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Brian Butler previews the winter concerts of Brighton Early Music Festival.

Brian Butler previews four further winter outings for the Brighton Early Music Festival.

Mystery, Transformation and Celebration is the apt title for a Christmas offering from the BREMF Consort, under the direction of Deborah Roberts. It will feature Renaissance vocal music from composers such as Lassus, Victoria, Handel, Gabriela and Bassano . Accompanied by  mulled wine, mince pies and fizz, the concert is at St Paul’s Church, West Street, Brighton on Saturday 7 December.

The following night , PIVA the Renaissance Collective ,  will present A Tudor Yuletide Christmas, featuring period instruments including the shawm, curtal, crumhorn, bagpipes, hurdy gurdy and recorders. Performed by Eric Moulder, Mary Moran, David Jarrett-Knock, Jane Moulder and Tony Millyard, it will be staged at St Martin’s Church, Lewes Road, Brighton.

Finally there are two further opportunities to see the highly entertaining and thought-provoking

Presentation  of the Feast of Fools , which closed the recent BREMF 2019 season. Performed by Performed by the BREMF Consort, BREMF community choir and children from Westdene and Goldstone primary schools along with soloists, it will be at St Mary de Haura, Shoreham on 4 January, 2020 and St Margaret of Antioch, Rottingdean the following night.

Ticket information and bookings on the BREMF website.

DOES YOUR DOG HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN OPERA STAR?

DOES YOUR DOG HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE AN OPERA STAR?

Has your dog got star quality? If your pet pooch is the canine equivalent of Maria Callas or Scarlett Johansson, then they could win a place in the spotlight in the beautiful and romantic opera La Bohème, coming to the Theatre Royal Brighton on Friday 31 January.

Award winning opera director and producer Ellen Kent said: “People say never work with children or animals, but I love to do both. The first time was 20 years ago when my pet cat Holly Go-Lightly was in one of my productions and was an instant hit. Since then we’ve had horses, dogs, goldfish and even a golden eagle with a 6ft wingspan on stage. Many years ago, when we last did La Bohème and asked local people to volunteer their pets it was a huge success. We even used a rescue dog once and found him dozens of new owners! We’re a nation of animal lovers after all. I’m sure there is plenty of doggie talent out there.”

Your pet needs to be well behaved, small, used to people and quiet – and as his owner, you will need to be prepared to go onstage in costume to look after him or her.

To audition your dog, send a photograph to Angela Klappa email is: angela@ellenkent.co.uk. Please include your contact number and address as well as the breed, height, weight, age and name of your dog. If you are successful, we will contact you a week before the performance.

Puccini’s masterpiece, La Bohème, is based on Henri Murger’s novel Scenes de la vie de boheme. Set in Paris, it focuses on the tragic love between seamstress Mimi and penniless poet Rodolfo.

Brighton & Hove Council fly trans flag on Town Hall with statement of unity and support from the city’s Equality & Inclusion Partnership 

Brighton & Hove Council fly trans flag on Town Hall to show unity and support for trans people on Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20) and to mark the cities TNB community remembrance events today.

The council have published a 2019  Statement of Unity and Support:

Statement of unity and support from the city’s Equality & Inclusion Partnership

“Brighton & Hove is recognised as a beacon for Trans and Non-Binary communities and a welcoming city where we are able to be true to ourselves, to live authentically and celebrate the strength that real diversity, respect and community support brings to us as a city.

As a mark of respect for this year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance in the city, the Equality and Inclusion Partnership would like to express our condolences for all those lost to trans violence across the world.

To our trans and non-binary communities we, once again, stand firmly alongside you in marking Trans Day of Remembrance. You are our trans friends, family, colleagues, students, customers, employers, neighbours and children and we work hard to defend your right for full inclusion and trans equality.

We recognise the challenges and increasing hostility directed at trans and non-binary communities and how harmful narratives are attempting to change conversations, policy or the direction of full inclusion and fairness.  We are staunch in our commitment to full equality and the pursuit of a fairer city for all. We are proud to celebrate our city’s diversity and offer support and solidarity.

Everyone deserves to be valued and treated with respect. That is not open to debate. Trans lives are not a debate.

In Brighton & Hove we are proud of our commitment for trans equality.

We welcome you to join us on this important day, to show your respect for those harmed and killed by violence and to work to ensure our communities, all our communities are supported and protected regardless of their identity.”

#ComeOutForTransEquality  #moreincommon

The statement is supported by members of the city’s Equality & Inclusion Partnership – EquIP:

  • Brighton & Hove City Council
  • Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
  • Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust
  • East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service
  • Sussex Police
  • University of Brighton

More information on the council website here

Brighton and Hove council have invited local LGBT community partners and businesses to be part of their Tackling Homeless Strategy

Brighton and Hove Homeless Strategy.

Brighton and Hove council are inviting local LGBT community partners and businesses to be part of their Tackling Homeless Strategy for 2020 to 2025.

Local authorities are required to review and refresh their homelessness and rough sleeping strategies every five years and Brighton & Hove City Council is currently developing a new combined Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy for the next five-year phase.

The council hosts its first consultation meeting on Friday 29 November 2019 at Hove Town Hall and strategy leaders state that the input of LGBT community partners are key to its success and will inform its development.

Homelessness can be devastating for individuals and families. It can have long-term consequences on all aspects of the wellbeing of those impacted by it as well as the wider community. Homelessness is also associated with enormous health inequalities, including shorter life expectancy, higher death rates and greater usage of healthcare services.

Brighton & Hove City Council describe tackling homelessness and rough sleeping as a key priority going forward.

TDOR Transgender Singing Workshop @ Rainbow Hub from Nicky Mitchel

TDOR Transgender Singing Workshop @ Rainbow Hub from 3.30pm Wednesday 20th Nov.

This free 3 singing hour workshop is offered to any member of the Trans or non-binary community, in solidarity in these divisive times by singer and musician Nicky Mitchel. Nicky is a professional singer/musician and compere with over 20 years professional working experience and a founding member and coordinator of the women’s performance tent at Brighton pride, working on it for over 15 years. Nicky is a cis woman who identifies as queer and a lesbian.

The workshop will give you practical advice and insight on how to get the best from yourself in any given performance situation. Including;

  • microphone technique
  • good delivery
  • sound checking and dealing with sound engineers
  • deciding where to perform
  • pre and post gig routines
  • pitfalls
  • adapting to and understanding performance space
  • audiences

Full workshop details here:

Nicky said ” I came out when I was 19. I Moved to Brighton when I was 20. In Brighton I found a huge very welcoming extended family. It’s arms have been around me, and mine around it, ever since. Modern experience is very different. I didn’t grow up with social media, computers, mobile phones. I have very little chance of empathising fully with what a LGBTQi+  young person is up against these days but I have experience of rejection of oppression of being persecuted for being different. 

We fight, we argue, but in the end we stand together. I’m L with the T. When the pushing and shoving starts, I’ll be by your side defending the right to define yourself and to express that definition however the hell you choose. Trans lives are not a debate.

At Brighton Pride this year I found myself at The Marlborough dancing to the brilliant tunes of Rachel Potter. I watched Tarik dressed as the gorgeous spirit of what ever the hell we are, swirling and twirling and blessing us all with acceptance and delight. I remembered I am a part of this family I need to come home and I need to contribute. I’ve been a professional musician for 30 years I teach performance in a practical grounded way and I offer the skills for free to any member of the trans-community who may find it of use or interest.

Come along to the Rainbow Hub from 3.30pm Wednesday 20th Nov to join me for this free working, it’s fun, engaging and you’ll learn something, i promise. You will need a prepared piece of no longer than 5 minutes, a notebook and/or recording device, should you wish to record your session. You may wish to perform your piece at the LGBT CSF TDOR event, 20th November 7pm. Dorset Gardens.”

Everyone is welcome to sing at this Community Safety Forum event celebrating Trans lives for TDOR.

The Rainbow Hub on St James St is a local point of contact for LGBT+ people seeking up to date help, information or guidance, in a safe, non-judgemental environment. More info here:

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