THEGAYUK

Author: Matt Peake

  • TRAVEL REVIEW | Crescent Turner (Whitstable) and Crescent Victoria (Margate)

    If you’re looking for an excuse to escape London and see the sea, sand and scenery, then head to Kent! Here you’ll find the beautiful seaside town of Whitstable, famed for its oysters and only a short drive down the coast, you’ll find the up and coming art scene of Margate.
    ★★★★

    While in Whitstable, why not stay in a retreat of absolute relaxation and solitude, the Crescent Turner boutique hotel. This hotel is perched at the top of Wraik Hill, with views over Whitstable town and out to sea, encompassing the famed oyster beds and only a 10 minute drive from Canterbury. The 18 bedroom boutique property, also boasts a seaside staple and an iconic Whitstable Beach Hut the ‘Sundowner’, complete with kitchen, BBQ, chandelier and 3 canoes for guests for daily exclusive use, and also a chef to cook for you for the day too.

    The hotel’s bedrooms are all individually designed, with luscious soft furnishings, and details such as exposed brick and nooks to while away the hours reading and relaxing. Designed with distinct headboards, each covered in a different fabric to create layers of interest. Each room also features ornate mirrors and eclectic furnishings to complete the boutique aesthetic.

    The food is exquisite thanks to new Head Chef Mark Kember, a Whitstable local who has developed a menu of classic British fayre such as fillet of beef, potato fondant, smoked garlic and mushroom puree, sea-bass, sweet potato hash brown and kale and rich desserts such as dark chocolate torte, berry soup and raspberry sorbet. Afternoon tea is made from scratch (apart from the clotted cream) where the strawberry, raspberry and fruit jams are made from local berries and the scones, and cakes including sticky toffee sponge and carrot cake and sandwiches made on site.

    All produce is sourced locally as much as possible, supporting local Whitstable suppliers Salvatori, Whetwhelks and Chapmans who all help to ensure a local flavour. A trip to Whitstable would be incomplete without sampling the Rock Oysters, which are available in the hotel from just £1.40, (for one) to as many as you can fit. Eaten plain or with a chilli and mango salsa, they have been paired by the GM come Sommelier Toni with Chenin Blanc, Riesling or Grillo, or Champagne. If staying in Whitstable you can sample the famed Oysters of Whitstable, which have been a delicacy for over 2000 years, when the Romans discovered them and shipped the delicacy across Europe back to Rome.

    There is no doubt that Whitstable is the family-orientated and fashionable seaside town, famous for its beach huts, Oyster Festival and quaint harbour. There is an eclectic and quirky mix of independent boutique shops and galleries, Whitstable Castle and an increasingly popular arts festival,the Whitstable Biennale. However if you’re looking for something a bit livelier, Canterbury is only a 10 minute drive away and also accessible by bus.

    Visit Whitstable Castle, which also has a lovely Tearoom and a pirate inspired wooden playground for the kids and beautiful gardens. Jojo’s Tankerton, just a few minutes on from Whitstable and Tankerton Slopes is JoJos right on the beach with views of the sea which has a coffee shop and lunch & dinner menu with meze and Mediterranean salads, fish and meat. There’s also Crab & Winkle Way, which is a lovely countryside cycle route all the way to Canterbury.

    For more details:
    The Crescent Turner Hotel, Wraik Hill, Whitstable Kent, CT5 3BY
    Classic Double’s B&B from £110 per night for two
    Suites B&B from £145 per night for two
    Exclusive rental of the Whitstable Beach Hut from £150
    Reservations: info@crescentturner.co.uk or 01227 263 506
    www.bespokehotels.com/crescentturnerhotel

    Only a little bit further down the coast, you’ll find the Crescent Victoria in Margate. The sister hotel to the Crescent Turner, this 14-bedroom boutique escape by the sea, is a hop, skip and a jump from the Turner Contemporary Gallery. The Crescent Victoria and Crescent Turner are the first 2 hotels in the Crescent Groups portfolio.
    Only a little bit further down the coast, you’ll find the Crescent Victoria in Margate. The sister hotel to the Crescent Turner, this 14-bedroom boutique escape by the sea, is a hop, skip and a jump from the Turner Contemporary Gallery. The Crescent Victoria and Crescent Turner are the first 2 hotels in the Crescent Groups portfolio.

    The Victoria Margate offers individually designed bedrooms and a plethora of opportunities for convivial eating and drink, the Hotel boasts a restaurant, bar and courtyard lounge area and an enviable location for exploring a quintessentially English resort.

    Victoria Margate embodies the changing face of this historic seaside resort. It is home to artists, galleries and vintage shops peppered along cobbled streets overlooking the beach with fishing boats lining the shore. General Manager Mat Pugsley said “The Victoria Margate aims to be a sanctuary by the sea. Celebrating the great British coast and offering a modern take on seaside heritage.”

    The restaurant with attached courtyard will serve delectable food throughout the day with afternoon teas being a highlight with everything from the jam to the petit fours made from scratch. The chefs will seek out the freshest local produce from suppliers he has worked with for many years; they’ll be found wandering down from the hotel to Mannings daily on the seafront to find out what the catch of the day is.

    Margate has been a popular seaside haven for over 250 years, drawing busy Londoners to its peaceful Victorian winter gardens and the restorative sea air of its beaches. The hometown of Tracey Emin, its recent regeneration has firmly established its place on the British art map. The town’s new Turner Gallery – just a stone’s throw from the hotel – celebrates British artist J M W Turner, who described the skies around Margate as the loveliest in all Europe. In neighbouring Broadstairs, you’ll find Bleak House, Charles Dickens’ summer home, on the clifftop of a pretty old smuggling town.

    For more details:
    The Crescent Victoria Margate, 25 – 26 Fort Crescent, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HX
    Classic Double B&B from £100 per night for two
    Reservations: reservations.victoria@bespokehotels.com or 01843 230 375
    Website: www.bespokehotels.com/crescentvictoriahotel

  • BOOK REVIEW | Dr.a.g

    ‘Dr.a.g. isn’t what you wear and it isn’t who you are. It’s how you wear who you are.’

    Drag (a man who is ‘dressed as a girl’) has become a diverse form of expression that challenges, entertains and educates by pushing boundaries, while embracing beauty, comedy and glamour. The performers in this illustrated book are evidence of that diversity, captured by some of the top photographers working in the world today. All of them have graciously donated their work to make the book possible. What started as a small independent film fundraiser has grown into this beautiful coffee-table book.

    Actor and author Christopher Logan launched the ‘dr.a.g.’ book a few years ago, but the project stalled when his original publisher fell into bankruptcy. Logan believed in the project, garnered a loan, and kept the existing distribution contracts. Logan is bringing back the glamour with photography books. In a world when the printed word is easily downloaded, the book that survives is the photo book. “You just cannot experience the vibrancy of these photographs online. They are meant for the printed page,” says Logan.

    The ‘Bookthefilm Edition’ features famous faces from Frank Marino, Jackie Beat and Lady Bunny to Joey Arias, Jeffree Star and Jim Bailey. Additionally, several portraits from noteworthy drag queen photographers are included in this book, including Magnus Hastings, Austin Young and more. The book also features everyone’s favourite queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race including Chad Michaels, Courtney Act, Yara Sofia, Roxxy Andrews, Detox, Akashia, Tammie Brown, Nina Flowers, Bebe Zahara Benet, Jujubee, Morgan McMichaels, Shannel, Ongina and Raja.

     

  • REVIEW: The Lipsinkers at the House of Wolf

    The LipSinkers are an infamous troupe of alternative drag performers who create highly innovative, outrageous and critically acclaimed cabaret shows.

    After having made appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe festival and resident stints at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the strong collective combine costume, dance, satire, prosecco, over lashed eyes, faces beat to death and exceedingly high heels. They take you on a hilarious offbeat romp through popular music in all its glorious guises. The team lip-synch to a jukebox of pop-tastic tunes, prance around looking fabulous and drive audiences wild.

    What is it that makes the LipSinkers so appealing I hear you ask? It’s a hard thing to describe; perhaps it’s their insatiable desire to produce high-octane queer exuberance that brightens this often dismal world. Nonetheless, it is a hilariously entertaining alternative show full of performers that lip-synch to imaginatively selected songs with precision that will bring fear to the queens of Ru Paul’s Drag Race.

    The mentality is undeniably left-field: the looks are brilliantly bonkers, a kind of club-kid couture encompassing plastic Macs, lacy bodies and vintage mumus; think of Jiggly Caliente in that infamous outfit strutting down the runway. The routines are tightly choreographed, despite often giving the impression of abstract absurdum. The acts are definitely sexy and at times disgustingly sexual. However it is the chemistry between the charismatic performers that is delicious to view. Even with extra special additions, including implicit politics and the obvious sheer enjoyment at work.

    The LipSinkers have natural ferocity coupled with endearing charm. Like a heavily medicated and intoxicated Pan’s People they have an exciting feel to them that will warm the blood of any ardent cabaret-goer. Disregard any ill-conceived preconceptions you may have had about lip-syncing before and prepare to hold on tight because this group of gender benders doesn’t just offer up a bog standard show, this is a visually stimulating experience, culminating in one hell of a party.

    This is definitely a 5 out of 5 show and a performance that you have to see. It’s a free show so there are no excuses not to partake in this evening of farcicality, so worry about work on Monday and try to squeeze as much as from the weekend as you can.

  • FILM REVIEW | The Circle, Der Kreis

    The Circle (Der Kreis) is a Swiss docudrama written and directed by Stefan Haupt. The film depicts the social scene that revolved around Der Kreis, a gay publication in Zurich in the 1940s and 1950s, which was used as a scapegoat for the murders of several gay men in the city. Der Kreis (The Circle) was a Swiss gay magazine that was published from 1932 to 1967 and distributed internationally. ★★★★

    CREDIT: The Circle
    CREDIT: The Circle

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  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | Señor Ceviche

    Peruvian pitanza comes to Soho in the form of Señor Ceviche

    Recently a friend and I were lucky enough to try out the pop-up turned restaurant, Señor Ceviche and their fine Peruvian dishes. Originally a pop-up restaurant touring round London, it has now made its home in the heart of Soho. Inspired by his time working in Peru’s top ceviche restaurant, Señor Ceviche himself, Harry Edmeades, will transport hungry Londoners to the sights, sounds and tastes of the Peruvian capital. The interiors have been designed around the bohemian and artistic streets of Lima’s party district, Barranco, which is home to some of Lima’s most exciting bars and restaurants, and where Harry stayed while in Peru.

    As you enter the restaurant, in the very impressive Kingly Court, you soon realise that the restaurant hasn’t lost its edge. With a truly Spanish downtown feel, you are transported to the mean backstreets of Lima (where we all know, the truly good food is). We were seated by the brightly and bubbly, Ariana who truly added to the Hispanic experience, serving us with the perfect balance of attentiveness and yet not too attending.

    We soon had a chance to look over the mouth-watering menu but our eyes were naturally drawn to the cocktails and we were not disappointed. We enjoyed Miraflores, Ayahuasca, Señor’s Frozen Sour and Mamaquilla; the perfect accompaniments to a truly tasteful meal. So onto the best bit, alongside the numerous amounts of cocktails, we were delighted to be presented with various dishes. We chose Chifa Chicharonnes (slow cooked, crispy pork belly with sweet soy sauce), The Spaniard (sea bream & king prawn ceviche with tomato tiger’s milk & crispy chorizo), Tamarind BBQ Chicken Anticuchos (chicken skewers with sticky tamarind BBQ sauce & aji amarillo anticucho sauce) and the best-selling Super Chicken (marinated & chargrilled chicken served with aji rocotto mayonnaise) as well as Patatas Fritas with Huancaina & Tomato Fondue (skin on fries covered in spicy Peruvian cheese sauce & tomato fondue) and Cusco Quinoa (roasted vegetables, edamame beans, giant choclo corn & crumbly queso). Now that may sound like a lot of food and yes, it was. But we were so happy. I’m an incredibly slow eater so the opportunity to go through these delicious dishes at my own pace was perfect and by the end, I was rightly stuffed (although I did enjoy their brownie and coconut ice cream).

    Founded in 2012 by Harry, the roots of Señor Ceviche lie in pop-up innovation; just five ceviche dishes and his now-signature Pisco Sour featured on the original menu for a one-off fusion of art and cuisine at The Art Cellar, and saw other takeovers at The Doodle Bar and Dukebox. Since then, Harry has continued his culinary journey, spending extensive time in Peru to bring new flavours and tastes to Señor Ceviche’s experimental menu. As well as working in some of the Lima’s top restaurants with Peru’s most acclaimed chefs, Harry has worked tirelessly to source the very best of Peruvian produce. Through meeting with an array of chilli farmers to pisco producers across Peru, Harry ensures Señor Ceviche will serve authentic dishes made from the highest quality and freshest Peruvian ingredients.

    Overall opinion:
    The whole experience was amazing; the food, drinks and staff were incredible. The dishes are served in a tapas style, so if you like that style of dining where ‘sharing is caring’ (and who doesn’t to be honest) and you don’t mind the dishes arriving as soon as they’re cooked, you’re going to love Señor Ceviche. The restaurant that celebrates the vibrancy of Peruvian culture with authentic Chicha street art adorning the walls including posters commissioned exclusively for Señor Ceviche. It is a restaurant that I will definitely be returning to and that I would definitely recommend.

    REVIEWED BY: Matt Peake
    ADDRESS: 1st Floor, Kingly Court. London, W1B 5PW
    VENUE PHONE: 0207 842 8540
    WEBSITE: http://senor-ceviche.com/
    RATING: ★★★★★ (explained)
    PRICE: ££ (explained)
    TIPPING POLICY: Optional Service Charge

  • Nude Priests In Homoerotic Orthodox Calendar

    Orthodox Calendar is the title of wall calendars and videos first published in 2012, featuring nude and semi-nude photographs of members of the Orthodox Church. The calendar is the brainchild of a group composed mostly of Orthodox eastern Europeans of the former communist region. The primary goal was to create the very first organised global effort against homophobia in the Orthodox Region. At the same time, the calendar takes an ironic approach to the Orthodox Church itself, which in recent years has been embroiled in artist repression, questionable behaviour and homophobia.

    Through their unconventional and bold images, Orthodox Calendar’s creative team seeks to counteract the negative and outdated influences of most of the Orthodox Church leadership. While recognizing that change might not come quickly to the official Orthodox Church position, Orthodox Calendar nonetheless believes that at least it can encourage people to reflect and realise that there is an urgent need for an update in values as part of the modern society.

    Through their unconventional and bold images, Orthodox Calendar’s creative team seeks to counteract the negative and outdated influences of most of the Orthodox Church leadership. While recognizing that change might not come quickly to the official Orthodox Church position, Orthodox Calendar nonetheless believes that at least it can encourage people to reflect and realise that there is an urgent need for an update in values as part of the modern society.

    The first series in 2013, called “For freedom of speech, unity and tolerance” tells the individual story of 12 intensely masculine young men and their guests representing different parts of Eastern Europe. All are open-minded and believe that it is important to be perceived as individuals committed to diversity and acceptance against homophobia who reject contempt and violence. Disrespect for gay human beings weakens thousands of children and adolescents, promotes risk-taking, and increases vulnerability to HIV and those steeped in silence, shame and secrecy.

    The second series in 2014, called “LOVE IS LOVE – ORTHODOX OR NOT!” pays tribute to gay marriage. It’s the story of young gay couples from Eastern Europe sharing a common dream of one day being able to wed their beloved at the altar of their local Orthodox chapel.

    The third series (#OC2015) called “S.A.L.I.G.I.A (Superbia, Avaritia, Luxuria, Invidia, Gula, Ira, Acedia)” pays tribute to social tolerance. The story takes place on the right bank of the Moskva River south of Moscow, where some priests believe that same-sex unions are NOT a sign of the coming apocalypse, contrary to what Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill may claim. These priests set out, in a humorous way, to remind the world that homosexuality is NOT one of the 7 deadly sins and in fact that Jesus Christ never even referred to homosexuality as a sin!

     

    Yet in the words of many in the Orthodox hierarchy, LGBT people have suddenly become the worst kind of sinners – an omen of the impending end of the world. What about wrath, avarice, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony?

     

    Starting today, anyone can discover #OC2015 wall calendar pictures by simply ordering on-line from Amazon or directly from their store at www.orthodox-calendar.com/shop. The price for the classic wall calendar is €18.99 and the explicit version is €34,95. The “Making Of” DVD is priced at €16,99. Check out the Orthodox Calendar on Facebook:www.facebook.com/CalendarOrtodoxAVA and Twitter: @OrthodoxCalenda

     

  • INTERVIEW: My Transexual Summer: Lewis Hancox

    Lewis Hancox, a 24-year-old Digital Film and Video student tells Matt Peake about what it was like to appear in Channel 4’s ‘My Transsexual Summer’, his plans for the future and about the love of his life, Sophie.

    Can you explain the process of how Channel 4 initially approached you?

    I made video blogs on YouTube ever since I first started my transition to see how I changed. Twenty Twenty, the production company, found me on YouTube and emailed saying ‘we found your videos and we think you’d be good for this programme. Can we give you a call?’ They came round to film an audition tape then rung me up saying we’d like you to be part of the show.
    During the show you lived in a house with all the other Trans people? How was it meeting everyone?

    Yes, it was a big massive house in Bedford and we stayed there every other weekend during the summer. That was really fun. I’d never met anyone else transgender before and I was really excited to meet other people in my position and really nervous because I knew cameras were going to be on us. Straight away me and Drew just clicked because I think she’s my age and she’s a northerner and we just had loads in common. That would have never happened if it wasn’t for the show.
    I find it interesting that the representation of trans people in the show was so varied from people only weeks into their transition and others who were years into theirs.

    Yes, we were all at different stages in our transition. At the time I hadn’t had my chest surgery. The show helped me raise the money as St. Helen’s wouldn’t fund the chest surgery saying it wasn’t part of the gender reassignment process, which is ridiculous. Within the time that the show was filmed people really transformed.
    Obviously having the support for the chest surgery funding. What was the general reaction from the public?

    I was a bit worried and almost dropped out of the show at the last minute because I didn’t want to reveal to everyone that I was transgender. I felt it was something to be ashamed of and I was embarrassed by it but I literally didn’t get a single negative reaction.
    The most unlikely people in St. Helen’s, like the chavs, were shouting at me saying ‘oh, it’s that guy off the telly! Well done!’. In terms of transitioning, some people don’t even want to be classed as male or female and would rather be called ‘genderqueer’. Personally, I just see that being transgender for me is a medical thing. I feel like I’m just a guy that happens to be born a bit differently. It doesn’t not make me feel ashamed or embarrassed because I don’t mind telling people I was born a bit different. It’s a condition that I have or had. I have to put it behind me and I’m just me.
    You said you’re still in contact with Drew and Fox but have you met the others since the show?

    After the show came out we did a UK club tour. We got to be in the VIP sections and basically live the high life for a year. So that was amazing. I now live down south and am moving to Brighton in April with my girlfriend. Sarah lives in Brighton so I’ll probably see her a lot more.

    You met your girlfriend after the tour didn’t you?

    Yes, basically it worked out quite well. Sophie saw the show and messaged me on Facebook saying ‘Congratulations on getting the money for your surgery!’ or something along those lines. I messaged her back and checked out her pictures because I thought she was hot. I never actually thought that I would meet someone online but we just got on straightaway. We live in Buckinghamshire now. Everything just flowed really “I feel like I’m just a guy that happens to be born a bit differently. It doesn’t not make me feel ashamed or embarrassed because I don’t mind telling people I was born a bit different” naturally.
    What are you up to at the moment?

    I’m studying Digital Film and Video. It’s the one time when I’m actually doing well at Uni because I’ve dropped out of other Uni’s in the past. I’ve also been doing loads of work on the side with Fox so I’m building up a really big portfolio.
    How was it coming out to your parents?

    I told my mum first and she completely understood because when I was a kid I used to say that I was a boy all the time so I don’t think it was really a shock for her. She was still concerned but only because she thought that I would have a hard life. We both didn’t know anything about it so we did research and watched shows about it. We were both learning together.
    My dad was the one who was a little bit weird about things. When I told him, it was like the news had just been sprung on him. I think he felt that I should have discussed it with him, rather than saying ‘I am going to transition’. Maybe he felt that he wanted to be a part of that decision. I think the real issue was that we didn’t see each other enough. On ‘My Transsexual Summer’, they wanted me and my dad to talk and we became closer, with him beginning to accept it. He’s completely cool with it now. He wanted me and Drew to get married at one point. I actually came out as liking girls before coming out as Trans so I suppose that I’ve sort of had two coming outs.
    So what is your ultimate ambition?

    I really want to write a comedy drama based on my life about being Trans with me as the person going through college having to experience that but making light of it and turning it into comedy.

    How do you feel about the representation of transsexuals in the media?

    I think that slowly it’s getting better but what I’d like to see is more Trans people in the media, but not about them being Trans. For example, if I’m a filmmaker, I want to be known as the filmmaker who happens to be trans. I think that would help people recognise that we’re all normal, and that we’ve all got ambitions, hopes and dreams. There is still prejudice and it needs to be tackled directly. Also there are not many Trans men in the media. I know that there are a lot of people that don’t think Trans guys exist, like my girlfriend thought, before she watched ‘My Transsexual Summer’, that a Transgendered person was a man changing into a woman, she didn’t realise that it could be the other way round.
    How do you feel about the gay media’s representation of transsexuals?

    I think in the media that there is too much focus on surgery and things like that and it’s good to educate people but it’s not good if someone were to ask someone if they’ve had surgery or not, to just be nosey. It’s not like people who aren’t Trans are going around ask others what their bits are like. Why should that matter?
    How do you feel about the representation of the Trans community within the supposedly ‘LGBT’ organisations?

    There is the debate that the T shouldn’t be with the LGBT because LGB refers to sexuality and transgender isn’t sexuality. I’ve never been involved or been to an LGBT group for support because I’ve never needed it. I tell a lie, in fact I’ve been to an LGBT group once when I was at Salford Uni and everyone just assumed I was a gay guy when I was there. I think there’s still work to be done with people realising that LGBT isn’t just about being gay. I’ve never felt the need to be part of that though as I don’t see myself as any different. I’m a straight guy and I don’t feel the need to go to LGBT groups.

    Could you explain more about the surgery that you’ve had?

    Well before the surgery, you have to have had your name changed and have been living a whole year as the new gender. It sounds weird to say as I’ve been living my whole life as this gender, except for that time in high school, as a guy. I then got on the hormones for a few years before I had the chest surgery because I had to raise the money myself. I applied for the lower surgery and everything was straight forward and within a few weeks they said did I want to come in for my first stage. There are two different types of surgery. There’s the phalloplasty, which was featured in the show with the guy who had the skin graft from his arm, but I’ve gone with a different type of surgery called the metoidioplasty.

    This interview is from our Feb 2014 Issue – available from iTunes and Android.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Briefs: The Second Coming

    ★★★★★ | Briefs: The Second Coming

    ‘Cirque du Soleil’ meets ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’

    The award-winning all male, all vaudeville, all trash brat-pack return to London with their cult variety hit, Briefs.

    Briefs is a madcap safari through extravagant birdbath boylesque, too close for comfort yo-yo tricks, valiant aerial acrobatics, irreverent interludes, ferocious fanfare and show-stopping drag artistes. The line-up is disorderly, and the show is still circus-infused. Expect the unexpected in this array of satire and skills as the BRIEFS boys present London Wonderground with burlesque…with balls!

    When I entered Wonderground on London’s Southbank I was amazed and instantly transported to a circus fairground. There was music, rides and a carousel alongside countless bars and food establishments. As I waited alongside my friend in a wooden dodgem car, I heard a bellowing lady exclaim that the show was about to start and that the audience should take their seats. I travelled into the Spiegeltent and was pleasantly surprised to see comfortable seating and a proper stage. I took a seat in the second row as I knew the front row would be in for a surprise. I was greeted by men in scantily clad suits. I sat down and the show began….

    We are first introduced to Fez Faanana who is the compère for the show, a mix between Frank N. Furter and Jason Momoa, who is not your standard drag queen. Then we are introduced to Thomas Worrell who certainly knows his flexible way around a ring. A contortionist who’s incredibly cute to boot! We are then let loose in front of Adam Krandle, a most mischievous character who is very good at rendering the audience into hysterics over the most inanimate of objects. Then we see the delights of Dallas Dellaforce, a drag queen who is Queen of the Queens, taking on embodiments of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Later, we see the drop dead gorgeous Louis Biggs who is only 20 years old and certainly knows how to play with his toys! Finally, we see the King of Burlesque, Mark Winmill who is the headline act and it is certainly where he belongs. He delivers a culmination of the previous acts with added extra surprises that will leave the audience thirsty for more!

    I have to say that it is one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long time. There is an effervescent mix of comedy, camp and cabaret. There are bearded drag queens, monkeys and more than enough eye candy; all blended together with an intoxicating mix of circus, spectacle and surprises.

    Final words: 100%! 5 out of 5 stars! Everyone must go see this show whether it’s for the circus, cabaret or camp elements or even to ogle at the hot half naked men. It is a show that I’m sure that will go down well for straight and gay audiences alike!

    Briefs: The Second Coming is on at the London Wonderground from Thursday 28th August – Sunday 28th September. Performance starts at 7:30 pm with a running time of around 75 minutes. Tickets prices range from £14 – £20.50 and are available here: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/briefs-the-second-coming-82977

    Follow the show on Twitter: @briefsfactory and #briefsboys and the boys on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briefsallmalecircuscabaret or their website: http://briefsfactory.com/

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Compulsion

    ★★★ | Compulsion

    What’s your secret? What do you do in private that you wouldn’t share with anyone? What happens if the quiet, secret compartments in our heads start to invade our consciousness? And if the curtains are torn down for all to see, could we survive? Would we adapt or die?

    Tom Staunton’s a nice guy. A genuinely nice guy. A little damaged and a little quirky. Who isn’t? But his secrets and compulsions are coming to the fore in a very public way that he can’t control. The voices in his head won’t keep quiet. They have to be heard. What’s his secret? Why is it tearing him apart? Is any part of our nature as human beings too shameful for others to see?

    Join Tom as we examine the dark corners of his mind. Meet the different facets of his personality that hold power over him and witness the incidents in his past that have made him who he is.

    Compulsion is a darkly comic journey into one man’s sub-conscience. Tune into the noise in his mind that simultaneously tortures him and helps him to keep going. Witness the struggle of having to live with oneself.

    As I arrived at the theatre, I was amazed to see an empty stage with just two actors and a chair. I knew this was going to be a true Fringe performance. As I sat down and began to cool down, I was instantly drawn in. Evidently, we were dealing with a gay man being haunted by the different elements of his subconscious. We were presented with three variations of his psyche played by Kim Maouhoub, Paul Storan and Nigel Fyfe.

    We were immediately transported into Tom’s mind by the exquisite use of lighting that matched perfectly with the angst dealt Declan Cooke’s character. Kim Maouhoub, who had an air of Helena Bonham Carter, played her parts brilliantly. Each new character portrayed was performed beautifully with excellent characterization. The other two actors, Paul Storan and Nigel Fyfe were also great with real determination and emotion in their performance.

    The only downside was the length; it only lasted just under 50 minutes with the majority of the time being the scene changes. An interruption which I feel could have been done better. I would have liked to have seen the play developed more and made into more of a developed narrative rather than a glimpse into his innermost thoughts. Furthermore, the LGBT themes seemed to be a bit cliché; a gay man with an abusive past that had been accused of being a paedophile. It is these clichés that I wish were avoided. Instead I would have liked to have seen a deeper dive into Tom’s mind and even perhaps not having a clear and concise answer to why he felt the way he did, however all in all an excellent and true Fringe performance.

    More details in the link below:
    https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/compulsion

    Or feel free to ‘Follow’ them on Twitter: @thecompulsion or ‘Like’ the page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/We-Keep-You-Company-thecompulsion/533083020145519?sk=timeline

    Final words: An interesting production with clichéd themes. Definitely worth a view if you’re in the area especially for Kim Maouhoub. Not bad!

  • HIV death rates halved since 1999

    HIV-positive adults in high-income countries face a substantially reduced risk of death from AIDS-related causes, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease compared with a decade ago, according to a large international study published in The Lancet.

    The study which involved nearly 50 000 HIV-positive adults receiving care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) at more than 200 clinics across Europe, USA, and Australia found that overall death rates have almost halved since 1999.

    The development in the mid-1990s of antiretroviral treatment for the management of HIV infections is one of medicine’s greatest success stories. For individuals who can access and adhere to treatment at early stages of the infection, the risk of developing an AIDS-defining complication is vanishingly small. Treatment, however, does not fully restore health. Treated adults have a higher than expected risk of developing many non-AIDS complications including cardiovascular disease and cancer. The excess risk has been attributed to antiretroviral drug toxicity, traditional risk factors, immune dysfunction, or chronic inflammation. With the advent of effective antiretroviral treatment, the life expectancy for people with HIV is now approaching that seen in the general population. Consequently, the relative importance of other traditionally non-AIDS-related morbidities has increased. The team behind the study investigated trends over time in all-cause mortality and for specific causes of death in people with HIV from 1999 to 2011.

    The team behind the study noted that their findings suggest that death rates in HIV-positive individuals with access to care and antiretroviral therapy have decreased since 1999-2000. They can detect no indication of an increase in risk of death from any specific cause as a potential result of long-term adverse effects of ART, and the risk of death from other causes – ie, those other than AIDs-related disease, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and non-AIDS cancers – is low.

    Rates of death from non-AIDS-related cancers have remained stable over time, and these types of cancers are now the most common cause of non-AIDS deaths in people with HIV. The finding of a stable rate of death from non-AIDS cancer in the study is of concern when compared with the experience in the general population, in which death rates have decreased over the same time period.

    However a potential limitation to the study is that the investigators could only report on the outcomes of HIV-infected individuals who were followed up regularly in clinic, and thus excluded a large population of HIV-infected individuals who remain untreated because they are unaware of their infected status or not engaged in care.

    Steven Deeks and Peter Hunt from the University of California in San Francisco, USA, say, ‘The benefits of ART are unquestioned, and their beneficial effect on the HIV epidemic continues to grow. Still, clear limitations exist because many patients are not accessing treatment, and some problems persist even in those on ART, including a higher than expected risk of non-AIDS cancers and other morbidities. Finally, it needs to be emphasised that we are still early in the ART era. In the absence of a cure, most patients will need to continue on ART for decades. Continued monitoring for unexpected consequences of treatment will be needed indefinitely.’

    To read the article, see below:
    http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(14)60604-8/abstract

  • Britain’s Got Talent – La Voix and the London Gay Big Band

    “It’s been such a rollercoaster of a ride. We’ve played for large crowds before, but performing in a TV studio – with the cameras, the lights, the sets – is another thing altogether; an incredible experience. Very exciting!” (Kate Coole, Trumpet)

    A few weeks ago on Britain’s Got Talent, we saw La Voix aka vocalist, Chris Dennis, give a spectacular performance of Frank Sinatra’s classic New York, New York accompanied by an impressive jazz orchestra known as the London Gay Big Band. The band consists of five saxophones, four trombones, five trumpets, a keyboard, bass, guitar and drums. The band is claimed to be the only LGBT Big Band in the whole of the UK.

    The judging panel that include Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams loved the group claiming that “That’s how you make an impact! You’re a force to be reckoned with.”

    Luckily Simon was not there to judge. Simon is notoriously not a big fan of drag acts and detests it if they win a spot in the live semi finals. However he was otherwise engaged as his partner, Lauren Silverman, went into labour with their son Eric.

    Fortunately David was on hand to provide support for the group exclaiming ‘I know Simon loves drag acts so I’m saying, yes for Simon, yes for me.’

    The group’s leader Stefan had this to say,
    ‘When we founded the London Gay Big Band three years ago in a damp and dingy basement of a London bookshop, we could never have dreamt of the amazing journey that we have been on, culminating in our upcoming Semi Final performance this week on the World’s most prominent Talent show and a global stage!

    We take our responsibility very seriously, proving that the gay scene is so much more than many of those pre-conceived stereotypes that are so often still prevalent amongst society. Our Band is all about making music, creating a community spirit by supporting each other and breaking boundaries. It’s about bringing something fresh, new and exciting to the LGBT scene and beyond.

    So if there’s one thing you do this week – watch Britain’s Got Talent, and make your vote count! Let’s show our nation the true diversity, variety and spirit of the LGBT community.’

    Vince Walsh, one of the band’s trumpet players adds that “People forget that Big Band and Jazz music are about fun and emotion. Well, we’re here to remind you”.
    For the audition clip please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce-ih4SSUQ0
    For more info about the band please see www.londongaybigband.com

    Don’t forget to show your love and support through Facebook and Twitter!
    @LGBigBand and @lavoixtheshow

    Watch the LIVE SEMI FINAL PERFORMANCE – SATURDAY 31 May 2014 at 7pm on ITV