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Month: July 2019

PREVIEW: King’s Head Theatre presents Robert Chesley’s Jerker

Posted on by Besi

A pornographic elegy, returns to London for the first time in 29 years from October 30 to November 23, 2019.

ROBERT Chesley’s play Jerker, or The Helping Hand returns to London for the first time in 29 years in a new production at the King’s Head Theatre, directed by Ben Anderson.

Co-produced by Making Productions, this show will run between October 30 and November 23, 2019. Casting has yet to be announced.

Jerker is a pornographic elegy with redeeming social value and a hymn to the queer men of San Francisco in twenty telephone calls, many of them dirty.

It has been described as “one of the most important pieces of gay theatre ever created” (Los Angeles Times). It also has the dubious reputation of triggering stricter broadcast indecency guidelines in the US, after excerpts of the play were aired on KPFK Pacific Radio in Los Angeles in 1986.

The one and only previous staging of Jerker in London, was directed by Stephen Daldry at the Gate Theatre in 1990.

As the AIDS epidemic intensifies in the early 80’s, Bert and J.R. begin having phone sex. They’ve never met, never seen each other and never touched, but together, they explore their wildest fantasies and the contours of their lonely souls. By turns erotic and tender, this intimate two-hander will leave you breathless before breaking your heart.

In addition to its erotic nature, Jerker embodies a deeper social importance. It reflects one of the worst periods in gay history, where the stigma of AIDS hung over the gay community, heightening public prejudice. The fear and silence around this subject was broken by a new wave of plays that began to emerge on the topic, acknowledging the crisis, humanising lives and encouraging the need for a personal response.

In Robert Chesley’s script notes, he writes: “I can only hope that Jerker has done and will continue to do some good, with its message of pride in gay identity and honesty about sex.”

Director Ben Anderson said: “Robert Chesley’s play places itself at the height of the AIDS crisis and in conversation with other, well-known plays about the period – Angels in America, The Normal Heart, As Is. Yet these poignant moments that root it in history, also make it strikingly resonant today. The focus on two men in their most private spaces allows for an honest and open embrace of gay sexuality that remains as surprising as it is joyful. Exploring their emotional intimacy, as they form a connection and learn to be themselves, Chesley’s combination of comedy and heart-breaking tragedy makes this a timely and fascinating piece to revive.”

Adam Spreadbury-Maher
Adam Spreadbury-Maher

Adam Spreadbury-Maher, Artistic Director of King’s Head Theatre added: “We’re delighted to be staging Robert Chesley’s beautiful and important play. Jerker exposes the inhumane response to the AIDS crisis from the government of the day, and the shackles of confinement that are thrust upon these men. We must not forget this happened. Lest this play be lost to the annals of history, we have a responsibility to stage it. The themes of isolation are particularly relevant today in our world of digital addiction.”

“I’m proud to introduce Ben Anderson to London audiences. He’s a very exciting young director who’s just as comfortable working with some of the finest opera directors as he is in a damp tunnel at the Vaults.”

This is Ben Anderson’s graduate show from the King’s Head Theatre’s award-winning Trainee Director’s Scheme, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. This part time programme is designed for young directors to increase their experience and develop their craft, through producing and technical skills as well as directing experience.

Graduates of the scheme include Katie Mitchell and Michael Longhurst. The Directing Programme was created in 1994. In 2002 the Programme won the Queen’s Jubilee Award in recognition of its unique value, for contribution to the arts and pursuit of Excellence, presented by HM Queen Elizabeth II, Lord Attenborough and Richard Eyre.

Event: King’s Head Theatre and Making Productions present: Jerker by Robert Chesley

Where: King’s Head Theatre,

When: Wednesday October 30 – Saturday, November 23, 2019

Cost: £10

To book tickets online, click here:

REVIEW: Oklahoma @Chichester Festival Theatre

Posted on by Besi

In the darkest days of World War II, theatre audiences experienced two magical musicals that still endure over 70 years later.

IN 1942 came the joyful escapism of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. And a year later, they got the first collaboration by Rogers and Hammerstein- the frontier Wild West show Oklahoma.

Set in 1906 when Oklahoma was in ‘Indian territory’ before it became a State of the Union, Jeremy Sams’ production has heavy topical relevance – the sense of “belonging” amongst disadvantaged poor Americans, the mistrust, hatred and racism towards “outsiders” and a kind of gun-toting frontier law enforcement which comes out right in the story – but only just.

Sams has given it added edge by casting actors of colour in three of the leads – Amara Okereke as the love-lorn Lauren, Emmanuel Kojo as the tormented, lonely Jud Fry, and Scott Karim as the Persian pedlars Ali Hakim. The blatant prejudice of the other characters towards Jud is only partially justified by his behaviour and he is no doubt a nasty piece of work, but the sarcastic racist mocking of him by the otherwise nice-guy Curly is shocking.

Central to the storyline is the strong-willed, jovial matriarch Aunt Eller, toting guns and rifles and generally interfering in the course of true love. Josie Lawrence plays it with great gusto and is full-throated in her few singing sections.

Chichester this season seems to have settled on shows with feisty, independent women and there are at least three of them in this show – Aunt Eller, Lauren and the nymphomaniac Ado Annie, played delightfully squeakily by Bronte Barbe.

Singing is superb throughout, and Hyoie O’ Grady plays Curly with a light pleasantness that is very endearing. His voice is pure and clear, and Amara as Lauren soars high above the rest with an easy but powerful voice.

Choreographer Matt Cole gets the best out of his ensemble, with energetic, balletic movements, which owe a great deal to the original 1940’s choreography of Agnes de Mille.

The mood for the show is set with the opening few notes of Oh What a Beautiful Morning, as Curly slides open the huge barn doors at the back of the spacious open set and lets golden dawn sunlight in.

Musical director Nigel Lilley produces a lush and rich sound from his musicians and the balance between voice and accompaniment is always peerless.

If some of the themes seem dated and awkward to us, Sams’ young cast pack a heavyweight punch throughout that makes us forget .

I predict it will follow other Chichester musicals into a well-deserved West End slot. It’s a 5 – star summertime hit.

Oklahoma runs at the Chichester Festival Theatre until September 7.

Review by Brian Butler

FILM REVIEW: Dust directed by Joren Molter

Posted on by Brian Butler

Made for Dutch TV, Dust is a strange, haunting tale of boys and girls coming of age in a bleak and desolate rural landscape.

WHEN it seems inevitable that Alko’s first kiss will be with fellow girl worker Marie, he realises he better practice, but on whom? What starts as an innocent friendly encounter with his best mate Bjorn turns into an embarrassing series of episodes of self-loathing, anger, guilt and recrimination.

It’s clear that Bjorn is attracted to Alko, but Alko becomes less and less sure and when Marie finds out about the boys’ kiss, it sparks unrest that spreads among the other farm-working boys.

The film – though only 40 minutes seem much longer because of its languid slow pace, and dim light and sepia tints render it more moody than atmospheric.

Henk-Jan Doornbosch captures the innocent moodiness of Alko, with long, slow mournful stares at everyone around him. Liam Feiken as Bjorn is more boyish but his character is not really developed.

The story needs more development and depth in my view and we know tantalisingly little about the boys’ background and upbringing.

It’s a kind of prototype for a modern-day Lord of the Flies and I can see the storyline being further developed as the characters are intriguing and interesting.

Dust, directed by Joren Molter, and distributed by NQV Media.

Review by Brian Butler.

Campaign calls on BA to stop deportations on 100th birthday

Posted on by Besi

Activists, celebrities and politicians call on British Airways to stop deporting migrants on the airline’s 100th birthday.

TO celebrate their 100th birthday, British Airways are running a huge advertising campaign, including 100 ‘love-letters’ to Britain from staff, celebrities, and the public.

To mark the centenary, Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants have assembled their own 100 letters campaign, addressed to BA instead, calling on them to stop deportations. These letters showcase other voices including migrant groups, Baroness (Ruth) Lister of Burtersett, novelist Sebastian Barry, comedian Francesca Martinez, Derry Girls star Siobhán McSweeney, and a former BA staff member, call on BA to end all involuntary deportations on their flights as part of a campaign by Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants.

Eric, a member of African Rainbow Family, writes: “Happy 100th birthday, British Airways. We do appreciate the support you give to the LGBTQ communities but we do appreciate if you could do more, for example, stop the deportation of asylum seekers.”

Members of Survivors Speak Out write: “People are escaping fire in their country of origin to seek safety but, unfortunately they are being sent back to die from the same fire by the UK Home Office with the complicity of British Airways.”

Baroness Lister
Baroness Lister

Baroness (Ruth) Lister of Burtersett CBE, FBA, writes: “The case against forced deportation rests not just on the harmful end result but also on the process of deportation which is all too often dehumanising and can be distressing not just for those being deported but also for other passengers having to witness how they are being treated. I hope that BA will now follow the example of Virgin and refuse to undertake involuntary deportation on behalf of the UK Government.” 

Charlotte writes: “Before this [campaign], I did not know you facilitated deportations. I have travelled with you before, and enjoyed the experience, but I cannot in good conscience do this again for as long as you support this unjust practice.”

In 2017, activists from LGSMigrants and other groups made headlines by grounding a charter deportation flight from Stansted airport. The government continues to charter planes specifically to deport groups of vulnerable migrants, but also deports individuals on commercial passenger flights through contracts with airlines including British Airways who have been responsible for carrying countless deportees. Several years ago, an Angolan passenger, Jimmy Mubenga, died on one such deportation flight carried out by BA.

After pressure from LGSMigrants and others, Virgin Atlantic cancelled their contract for deportations with the Home Office. Now the group are calling on British Airways and other airlines to follow suit.

Sam Björn, a spokesperson for LGSMigrants, says: “We don’t know what British values BA think they are celebrating with this centenary campaign, but we won’t let them whitewash their legacy of supporting the racist hostile environment and enabling the Windrush scandal by claiming to embody them.” 

LGSMigrants are calling on the public to tweet British Airways with #DearBA asking them to end their deportation contracts.

Twenty Five letters have been published on www.lgsmigrants.com and more will be released every week in the run-up to BA’s 100th birthday in August.

With this letter campaign, LGSMigrants are increasing the pressure on BA, following a series of actions including an ad hack on the London Underground, a Tinder bot placed at airports and the disruption of an Airlines UK industry dinner.

Councillors vote to preserve their parking perks once again

Posted on by Besi

Removing subsidised parking for councillors would save council money and encourage public transport use, say the Greens.

GREEN proposals to end a car parking pass perk for city councillors were rejected for a second time at a meeting of Full Council yesterday (July 25).

Greens had called on the council to abolish free parking for councillors in Norton Road and the Lanes as part of the budget in February 2019, a move that was estimated to release £38k back into the council’s budget. The Green proposals were supported at the time by Labour Councillors.

However, a more recent request from Greens that a subsidy for councillor car parking be removed was voted down by Labour and Conservative Councillors during a meeting of Policy, Resources and Growth and Full Council today (July 25).

Instead it was recommended that councillors should receive a subsidy for car parking passes, with members making a small contribution towards the car park pass.

Cllr Steve Davis
Cllr Steve Davis

Green Councillor Steve Davis, who called on Full Council to remove the car park pass, said: “It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t come together and agree on something that would have been of benefit to the environment and to our local community, who will be dismayed to learn these outdated perks for councillors have been retained.

“We know that many councillors may choose to drive to meetings – all we ask is that they pay their way, like members of the public are expected to do. Councillors do have the option to take the bus and we were hoping to set processes in place that encourage the uptake of more sustainable forms of transport. It’s a shame that councillors from both the Labour and Conservative group have voted instead to preserve parking perks.” 

 

Brighton Tavern supports The Brighton Rainbow Fund

Posted on by Besi

Brighton Tavern raise £335 for The Brighton Rainbow Fund to distribute in their September grants round to local LGBT+/HIV organisations.

PAUL Murray (second from right) assistant manager at Brighton Tavern in the North Laines, receives a certificate of thanks from The Brighton Rainbow Fund for raising £335 at Sheriff Ford’s annual Hoedown at the end of May.

The Brighton Rainbow Fund give grants to local LGBT/HIV groups who deliver effective front line services to LGBT+ people in the city.

The Masks of Gender podcast – with Persia West

Posted on by Besi

The Masks of Gender podcast gives voice to wisdom that may not normally be heard.

THe podcast consists of wide ranging conversations with activist Persia West. They go deep with a range of remarkable people into belonging, power, the nature of identity, freedom, race, sexuality, LGBT+ and more.

Persia West
Persia West

The first season has 18 easy to access episodes to stream or download; something for everyone. For example; a gay Indian man, in Kolkata, and his take on the theatre of the world; a trans Christian priest and the spiritual heart; a powerful intersex activist on gendered; a feminine woman manager in the tech masculine world, ….on it goes.

It’s all about becoming free of the constraints that our Masks of Gender impose on us, and, with the wisdom of our peers, to become more of who we are and less of who we’re not, in equality and respect.

A recent comment about the Podcast said; more interesting than almost anything on the BBC.

To listen click here:

Council Leader signs letter to Boris Johnson calling for more funding for councils

Posted on by Besi

Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, Cllr Nancy Platts, has joined with other Labour Leaders from across England and Wales to call on Boris Johnson, the new Prime Minister, to end Tory cuts to local government.

Leader Brighton & Hove City Council, Cllr Nancy Platts
Leader Brighton & Hove City Council, Cllr Nancy Platts

TORY cuts mean councils have lost 60p out of every £1 that the last Labour Government was spending on local government in 2010.

Pressures on councils are increasing – adult social care is crumbling, more children are being taken into care than ever before, and there is a dire shortage of council housing.

Hard-working council staff who deliver services have lost the equivalent of £1 out of every £5 they earned before, and are now the lowest paid in the public sector.

The letter has been signed by over 100 Labour Council Leaders from England and Wales and it calls on the new Prime Minister to immediately invest £2bn in children’s services and £2bn in adult social care, reverse the changes to the council funding formula that have forced the biggest cuts on the most deprived areas, and pledge to use the Spending Review to restore council funding to 2010 levels over the next four years.

Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council Cllr Nancy Platts said: “This letter has my full support. Along with other Labour Council Leaders I am calling on the new Prime Minister to immediately invest £2bn into children’s services and £2bn into adult social care, as well as using the upcoming Spending Review to restore funding to local government to 2010 levels over the next four years.”

“We are delivering a powerful message to the Prime Minister and Chancellor that councils simply cannot take any more cuts. Further cuts to local government by central government will mean that there will be devastating effects for children at risk and many vulnerable people, as well as on community services up and down the country.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Prime Minister Boris Johnson

The letter to the Prime Minister reads:

Dear Prime Minister,

“As Labour council leaders we run councils that millions of citizens rely on to deliver good quality public services – protecting vulnerable children and older people, keeping streets clean, and running much-loved parks and libraries.

“But since 2010 our funding from government has been cut by more than 60p in every £1 we previously received, and many council budgets have now reached breaking point. Hundreds of thousands of hard-working council staff who deliver our services have lost the equivalent of £1 of every £5 they earned before, and are now the lowest paid in the public sector. Adult social care is crumbling, more children are being taken into care than ever before, and there is a dire shortage of council housing. In each of the last few years the only response from the government has been to produce sticking plasters – small short-term pots of money designed merely to paper over the cracks for another year. This can’t go on.

“In your campaign to become our new Prime Minister you claimed that you would bring our country together. There is no better way for you to prove that this was more than empty rhetoric than by truly ending austerity in local government. No more sticking plasters – we need a serious long term re-investment to ensure a sustainable future for councils.

Therefore as Labour Council leaders we are calling on you to:

♦ Immediately invest £2bn in children’s services and £2bn in adult social care to stop these vital emergency services from collapsing

♦ Reverse the changes to the council funding formula that have forced the biggest cuts on to councils in the most deprived areas

♦ Pledge to use the Spending Review to restore council funding to 2010 levels over the next four years

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this with you.”

Writing competition exclusively for trans/non-binary young people

Posted on by Besi

The Proud Trust launches Transcriptions – the first writing competition exclusively for 11-19 year old trans/non-binary young people.

THIS summer, The Proud Trust is encouraging young writing stars of the future to put pen to paper and enter its new Transcriptions writing competition for trans/non-binary 11-19 year olds, with the chance to get their work published and win a share of a £400 cash prize.

The LGBT+ charity hopes to capture young imaginations and encourage thinking about bigger issues, whilst developing writing abilities across the nation. Their new Transcriptions competition runs from July 22 and closes on October 31, 2019 and every young person that enters will receive a certificate to celebrate their work.

The winners will be announced by November 30, 2019 and will get their work published, plus a share of a £400 cash prize.  This is the first competition of its kind to be solely for trans-non binary young people, demonstrating The Proud Trusts commitment to supporting this important group. Youth work remains the largest area of activity for the charity and is the reason they were founded over 12 years ago.

The all trans judging panel who have the difficult job of considering all entries are Rapper Nate Ethan, Christine Burns MBE and British Anglican priest, poet and feminist theologian, Rev Rachel Mann.

Rapper Nate Ethan Watson is a year into his own journey and transition from female to male. Previously known as N’Chyx, the rapper and lyricist has spent a decade in the industry and performed with the likes of D Double E and Tim Westwood. Nate is noted as one of only a few LGBT and trans performers in diverse/versatile rap and is a previous BBC 16 bar champion. He has just released his first single, Like It or Not.

Fellow judge, Christine Burns, MBE is a British political activist best known for her work with Press For Change and was awarded an MBE in 2005 in recognition of her work representing transgender people.

The rules of the competition are simple. All entries must be 500 words maximum and entrants must be trans and/or non-binary between the ages of 11 and 19 years of age to enter.  Aside from this, anything goes for writers. They can create a story, a poem, song or rap lyrics, non-fiction prose…whatever gets their creativity flowing.

For details of how to enter and the competition rules click here: 

The Proud Trust is the UK’s largest LGBT+ youth charity. It was founded in 2005 as LGBT Youth North West by Sally Carr MBE.  It provides life-saving and life-enhancing support to help empower young people to make a positive change for themselves and their communities through youth groups, peer support, training and events at its Manchester LGBT Centre, as well as delivering UK-wide campaigns such as Transcriptions, undertaking research and creating resources for LGBT+ young people who need it.

Amelia Lee, Strategic Director of The Proud Trust said: “We’ve very excited about our Transcriptions competition and can’t wait to inspire the next generation of writing stars and celebrate their talents.

“The long school and college summer holiday is an ideal time to get creative and find new interests and inspiration to keep up reading and spelling skills and avoid the usual summer slide before returning in the Autumn.”

GMB Union suspend strike action during Brighton Pride

Posted on by Besi

GMB Union agrees to suspend planned industrial strike action following agreement for excluded rep to return to work at Hollingdean Cityclean Depot.

GMB have today suspended current strike action notices issued to Brighton and Hove City Council, for industrial action for the period commencing July 29, through to August 6 which would have affected waste and rubbish collection across the city severely affecting Brighton Pride’s finances.

The Union say their decision is as “a sign of good faith”, in light of an agreement by the council to revoke the continued “unfair” exclusion of a GMB Union Representative, Dave Russell, from his workplace at the Hollingdean Cityclean Depot.

The Union claim Mr Russel has been at the centre of anti-trade union behaviour from some council officers.

The full series of one day strikes and ban on overtime, which would have coincided with the City’s Pride festival has now been put on hold. Residents and visitors will now see operatives from Street cleansing, Refuse and Recycling departments not only out keeping Brighton & Hove free from rubbish as normal, but also providing the City with extensive and professional clean up services following the main Pride parade, events and the weekends increased visitor numbers.

Mark Turner
Mark Turner

Mark Turner, GMB B50 Branch secretary said: “The negotiated agreement to return our representative to his workplace and the response that we have been able to suspend the threat of industrial action over the coming weeks has been welcomed by our union’s membership and staff at the Cityclean depot. Especially in that this result comes about despite the Chief Exec’s involvement and not because of it!

“There are still a number of worrying and serious issues in need of addressing, and I’m sure the Brighton & Hove City Councils management team will think so as well. However, with both further meetings over the coming weeks planned and the commencement of the any agreed independent review we hope that matters might now take a turn for the better and flush out those opposed to a good industrial relationship within the paid service with regard to the GMB union.

“This was, to be clear, never about seeking to single out and affecting the City’s Pride celebrations, and our members and their families are looking forward to attending and taking part in both the parade and festivities over the weekend just like thousands of others.

“The power to resolve the issue was always firstly in the hands of the council, they’ve taken that step and we have equally responded, they just now need to follow up on that commitment. Let’s hope they do!”

Gary Palmer
Gary Palmer

Gary Palmer, GMB Regional Organiser added: “It’s certainly too early yet to think this dispute is completely over and there are still red lines as far as the GMB are concerned outstanding along with the need to understand and address the reason behind the potential anti-trade union behaviour against the GMB from within the council organisation by some officers led by CEO Geoff Raw.

“The planned independent review which GMB hope is to look into matters such as the CEO’s offer to affect the outcome of a disciplinary hearing, in exchange for the permanent exclusion of a GMB rep from the depot, and his part in the farce around the near loss of the City’s operator licence will, the GMB hope, support our serious concerns which we feel warrants intervention by all of the City’s political leadership in the fact the CEO has acted unprofessionally and at times been in dereliction of his duties as leader of the paid service in Brighton.

“However, the tentative agreement to return our Rep to the depot by the Council’s officers, which we will monitor closely over the coming weeks to ensure that the CEO doesn’t once again change his mind and seek to re-introduce any exclusion, did, the GMB felt, warrant an immediate suspension of the possible threat of industrial action in good faith.

“Members will be providing the usual excellent service on behalf of the council and look to clean up the City over the very busy Pride weekend and beyond, unless Geoff Raw takes up an interfering hand again.

“Perhaps a negotiated settlement is still possible and modifications to working relations both side’s might wish to see, can be implemented meaning industrial relations can change going forward.”

A council spokesperson said: “We welcome the GMB’s decision to suspend strike action and are pleased there will be no disruption to the clean-up of rubbish during and after Pride.

“We look forwarded to continuing the discussions about our relationship with GMB.”

A spokesperson for Brighton & Hove Pride, added: “We are very happy to hear that the proposed GMB Union strike that was planned to coincide with Brighton & Hove Pride has been called off.

“Whilst we always independently manage, facilitate and cleanse all of our official event sites and their immediate surrounding areas; the contingency plans we had in place mean that Pride have booked and paid for additional, enhanced cleaning provision at our own expense and these will remain in operation over the weekend.

“This means there will be increased cleansing on the official Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade, our main fundraising events, Pride in the Park and LoveBN1Fest at Preston Park, Pride Pleasure Gardens on the Old Steine and the Pride Village Party in Kemp Town. We will provide additional bins, litter pickers, road sweeping machines and jet washing for these sites.

“Pride do not run any events on the beach and with numerous, unaffiliated events run by independent businesses across the City; we would like to appeal to all businesses to engage with our City Angels campaign. Pride are also sponsoring a beach clean, working with Oceans 8 Brighton on The Big Pride Beach Clean on Sunday, August 4.

“We have the utmost respect and are grateful for the work Cityclean do over the Pride period – and what is already a busy summer weekend. We look forward to welcoming GMB members and workers from Cityclean on the Brighton & Hove Pride LGBTQ+ Community Parade on Saturday, August 3.”

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