is unsafe leaving young people open to negative influences such as abuse, potential violence and the behaviour of late-night drunken revellers.
This summer, working alongside its activities to help stop youth homelessness, the Sussex Nightstop team is eager to reach out to and help the ‘Hidden Homeless’ – those young people who sofa-surf at friends or relatives whilst trying to find stable housing or accommodation.
The facts are scary, one in five young people, aged 16 to 25, have sofa-surfed and new UK-wide research from the BBC has found that 41% of young people have stayed with friends on floors or sofas for at least one night and just over 9% did so for over a month. The findings also highlighted that young men are more likely to have sofa surfed than young women with 48% of the 484 men questioned saying they had, compared with 34% of 519 women.
Sofa-surfing, the umbrella term encompassing a number of different living arrangements, is a risky option that many of the City’s young homeless resort to. The perils of sofa-surfing are wide ranging and include exposure to predation, harmful influences such as drugs and alcohol, staying with near or unknown strangers, fatigue due to poor and irregular sleep patterns, weight loss, anxiety, possible abuse, depression, exploitation and grooming.
Through its team of dedicated Volunteer Hosts – who offer their spare room on a night-by-night basis – Sussex Nightstop is providing the young homeless people of Brighton and Hove a safe and secure space from which to work on rectifying their housing issues, helping to remove the worrisome risk of slipping into long-term homelessness or turning to the streets and hazardous rough sleeping.
Nightstop’s Executive Director, Alison Marino said:“The most common reasons for young people resorting to staying at friends and sofa-surfing include parents being unable or unwilling to provide housing, extended family members being unable to help or splitting up with a partner, alongside other contributing factors such as tenancies ending, domestic abuse, rent arrears and leaving care.
“To address this important issue, this year we are focused on our summer ‘Sleep Safe’ campaign which aims to raise £10,000 towards helping the young, vulnerable people of Brighton and Hove. Its underlying message is to highlight and address the veiled problem of youth homelessness and how, through early intervention, those at risk can be supported and steered to a brighter, safer future – breaking the cycle of homelessness. But this campaign is just the tip of the iceberg; we need Brighton and Hove residents, the City’s commercial organisations and the Sussex community as a whole to get behind us to help us achieve our goal of having a safe bed available to those in need every night of the week.”
The number of those sleeping rough in Brighton is a constantly changing population and, unfortunately, statistics show that people sleeping rough die younger, are more likely to get ill and are more defenceless and exposed, so more susceptible to violence.
Rough sleepers are defined for the purpose of the statistics as people sleeping, or bedded down, in the open air, such as on the streets, on the beach, under the Pier, in doorways, parks or bus shelters; or in other places not fit for habitation such as sheds and car parks.
Alison continued:“The ‘Hidden Homeless’ fall under the category of ‘Provisionally Accommodated’ as they are seen as people who live temporarily with others, but without any guarantee of continued residency or any immediate prospects for getting permanent housing.
For example, a young person could be staying in temporary accommodation, but they are not rough sleeping as they have a proper roof over their head at night. Therefore, it is possible to be homeless, but not be rough sleeping.
“When a young person stays with one of our Volunteer Hosts, they can expect their own private bedroom, an evening meal and breakfast, the opportunity to wash dirty laundry, have a bath or shower and we cover the cost of bus tickets to and from the Host’s home where needed. A Befriender can also take the young person to the Host’s home, so any feelings of anxiety or nervousness at meeting new people are removed, they don’t have to do it alone, we’ll be right there with them.”
Sussex Nightstop has matched 3,000 bed nights to 345 young people, trained and supported over 70 households and 90% of the young people who have used the Sussex Nightstop services have gone on to secure safer, more suitable housing.
Cllr John Allcock
Cllr John Allcock (Labour, Goldsmid Ward) said in support of the Sussex Nightstop campaign:“We’re experiencing a national housing crisis and the impact is significant here in Brighton & Hove. We welcome Sussex Nightstop’s campaign highlighting the dangers encountered by those who are rough sleeping, specifically regarding youth homelessness, and to raise awareness of the help available for under 26-year olds facing homelessness across the city.
As a council, we’re working together with a wide range of local organisations to make a positive difference to people in need. The council is committed to work with partners to tackle the housing shortage which is the main cause of homelessness and work towards eliminating the need for rough sleeping.”
To support Sussex Nightstop’s work with a donation, click here:
There’s still time for North East music fans to secure prime viewing spots at one of the UK’s largest free LGBT+ festivals this summer.
Fleur East
NORTHERN Pride Festival returns from July 19 to 21, with a host of big name acts taking to the stage at the Festival Arena, at Newcastle’s Town Moor over the Festival weekend.
And festival-goers can make sure they have the best views of top performers including Fleur East, Saara Aalto and Liberty X, with a limited number of Platinum Passes still available to purchase.
Starting at £29.99 for one day or £39.99 for a weekend, the tickets allow music fans access to a separate marquee, bar and garden area, along with posh toilets.
There is even the chance that ticket holders will be able to mingle with the stars when they go to grab a drink between performances.
Ste Dunn
Ste Dunn, chair of Northern Pride, says the passes are fantastic value for money.“There’s a whole host of things to enjoy for free at the festival but the Platinum Passes are very popular with music fans who want to make sure they can get close to the stage to see their favourite stars,”said Ste.
“There are a number of perks that come with the tickets, including shorter queues for the bars and toilets, and it all goes towards a good cause with the proceeds helping to fund the event and keep it free for future years.”
Also performing over the weekend are singer-songwriter Katherine Ellis, house music group Baby D, pop singer Sonia, former Union J star Jaymi Hensley, UK’s entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, Michael Rice and more.
Photo Rob Chambers
Across from the Town Moor’s Festival Arena, the Community Village will set up at Exhibition Park with the Curious Arts Stage, Rainbow Village and a number of zones including the Family and Youth Zone and the Health and Wellbeing Zone.
Reports says strategy and funding overhaul needed for sexual health system at tipping point.
THE Health and Social Care Select Committee report on sexual health highlights the ongoing funding crisis faced by sexual health services following public health cuts alongside unacceptable standards in service provision caused by a disjointed system, welcomed by NAT (National AIDS Trust).
The Committee has called for a new national strategy for sexual health and states that this must be backed up by clear quality standards and investment.
Deborah Gold
Deborah Gold, Chief Executive at NAT (National AIDS Trust) said: “The current system for delivering sexual health services is broken by its disjointed nature and by chronic underfunding. The result is that local authorities are forced to make impossible choices;, doctors do not have the resources they need and inevitably patients suffer. This is not acceptable. We strongly agree with the Committee that the system must be brought together by shared strategic aims for sexual health. Such a strategy must be monitored through clear standards, shared across the system to hold all those responsible to account.”
“Improved strategy alone will not put the system right. Cuts to the public health grant have had a significant adverse effect on the quality and outcomes of sexual health services. The Committee is right to call on Government to remedy this in the forthcoming Spending Review. Public health is a vital component of the health system and we call on the Government to agree a minimum spend on public health services as a proportion of the NHS budget, instead of treating public health services like a poor relation and an easy target for cuts.”
Prevention Green Paper The Committee calls on the Government to ensure that sexual health prevention forms a core part of the upcoming prevention Green Paper which was announced in a preceding framework document, Prevention is better than cure, in November.
Deborah said:“Given the obvious exclusion of sexual health from the preceding framework for prevention, we are not confident that the Green Paper will deliver what it needs to on sexual health. We are very clear that if sexual health is not a significant component of the prevention Green Paper this will be an abject failure to give sexual health the strategic importance needed.”
On PrEP she said:“The Committee has called for ‘immediate action’ on PrEP, describing access as a ‘postcode lottery.’ We welcome their comment and urge all involved to ensure that all possible spaces on the IMPACT Trial are made available urgently and that routine commissioning of PrEP is expedited.”
Relationships and Sex Education she said:“We entirely agree with the Committee that the Government must take a strong line on participation in Relationships and Sex Education. Too many young people are denied the right to vital information that is essential to their health and wellbeing, now and in the future. It is essential that all young people, including LGBT young people, have access to high quality RSE that is relevant to them.”
The 2019 programme for Brighton Early Music Festival (BREMF) is all about change and changing times.
WITH its theme of Metamorphosis, the Festival will present twenty seven events across Brighton & Hove this autumn, exploring transformation in many intriguing ways.
Deborah Roberts, Artistic Director, says:“The idea of things undergoing transforming change has long fascinated the human race. Our 2019 Festival explores the 2,000-year-old stories in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, as well as musical and social transformation over the centuries. We end the Festival with a re-creation of the medieval Feast of Fools, which reversed all the social hierarchy for a few days and allowed a ‘letting off of steam’ for people living under the control of a feudal system. Our own times are certainly troubled, with society at war with itself, the threat of runaway climate change, and a political system with which many are disillusioned. Our message is musical, and all about bringing people together positively. What better reminder that many of these themes have resonated throughout history?”
Headline events include the first public performance in modern times of Antoine Brumel’s complete Lamentations for Good Friday, recently discovered in a Florentine manuscript and performed by Musica Secreta; a day devoted to J S Bach – from his Musical Offering, through dynamic re-colouring on synthesizers in The Art of Moog, and ending with a ground bass meets jazz clubnight.
The culmination of the Festival is an immersive performance of The Feast of Fools, combining medieval music, street dance, community performers and children from Brighton & Hove schools.
The Festival has long been at the forefront of developing and mentoring young artists, and over half of this year’s events feature current or former members of the Festival’s BREMF Live! young artist scheme.
Bringing a new and often dramatic take on early music, alumnae of the scheme are making illustrious names for themselves on the early music scene. Standout shows of 2019 include Ceruleo’s Burying the Dead – a music theatre piece capturing London transformed by cataclysmic events, as seen through the eyes of Henry Purcell; and Fieri Consort’s play with music exploring the life of celebrated Venetian composer Barbara Strozzi, the 400th anniversary of whose birth falls this year.
Community events include a Highland Dance workshop and Ceilidh; and a wide range of family concerts for toddlers and older children from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Really Classical.
UK LGBT Humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust (PTT) are “appalled” by the anti-LGBT demonstrations being held outside primary schools by religious people, mostly Muslims, who have been protesting about the inclusion of homosexuality in Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) lessons.
THE PTT draws parallels with the Salman Rushdie affair of 1989. “Once again Muslims are protesting about something which many of them haven’t even read. Then it was a novel; now it is the No Outsiders programme or the government’s position on RSE. Again mob rule is winning. Then the author was forced into hiding and those who translated his book physically attacked. Now schools are being forced to change what they teach”.
Shabana Mahmood MP
Birmingham Labour MP, Roger Godsiff, has publicly doubted whether the lessons are “age appropriate”, despite Ofsted’s judgement they are, while another Birmingham Labour MP Shabana Mahmood, defended the protesters who forced Parkfield School to suspend its lessons earlier this year.
Conservative Party leadership candidate, the former work and pensions secretary and MP for Tatton, Esther McVey, when asked about the issue during a TV interview last week said she though any decisions should be left to parents to make.
A spokesperson for PTT said:“RSE programmes which protect LGBT rights and women’s rights are under threat. Muslim intolerance and intransigence is playing out publicly adding more fuel to the culture war between Islamists and anti-Muslim bigots. This episode is undermining the idea that we should live in a cohesive society where human rights are universal.
“The government must resist this growing attempt to undermine RSE education. The government says it defends teachers’ ability to do their jobs in the face of unreasonable pressure. But, the attempt to undermine teaching which acknowledges LGBT people’s existence is a well-coordinated and deeply intimidating campaign which requires a national response. Leaving individual schools to face the wrath of vocal, intolerant, reactionary religious groups is not good enough.”
Yesterday, June 1 Birmingham City Council obtained a temporary High Court injunction banning protestors from the area following several weeks of protests outside Anderton Park Primary School. The council said the situation was “too serious to tolerate” and cited “increasing fears for the safety and well-being of the staff, children and parents of the school when they come back from their half-term break”.
The interim injunction covers the streets immediately surrounding the school and prevents protesters printing or distributing leaflets, inviting others to protest and encouraging people to congregate at the entrance.
Cllr Ian Ward
Leader of Birmingham City Council Councillor Ian Ward said:“I’m pleased that common sense has prevailed because children right across Birmingham should be free to attend school safely and without disruption.
“All our schools must be safe spaces and we will not tolerate the ongoing intimidation of parents, hard-working school staff and local residents.
“We’ll continue to support the school and its staff and I would urge parents to take this opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue with the school about any concerns they may have.”
Damian Hinds MP
Following the High Court injunction, the Education Secretary, Damian Hinds said:“I welcome the High Court’s decision to put this injunction in place.
“It is not right to protest in front of schools – it is frightening to children and disrespectful to hard working teachers.
“This will allow children to return to school and parents to continue peaceful and constructive discussions with staff.
“I support and trust head teachers to make decisions in the interests of their pupils – parents should share their views and concerns, and schools should listen.
“However, what is taught and how is ultimately a decision for schools. Consultation does not mean parents have a veto on curriculum content.
“There is no reason why teaching children about the society that we live in and the different types of loving, healthy relationships that exist cannot be done in a way that respects everyone.”
At Birmingham Pride on May 25 the Parade was led by teacher Andrew Moffat the man behind the No Outsiders educational programme which has resulted in major protests earlier in the year outside Parkfield Community School in Alum Rock.
Nightstop’s Executive Director, Alison Marino said: “The most common reasons for young people resorting to staying at friends and sofa-surfing include parents being unable or unwilling to provide housing, extended family members being unable to help or splitting up with a partner, alongside other contributing factors such as tenancies ending, domestic abuse, rent arrears and leaving care.
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