THEGAYUK

Category: Entertainment

  • X FACTOR Hottie Ben Haenow Releases Possibly Worst Album Cover… Ever

    X FACTOR Hottie Ben Haenow Releases Possibly Worst Album Cover… Ever

    Wow, it’s like they really don’t care at X FACTOR central as Ben Haenow, last year’s winner unveils his new album cover.

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  • 8 Ways To Queer Up Back To The Future

    In an attempt to shoe horn Back To The Future onto TheGayUK we’ve looked at ways to queer up the films. Here’s 8 moments we think would have worked better or had a significant, in our minds, queer sensibility.

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  • FILM REVIEW | The Lobster

    Imagine a world where if you can’t find a parter in 45 days you will be changed into the animal of your choice. That’s what ‘The Lobster’ is all about.

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  • TRAILER: Swan Lake II: Dark Waters

    The annual contemporary performance season, Sacred, starts at the Chelsea Theatre November 5th – 28th. One piece to keep an eye on is the very talented PanicLab’s Swan Lake II.

    A new solo performance from jordan Lennie, who helped to choreograph the piece along with Joseph Mercier, is a visual treat. Jordan may be naked on stage for a lot of this performance piece, which will always draw the crowds, however the overall beauty of the piece is in the artistic playfulness of the character.

    We spoke with Joseph this week who told us,
    ‘Swan Lake II: Dark Waters takes a queer approach to ballet. It plays with aspects of the art form that are often denied or downplayed. Aspects like eroticism, campness, seduction, vanity and excess. In Swan Lake II these are highlighted and magnified in playful ways, drawing out some of ballet’s inherent queerness’.
    Watch the full trailer here:
    COMPETITION: We have a pair of tickets to give away to see Swan Lake II: Dark Waters. Free Entry Here.

  • Sneak Peek Of One Direction In Perfect Music Video

    Here’s a sneaky peek of the 1D boys in their latest music video, Perfect

    The video for Perfect was filmed in New York at the Intercontinental Hotel in Times Square, in the hotel rooms & on the roof. Shot by renowned director Sophie Muller. The video will launch next week.

    The song ‘Perfect’ premiered first thing this morning and is on sale now. It is already No.1 on iTunes.

  • TV REVIEW: Scream, TV Series

    All you Slasher movie/Wes Craven fans out there Netflix has come up trumps with a new TV series called Scream.

    A Lone girl at home with phone communications coming from within the house… Check.

    Lone girl in a garage with the lights off… Check.

    Geeky virgin guy talking about how the murderers stalk their victims… Check.
    A small town high school is rocked, twice, first time after a video of the non-plastic, emo-y, dark haired girl kissing passionately with another girl goes viral on YouTube, the second time, after one of their prom queen contenders is brutally slashed from ear to ear and left dead in her swimming pool.

    But don’t mistake this for a TV version of the astronomic hit Scream series of films that wowed and scared teens in equal measures across the world in the late 90s and early noughties, the offering is different, think Scream meets Halloween.

    The story, just like the films, is very tongue in cheek, served with the same knowing and revealing gags thatScream (the film) became famous for and spawned the even more popular Scary Movie franchise, however it does feel incredibly dated, very last century. The fact that the creators have chosen a mostly white, blonde, thin, toned, rich-kid cast feels too conceited than a tongue in cheek nod at casting choices of the last century– and the idea that a lesbian – (read bi-curious) kiss could cause such controversy in 2015, in a high school, is a little unbelievable, unlike the uproar it would have caused in the mid/late 90s.

    Although Wes Craven, who sadly passed away in August this year, did not write or direct this series, he is credited as an exec producer.
    Purists of the genre, however, will love the jumps, the gore and the suspense as Lakewood’s series slasher dispenses with rich kid after rich kid, however perhaps a more mature audience looking for a more grown up Slasher proposal might need to look further.

     

  • FILM REVIEW | Suffragette

    ★★★★ Suffagette | The plight of the British women who fought for the right to vote is beautifully told in the excellent film ‘Suffragette.’

    Suffragette’ is told through the eyes Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan) in London, 1912. She works in a local factory, the Glass House Laundry in Bethnal Green, is married to fellow factory worker Sonny Watts (Ben Whishaw) and they have a young son. Watts has actually been a part of the factory since she was very young: her mother worked in the same factory and would strap her to her back when she went to work. Her mother died when she was four and Maud started working part-time there at the age of 7. At the age of 12, she started working full-time. She’s now a lead washer where she makes 13 schillings a week (compared to the salary a man is paid for the same job – 19 schillings a week). Watts has also been sexually molested by the hard core boss Norman Taylor (Geoff Bell).

    One day Watts is asked to accompany another women who’s to speak at Parliament about women’s working conditions and a bill to give women the right to vote. Watts wasn’t supposed to speak, but the other woman, Mrs. Violet Miller (Anne-Marie Duff) had been beaten up and didn’t look presentable, so Watts is thrust into giving the preprepared speech. Watts speaks from her heart, and from her experience, ignoring the script that was written. This lights something within Watts and turns her into an activist. She gets more more disgusted at the lack of women’s rights, and even more so when she sees young factory worker Maggie Miller (Grace Stotter), Violet’s daughter, being groped by Taylor in his office. Taylor is a sexual predator who believe women have no rights, and he tells Watts to ‘leave the vote to us.’

    But Watts’ pleas to Parliament are not enough. They say that there is not enough evidence to support the bill. The women rebel in front of the Houses of Parliament; many are thrown to the ground by the police with little regard for the women’s safety. Some, including Watts, and fellow protestor Edith Ellyn (Helena Bonham Carter), are sent to jail, where they are humiliatingly stripped naked. But this doesn’t deter them, and this leads to Watts becoming a member of the ever increasing suffragettes – a group of women working full-time to advance the rights of women.

    The Suffragettes are led by Emmeline Pankhurst (Meryl Streep) – a woman who has given up her life to further the cause. She’s also in hiding for fear of getting arrested for leading the movement (during those times women had very little rights).

    Determined police inspector Arthur Steed (Brendan Gleeson) puts the women under surveillance – he won’t let them carry on with their protesting and letter box bombings – he wants them all arrested, especially Pankhurst, and calls the women the “East London ladies.” But Pankhurst rallies the women – she tells them at a gathering in a speech from a balcony “We would rather be lawmakers, not lawbreakers.” The women continue their protesting, even resorting to bombing an M.P.’s house, just to get their message across. But Watts eventually loses more than what she bargained for, but she’s more determined than ever to fight for the cause.

    ‘Suffragette’ tracks the foot soldiers of the early UK feminist movement, working class women who were forced to go into hiding to pursue equality. They were willing to risk, in their fight, their jobs, homes, families, and for some of them, their lives. And it’s a great movie. The film lies heavily on the shoulders of Mulligan’s portrayal of her character, a fictional character but someone who we route for every step of the way. It’s an unflawed performance that hopefully will see Mulligan receive an Academy Award nomination. Streep, who shares top billing, is only in the film for less than five minutes, but her character’s presence is felt all throughout the movie. Carter is perfectly cast as the local pharmacist and fellow activist, with a husband who supports her every step of the way. Carter is actually the great-granddaughter of Herbert Asquith – the Prime Minister during the time this movie takes place. Director Sarah Gavron (Brick Lane), working from a script by Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady), successfully and beautifully blends in actual footage of the real protestors into the film, in a film that effectively uses dark lighting and unglamorous costumes to set the mood of the times. And while the plot may be familiar (the recent Made in Dagenham follows a similar plotline), ‘Suffragette’ is an important film to highlight what women did to get equal rights. And we have to be reminded that they are still fighting, and in some countries around the world (Saudi Arabia), women still have very little or no rights.

  • Everything You Need To Know About The Boys From Apprentice

    We like a man in a suit. With the new series of The Apprentice starting tonight we thought we’d look over the boys’ CVs…

    We’re just like Lord Sugar, we’ve got saying you’re wired, or hired, or something. We’ll be looking over the lads’ CVs to just they’re up for the job.
    Brett Butler-Smythe

    Age: 28

    Occupation: Builder

    Lives: Plymouth

    Brett went straight to the Royal Navy after leaving school, where he worked as a marine engineer. He says starting his own property business from scratch is his biggest business achievement to date. He says his biggest strengths are being hard working, committed and trustworthy, and that he has no weaknesses. His attitude to business is ‘work hard, play hard, work harder’.

    He says: “I pride myself on not having any negative or bad traits about myself, they’re all good, they’re all positive.”

    Dan Callaghan

    Age: 23

    Occupation: Director, Fragrance Retailer

    Lives: Manchester

    Dan’s first job after university was working for an MEP at the European Parliament in Belgium, where he lived for a year. He describes himself as bright, optimistic and cheerful. He cites turning his fragrance company around after a difficult few years as the business achievement he is most proud of. He names Jeff Bezos of Amazon as one of his inspirations, because he feels the company has redefined the way consumers see online shopping.

    He says: ‘’I’m just a generally all round quite entertaining person, I think. A lot of people laugh at me.’’
    David Stevenson

    Age: 25Occupation: Owner, Sports Marketing Company

    Lives: Nottingham

    David’s background is in sports marketing and his company specialises in increasing crowd attendances at sporting events. He says his greatest achievement so far was promoting a high profile football match between two women’s national teams at Wembley to sold-out capacity. He cites Elon Musk as his business inspiration because of the amount he achieved early on in his career.
    He says: “Me and Lord Sugar will work together because you’ve got age and beauty and those two go hand in hand all the time. Sugar’s got the age and I certainly am beautiful.”

    Gary Poulton

    Age: 34

    Occupation: Programme Manager

    Lives: Birmingham

    Gary spent seven years at a leading supermarket chain as a Programme Manager, developing new store sites. He describes himself as someone who likes to succeed in all he does, and his biggest achievement in business to date was delivering the largest property development programme in the history of the supermarket he worked at in 2010-11.
    He says: “I look like the nice, easy going, laidback Brummie but once I start doing my business, people know I’m the real deal.”

    Joseph Valente

    Age: 25

    Occupation: Owner, Plumbing Business

    Lives: Peterborough

    Joseph describes himself as successful, passionate and driven. He says he applied for the show because he feels it is his destiny to be Lord Sugar’s business partner. He currently runs his own plumbing company and feels having a business is like being a parent, as it needs undivided attention and nurturing, and that Hugh Hefner is one of his role models.
    He says: “I am the definition of success, I’m a godfather of business and I’m here to make Lord Sugar a lot of money.
    Mergim Butaja

    Age: 23

    Occupation: Sales Account Manager

    Lives: Coventry

    Kosovan-born Mergim fled from the war-torn country to the UK with his parents and siblings when he was seven years old. Since the age of 18, he has been supporting his family by working in a range of jobs from sales to waiting tables. He names CEO of leisure retail chain The Range, Chris Dawson, as his business inspiration because of their similar backgrounds. Mergim says his determined attitude is his biggest strength and hopes he will inspire people who have lived through similar circumstances to succeed
    He says: ‘’Why am I a worthy business partner for Lord Sugar? I’d be a challenge to him. Everyone he’s metprobably sucks up to him. I won’t, I’ll tell him like it is.’’

    Richard Woods

    Age: 31

    Occupation: Director, Digital Marketing Agency

    Lives: London

    Richard is a director of a digital marketing company. He describes himself as self-assured and ambitious, and says his only regret is not being a millionaire before turning 30. He says building up four profit-making companies is the business achievement he is most proud of to date and cites Richard Branson as one of his inspirations because of the business empire he has created.
    He says: “I’m a Swiss army knife of bouncy skills, business skills, enthusiasm, I’ve got everything highly tuned and highly chiselled.”

    Sam Curry

    Age: 23

    Occupation: Private Tutor

    Lives: London

    Sam has been working as a tutor since leaving university, he has a passion for the arts and has taken part in numerous films and stage productions. He cites the fact that he’s always worked for himself as his biggest business achievement to date, and describes himself as loyal, honest and adventurous. Richard Branson is one of his main business inspirations because he agrees with the Virgin founder that you don’t need to be ruthless or cruel in business to succeed.
    He says: “I’m an interesting mix between happy go lucky and adventurous and then quite logical and sensible. It’s a strange combination.’’

    Scott Saunders

    Age: 27

    Occupation: Senior Account Manager, Sales

    Lives: Hertfordshire

    Scott’s business background is in sales, and he describes himself as sharp, motivated and obsessed with

    making his first million. He likes simple but effective brands such as confused.com and cites Richard Kiyosaki, founder of Rich Dad Company, as one of his business inspirations because he admires the way he does business.
    He says: “People do say to me they’ve never met anyone like me.’’

  • Theatre Review: How Does A Snake Shed Its Skin?

    What happens when you combine a squiffed-up Marilyn Monroe, a calorie conscious Margaret Thatcher and a suicidal Virginia Woolf – throw in three filing cabinets, a bucket and some schizophrenic-style storytelling? ★★★

    A trichotomy of a supposed glimpse into the minds of influential women, whisked in with a smidge of self loathing, bipolarism and an 11-year-old girl desperate for some love – we give you Susannah Hislop’s one woman show.

    Watching Hislop is sort of like watching Eddie Murphy playing numerous characters in the same scene, with a touch of Vanessa Feltz’s meltdown on the first Celebrity Big Brother, and a slight undertone of Edwina Currie’s parties-for-one on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. It’s an interesting combination.

    Diary reciting, grapefruit and pill lobbing, famous quotes and letters piece together this helter-skelter performance that unveils the implausible but believable similarities linking the trio. Susannah focuses on the not-so-positive elements of Thatcher’s, Woolf’s and Monroe’s lives and ultimately is doing so for the same reason why Eric Pickles avoids mirrors – to feel better about herself.

    Hislop has that Judi-Dench-being-interviewed draw – instantly likeable. But unlike the oven-timer for the Bake Off’s show-stopper, it could do with winding forward a few mins.

    Written and performed by Susannah Hislop

    Directed by Anna Ledwich

     

  • Stephen Fry To Step Down As QI Presenter

    Stephen Fry is to step down as QI’s presenter after 180 episodes.

    The openly gay presenter is quitting the show after 180 episodes over 13 years. The next series, M, will be star’s last. He said about his departure,

    “For thirteen years I had one of the best jobs on television,

    “After passing the alphabetical halfway mark I thought it time to move on, but I will never cease to be grateful to John Lloyd for devising QI and for everyone else for making it such fun.’

    He will be replaced by another out presenter Sandi Toksvig, who has just finished presenting a 10-year run on the BBC Radio 4 The News Quiz.

    She said of her new position:

    “QI is my favourite television programme both to watch and to be on, so this is absolutely my dream job. (My Nordic background also makes me keen to spend time with the Elves). Stephen has been utterly brilliant with the first half of the alphabet. Now I look forward to picking up the baton, mixing my metaphors and sailing towards the Land of Nod (i.e. Z). Who knows what lies ahead? It should all be quite interesting.”

    Stephen Fry’s final QI series begins on Friday October 16.

  • Four Essential LGBT Plays… That Happen To Be Touring The UK

    As the nights start to draw in, what could be better than heading to your local theatre and seeing a show which will entertain, make you laugh, stir your emotions and make you think?

    There are plenty of blockbuster gay themed plays out there which are currently touring the UK (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert is still on tour, and Tipping The Velvet is soon to be heading from the West End to Edinburgh), but there are some excellent plays out there that are written, performed and produced by people with a real passion for their story, or a personal tale to tell.

    Wherever you are in the Country, one of these plays should be near you soon and are well worth a look.

    Miss Nightingale – The Burlesque Musical

    In the midst of the Second World War, Maggie is a cheeky Northerner who heads to London with her Jewish friend and songwriter, George, seeking out the bright lights and success of the big city. Her burlesque act is picked up by Sir Frank Worthington-Blythe who turns Maggie into the toast of London. But behind the scenes, there is something far more explosive than the blitz which is about to start. Frank and George fall in love and conduct a secret (and illegal) affair, which strains the relationship between the three of them.
    Miss Nightingale is currently embarking on its fifth and final tour of the UK, having been a huge success with critics and audiences alike. The love story between the two men is touching, sad, poignant and moving, and the pathos is balanced with some hilarious, cheeky and saucy songs as Miss Nightingale takes to the stage with her unique brand of entertainment. But despite the historical setting, the play still remains relevant today, where there is so much persecution of the LGBT community in various countries. However, alongside its genuinely important message, the show is a superb evening at the theatre, which will entertain, make you laugh, make you cry and make you leave the theatre on a high. Don’t miss your last chance to see this wonderful production.
    Miss Nightingale is currently on tour, visiting numerous locations until the 20th February 2016 , including Cast Theatre in Doncaster; Sheffield Theatres; Norwich; Hull and Blackpool. Visit www.missnightingale.co.uk for full details. You can also read our interview with Matthew Bugg, the writer and composer of the show
    DV8 – West Yorkshire Playhouse

    DV8 are one of the most cutting edge dance companies out there and thoroughly impressed The Gay UK last year with their piece, John. In this stunning piece of dance, DV8 not only focus on the central character, John, and his reasons for having sex with men, but also unflinchingly examines why men may or may not take risks with their sexual health, telling their stories without judgement or prejudice. The piece is based on interviews conducted with men at a gay sauna, and as the creators of the show undertook their research, one particular story emerged to the forefront. TGUK writer Greg Mitchell was impressed by the choreography, saying that “one of the joys of this production is seeing the way bodies fuse together, meld into one and then just as easily drift apart” and that the piece as a whole was “endlessly fascinating, but ultimately incredibly moving”. But this piece delves much deeper into John’s past and unravels his turbulent and difficult history and the show promises to be a visual treat.
    DV8 are performing this piece at West Yorkshire Playhouse, their only tour date, on the 22nd to the 24th October 2015. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see a stunning piece of theatre. Tickets and details can be found at www.wyp.org.uk/events/john/Big Girls Blouse – Cast Theatre, Doncaster and National Tour

    Part cabaret, part biography and part political statement, Big Girls Blouse is performed by Kate, a transgender woman who delights in her gentle and subtle political performances, telling her story of growing up and becoming a woman. Quite literally making a song and dance about her life, Big Girls Blouse is an award winning show which pushes boundaries, educates, encourages solidarity for the transgender community and manages to do it all with a good dose of the celebration of diversity to break down both barriers and stereotypes.
    This is a show which deserves a wide audience and is a perfect example of how theatre can be used to entertain whilst getting across a powerful message.Big Girls Blouse is currently touring calling in at various venues around the country until 14th May 2016. For further details and to book tickets, visit www.kateodonnellpresents.com
    Nine Lives – Doncaster Cast and National Tour

    Ishmael is a young man who is seeking asylum in the UK following a surge in homophobia in his home in Zimbabwe threatens his life. As he arrives in Leeds, he is forced to re-start his life. Knowing no-one and being an a totally alien environment, he waits in desperation to find out whether the first steps he has taken to rebuilding his life will have been all for nothing if he is to be returned to Zimbabwe or whether he is able to find peace and love in a place which protects him as a gay man.
    The topic of people seeking safety through asylum has been at the forefront of the news in the last few weeks and with homophobic attacks and the repression of the LGBT community in various countries around the world, this play hits home with the relevance of its political message. Written by Zodwa Nyoni, Channel 4’s writer in residence in 2014, this play injects wit and lightness into a difficult and challenging subject and following critical acclaim following its premiere at West Yorkshire Playhouse earlier this year, the show is now on national tour.
    You can see Nine Lives at the following venues. Contact your local theatre for details and tickets12 October 2015 – The Bikeshed Exeter, Exeter

    17 October 2015 – Trinity Bristol, Bristol

    23 October 2015 – The Cube, Malvern

    06 November 2015 – Upstairs at Western, Leicester

    12 November 2015 -Cast, Doncaster

    16 November 2015 – Waterside Arts Centre, Trafford

    19 November 2015 – Arc Stockton, Stockton on Tees

    10 December 2015 – Brighton, Brighton

    January 2016 – Arcola, London