THEGAYUK

Day: 20 September 2014

  • APP REVIEW: misterbnb

    Come on, have you heard of Airbnb in terms of renting space to stay somewhere fabulous… or at least interesting? It’s a simple way to search for accommodation space in cities around the world.

    Now, take that concept and add in gay landlords and you have misterbnb… a site and app that lets you book accommodation across the globe, safe in the knowledge it’ll have style (I know, a total stereotype!). It also takes the guess work out of a potential host being gay friendly or not?

    The app offers a massive choice of locations and types of homes starting from around 30 euros, a choice of 65 countries (and growing) on the go and mirrors the sites offerings. Fancy a short stay in Paris? Tick! New York in the New Year? Got it! Pride in Berlin? You betcha!

    This app works on iPhone, iPod touch and iPad and has such a simple interface – tell it where you want to stay and it’ll search and list for you. I’m in love with the Loire, and it even returned solutions there from 40 euros a night.

    This app works both ways too – and who doesn’t love that! If you’re a landlord with space to rent, sign up and get renting! It doesn’t have to be a total house or flat either – this site rents spare rooms – and even on occasion, sofa beds!

    That last piece is the only word of caution I’d offer – read everything on the place you’ve chosen before you pay up! There are some really useful reviews on there, so use this app to its fullest!

    All bookings are automatically insured by misterbnb – so you do have peace of mind – but you are able to contact your host direct with questions and there are some really good examples in the reviews of hosts/landlords going so far out of their way for their clients! Some wait up tip the wee hours for their renters to arrive on flights – and there are also some brutally honest reviews! Some are quite entertaining!
    Download the app or pop over to the site and give it a look-see.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Ballad of the Burning Star – National Tour

    ★★★ | Ballad of the Burning Star – National Tour

    Glamorous drag queen, Star, invites you to join her on a cabaret filled journey into the heart of the Middle East. Armed with a pair of killer heels, a deadly troupe of dancers and a handful of stories from both sides of the conflict, you are taken on a journey like no other to examine the individuals, families and communities who find themselves in the Ballad of the Burning Star is undeniably a bold piece of theatre. Credit is due to anyone who attempts to explain the complexities of the Middle East conflict via the medium of Cabaret, using a drag queen, a Star of David mirror ball, a musician called “Camp David” and a troupe of military dressed Diva’s. It was also undeniably confrontational, never shying away from its explosive, in your face style and being uncompromising in its portrayal of both sides of the conflict. It is equally bold in its physical, stripped back presentation – it is a show which stands on its own two feet, without the need for a set, props or a multitude of elaborate costumes.

    There were a number of very good ideas contained within the piece and as you peel back the layers, you begin to realise what an incredibly smart piece of writing this is. The way in which Star vacillates between caring host and dictator-like dominator of the Starlets, the way in which taboos are openly challenged, and the almost military precision drills of the dance routines are all reflective of the subject matter of the piece, and make the point with a sarcastic overtone and dark undertone. There is also the way in which the story comes full circle, how the events culminate at the end and how the circular narrative of the piece mirrors why the ongoing conflict still rages.

    But unfortunately, it the show never comes together in a way which allows it to reach the full potential of those good ideas. There were a number of aspects of the production which pulled it down – the almost identical troupe of Starletts playing different roles within the story led to poorly defined characters which were not always easy to identify during the narrative. The choreography became very repetitive very quickly and the majority of the presentation was reduced to nothing more than people shouting loudly, wailing or screeching at each other, which led to the loss of any actual dramatic impact. But as the closing lines of the show were delivered (in complete contrast to what had gone before and in a very powerful way) you realise what this show perhaps could have been with a little more restraint.

    That said, whilst not being particularly impressed upon immediately leaving the theatre, this show has really stayed with me for the last few days and for some reason, I have not been able to stop thinking about it. The more I have thought about it, the more I have realised what a clever piece of theatre this really was. It is just a real shame that the constant shouting and screaming undermined the value of the subject matter and the presentation of what was actually a very powerful, thought provoking, inventive and intelligent piece of theatre.

    Ballad of the Burning Star is now on national tour. Further information, details of the tour and booking details can be found at http://www.theatreadinfinitum.co.uk/productions/ballad-of-the-burning-star

  • BOOK REVIEW | Gaysia – Adventures in the Queer East by Benjamin Law

    ★★★★ | Journalist Benjamin Law is an Australian with Asian roots. In Gaysia, he takes us on a tour of Asia showing us all things gay across the continent.

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