THEGAYUK

Category: Entertainment

  • Gaga makes a surprise appearance at G-A-Y

    Lady Gaga stunned London club-goers at London’s biggest gay club, G-A-Y at Heaven, to sing her forthcoming single.

    The impromptu performance of Venus took many by surprise as she wasn’t on the billing. However, Gaga is the UK to perform on the X Factor this evening.

    Her previous single Applause from the upcoming album Artpop failed to get to number one, being beaten by Ellie Goulding’s Burn. However, we loved the video

    Lady Gaga will be joined by The Wanted on this evening’s broadcast of X Factor, starting at 8.00PM on ITV1.

  • Tom Hardy to play Elton In Rocket Man movie

    Hunk Tom Hardy has been named as the man that will play Elton John in a biopic of the singer’s life.

    Tom Hardy has been named as the man who will play gay royalty, Elton John, in an upcoming biopic, Rocketman, of the singer’s life, which is due to start filming in late 2014.

    It is unknown at this time whether Tom can sing, play the piano, or throw a diva strop but when you’ve got a purdy face like Tom’s who cares!
    David Furnish, Elton’s husband is the producer of the film.

    A press release to announce Tom’s casting described the film:

    “Much like the man himself, Rocketman is a larger-than-life movie musical spectacle that tells the story of a child prodigy turned music legend”.

    We can’t wait.

    According to a recent poll of Gaydar users, Tom’s lips were voted as the most attractive.

  • FILM REVIEW | Merrily We Roll Along

    ★★★★★ | Merrily We Roll Along

    The concept of seeing a play on the big screen can seem a bit odd. Do you clap at the end? Will it be like watching a play or seeing a film? Will there be any atmosphere?

    You can rest assured that seeing The Menier Chocolate Factory production of ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ will be worth every penny spent and there’ll definitely be applause, even if the cast won’t be there to hear it.

    A specially recorded version of the multi award winning West End production at The Harold Pinter Theatre was recorded earlier this year and has been edited to perfection. The show is screening in over 300 UK cinemas starting from the 24th of October. It’s part of the amazing digital theatre range of shows and the first to be screened in cinemas, with the brilliant ‘Private Lives’ to follow next year and a range of shows that can be watched at home.

    It couldn’t have a better pedigree: written by the fantastic Stephen Sondheim, the work of an acclaimed director, a fantastic cast and more 5 star reviews than any other musical in West End history. There’s not a weak link in the cast and the choreography, music and sets are truly amazing. Even Sondheim himself stated that this production is the best he’s seen.

    The story follows a group of three friends (a composer, lyricist and novelist) as they start out seeking success, find success, fall out, make out, form and break relationships and generally break down. The twist of the story is that the whole of the plot is told backwards. Starting in the 1970s we two of the three friends and instantly learn what fates have befallen them. As the play progresses we gradually work back to the late 1950s and see how it all began and where the roots of their current situations began. The device works brilliantly and it’s both poignant and hilarious in equal measures.

    Watch the trailer and find your nearest screening here: http://www.digitaltheatre.com/screenings
    Find out more about Digital Theatre here and which productions are available to watch:
    http://www.digitaltheatre.com

  • Police in Scotland call for condom ban in Edinburgh saunas

    Police in Edinburgh have called for a ban of ‘all items of a sexual nature’, including condoms in all saunas in Edinburgh, in a move which could put lives at risk.

    Police Scotland want condoms banned from all saunas across the Scottish Capital, including the two gay saunas that are based in the city.

    The story being widely reported is that a number of heterosexual saunas or saunas that are known to have sex workers working there are affected by the potential ban, but speaking to a gay sauna in Edinburgh TheGayUK has discovered that the ban would also have an impact on all gay saunas in Scotland.

    The police set out the contentious plans in a letter which was delivered to the city’s licensing committee, who is deciding on the license renewals on several of the city’s saunas.

    The letter asks the licensing committee to include new licensing conditions, one of which included: “no items of a sexual nature will be permitted on the premises”.

    A Police Scotland spokesman said,

    ‘Police Scotland recently provided reports to the Council Regulatory Committee in respect of a number of public entertainment licence renewals.

    ‘In cases where there was evidence of criminality or premises operating out-with the conditions of their licence, objections were made to those licences being renewed.

    ‘Police Scotland will continue to work with partners to inspect and report on licensed premises operating within Edinburgh in order to keep people safe.

    ‘Whenever criminal activity, or licensing contraventions are detected within these venues, officers will respond appropriately and report all offences to the relevant authority.’

    DRACONIAN

    The call for the ban has put Scotland’s HIV/Aids charities on red alert, with Robert Mckay, the nation director of the Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland saying that the idea was ‘Draconian’

    He went on to say:
    ‘We would be keen to see the full details of any proposals that would prevent saunas from having condoms on their premises. Taking away condoms doesn’t stop people from having sex; it does however result in unprotected sex and increased rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections. It is vital that people can protect themselves wherever they have sex.’

    ‘Our point of view is to make sure that people are kept safe. Condoms have proved very successful in preventing STDs and HIV transmissions.’

    GAY SAUNA RAIDS

    Earlier in the year Police Scotland raided two gay saunas in Edinburgh, a report lodged by the police stated that:

    ‘One member of staff and six male customers were found within.

    ‘During the inspection, officers found evidence to indicate that the premises were used for activities other than those permitted by the licence, specifically sexual activity.

    ‘On behalf of the Chief Constable, I object to the renewal of the licence under the terms of Schedule 1, Paragraph 5 (3) (d) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 on the grounds that the premises have not been operated in accordance with the activities on their licence.’

  • BOOK REVIEW: It’s Okay To Be Gay, Edited by Alison Stokes

    BOOK REVIEW: It’s Okay To Be Gay, Edited by Alison Stokes

    It’s OK to be Gay is a brilliant new book featuring the coming out tales of a number of high profile personalities. Edited by Alison Stokes, It’s OK to be Gay has been created to raise money for the charity Diversity Role Models.

    It’s OK to be Gay contains the coming out stories of a diverse range of LGB people. It may have been too easy for the book to comprise of the usual gay celebrities telling the same tales we have heard many times before. What It’s OK to be Gay does is feature a number of prominent LGB people who discuss their sexuality, their coming out, and how it has shaped their lives. It’s an interesting read and I found myself relating to many of the situations the contributors had faced and the emotions they had experienced.

    The balance of It’s OK to be Gay is just right; the tone is frank and matter of a fact, but not in a way that is shocking or headline grabbing. It’s a collection of real accounts that many readers will relate to. There is something for everyone.

    The one story that stuck out for me was that of the great Phyllis Opoku-Gyimah, co-founder and director of UK Black Pride. Many of the stories show that coming out can be a positive experience, but this particular story shows that it is not always plain sailing. There are some of us who experience negative reactions when coming out and Phyllis’ story is a stark reminder of that. It covers not only being a lesbian, but also black and from a religious household. However, it’s not a story that focuses on the doom and gloom, and Phyllis’ journey demonstrates that each negative experience can be turned into something wonderfully positive.

    Another story that drew my particular attention was the inclusion of the singer Diana King. A long-time admirer of Diana having been brought up on her music in my own mixed race, multi-cultural household, it was interesting for It’s OK to be Gay to feature a coming out story from someone who lives in a country where being gay is not widely accepted. In Jamaica it is a real risk that LGB people can be beaten or even killed due to their sexuality. I feel it is of the utmost importance that a book of this kind covers cultural difficulties that some LGB people can face, and it achieves that with flying colours.

    As a whole package, It’s OK to be Gay covers all bases. The inspiring people who have contributed their stories come from all walks of life, which instantly makes this book endearing. Perhaps it’s true to say that several of the stories are quite similar, but it does prove that although our coming out experiences are as individual as the people we are, there will more often than not be those similarities. The majority of us experience the same worries and apprehensions when faced with coming out.

    I thoroughly recommend getting your hands on It’s OK to be Gay. It’s a delightful and well put together book. I believe it will serve to help and inspire younger LGB people as well as reminding the rest of us that it can and does get better.

    It’s OK to be Gay is available on Amazon.

  • GUILTY PLEASURES: The Shameless Gay Selfie

    The ‘Selfie’ is a modern day version of the self-portrait.

    It is defined by the urban dictionary as –

    “A picture taken of yourself that is planned to be uploaded to Facebook, Myspace or any other sort of social networking website. You can usually see the person’s arm holding out the camera in which case you can clearly tell that this person does not have any friends to take pictures of them…”

    As any modern day gay knows, you are required to upload these to Social Media at least once per day to show the world how fabulous you are! Perez Hilton has recently just jumped on the band wagon, posting pictures of his miraculous weight loss on guyswithiPhones.com

    Whilst these narcissistic, self-indulgent portraits might be extremely pleasurable for the photographer at hand and are useful in the instance that a friend/family member might have forgotten what you look like, they are normally quite painful for the general viewing public.

    A few variations exist, one includes a mirror where the phone is apparent but dignity not. Please be aware that location is everything! Make sure your bedroom is tidy, “The Sexy Selfie” never goes down well when it looks like your application picture for the TV show ‘Hoarders’ and no one really wants to see your “Trout Pout” as you make your claim for Jobseekers Allowance.

    Here is my rundown of the most common –

    “The Trout Pout” – Otherwise referred to as Duck Face! This Selfie is simple and remains popular with gays and gals as apparently looking like a demented duck is hot at the moment. Purse your lips, push them forward and pretend you are doing a sh*t. Think less Naomi Campbell and more Lesley Ash!

    The Sexy Selfie – In a world where online dating is imperative, these are extremely important in bagging yourself a mate! The best time to take these seductive snaps is when you are sitting at home alone doing absolutely nothing sexy at all! Hold your phone high at arm’s length and try to look like you have been drop kicked in the face. Proceed to use this as your profile picture on whichever social media outlet you desire.

    “The I’m Having So Much Fun Selfie” – Points are gained if you take this one with a friend. In the midst of the laughs, chat and fabulous time you are having why not stop everything and take a selfie! Show the world that you are simply having the absolute time of your life! It also works well if taken on holiday sunbathing or at a concert seeing a major recording artist.

    “I’m With a New Guy Selfie” – This selfie normally occurs after the change of a relationship status on Facebook. Long gone are the days of ice cream and countless hours listening to Celine Dion on repeat when breaking up with your Beau. To mend a broken heart, it’s all about the smart phone! Get yourself out there, pick the hottest guy you can find and take a picture. Upload this immediately to Facebook. Extra points for tagging your ex!

    The Sad Face Selfie – This selfie normally occurs two weeks after uploading “I’m With a New Guy Selfie”. Back in the day when you were feeling blue, you locked your doors, shut your curtains and refused to leave the house for several days. Now you have the sad selfie to tell the world how sad and tragic your life is! Upload it to social media to bring your unique brand of sunshine.

    The Post Gym Selfie – This selfie was designed by gay men to make other gay men feel bad about themselves. After a hard slog at the gym, stop, flex and say cheese. Upload this and show the world just how amazing you look! Several versions of this selfie exist, one variation is the headless torso.

    So why not give it a go? All you need is a camera phone, time on your hands and an overinflated ego!

     

     

    And vogue!

  • TV REVIEW | Stephen Fry’s Out There

    TV REVIEW | Stephen Fry’s Out There

    ★★★★ You know when the intelligent heavyweight that is Stephen Fry puts his name to any programme that people will listen.

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  • 6 Of The Best Torture Movies

    As it is #PleasureAndPain month here at TGUK, this month’s 6 of the Best looks at the genre of torture films.

    The genre has recently been subject to a resurgence in mainstream cinema, initially coming back to the attention of the masses with Eli Roth’s much publicised Hostel. The “torture porn” genre, as it is often known, has recently culminated in films such as The Human Centipede 2, which was the subject of much controversy and a “ban” by the BBFC until certain parts were cut from the movie. But the history of on screen torture is long standing with films like Marathon Man and A Clockwork Orange being considered cinema classics. So sit back, prepare to wince, hide that pair of pliers (just in case) and enjoy six of the best…..

    Hostel

    In Eli Roth’s genre setting film, a trio of American students on a back packing trip around Europe find themselves drawn to a Hostel in an unidentified Eastern European country, lured with the promise of sex and hedonistic pleasures. But the Hostel serves to provide young victims for a business which allows the rich to pay to have a private room in an abandoned factory, which is well equipped with every tool and torture device imaginable. The payment allows them to do whatever they want to poor, helpless victims. What follows is a nightmare of pain, graphic scenes of torture and wince inducing moments. For those who are not too keen on watching people have their kneecaps removed with an electric drill, there is always the beautiful looking Jay Hernandez to take your mind off the dank basement horror on display. Hostel was also rated in our most homoerotic horror movies.

    BUY IT FROM AMAZON

    The Tortured

    When his child is abducted and murdered by a paedophile, a young doctor takes matters into his own hands and kidnaps the maniac to exact his revenge. Keeping the killer chained up in his basement, he uses his medical knowledge to ensure that the maximum amount of pain is inflicted whilst keeping him the right side of consciousness. But as the torture continues, the doctor finds himself increasingly struggling with his morals, despite the fate of his child. Jesse Metcalf sheds his Desperate Housewives image with this brutal film which raises an interesting moral debate about how far you would go if someone hurt your loved one which is set against the cruel acts being perpetrated.BUY IT FROM AMAZON

    Martyrs

     

    This French Language film is one of the most notable films to come out of the French New Wave Horror Genre. A young girl seeks revenge on the people who held her captive and tortured her as a child. In her perusal of her captors, it leads her and her best friend, another victim of abuse, on a horrific journey which unfolds the mystery of who the organisation is and why they have a programme of systematic torture. This film is a disturbing mix of psychological horror and brutally realistic scenes of relentless torture, particularly in the latter half. This is extreme cinema and is certainly not for the faint hearted. If you have a low threshold in terms of screen violence, then this is a film you should avoid. If you have a strong stomach, then this film provides some original viewing. This is a good film but certainly not one for everybody.

    BUY IT FROM AMAZON

     

    Eden Lake

    A young couple head to Eden Lake, a beauty spot which will soon be turned into a gated community, for a romantic weekend together. After a run in with a group of hoodie wearing teens, whereby the gang leader’s beloved dog is accidentally killed, the couple find themselves on the run through the woods, relentlessly pursued by the youngsters. This tense British horror/thriller is an excellent film and is filled with realism and scenes which make you hold your breath and peek through your fingers. Michael Fassbender stars in this underrated and incredibly tense film. Watching a gang of youngsters torture the couple is uncomfortable viewing and if you ever wondered what it would look like to cut out someone’s tongue with a Stanley knife, then this is the film for you.

    BUY IT FROM AMAZON

    Hard Candy

    After three weeks of chatting on line, a thirty-two year old photographer arranges to meet a 14 year old girl in a coffee shop. After she shamelessly flirts with him, despite the age difference, she suggests going back to his house where she drugs him and ties him to a chair. She accuses him of being a paedophile and proceeds to try and extract a confession out of him. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, but has she got it wrong, and is his photographic project the real reason why he has met her, or is there something more sinister going on? This film raises a number of moral questions and has you guessing all the way through as to who is right and who is wrong; who is the victim and who is the villain. Once again featuring some moments to make you grimace, this thriller is a tense film which keeps you guessing.

    BUY IT FROM AMAZON

     

    I Spit On Your Grave

    In this remake of the classic 1970’s film, a writer heads to the solitude of an isolated cabin in the woods to cure her writers block. But after falling foul of a group of locals, she is sexually assaulted in a disturbing attack. Managing to escape, she rebuilds her strength and exacts her revenge on each of the gang, one by one, and in fitting ways to how they had treated her. This film is vicious at times and is one of the better remakes of old films of late. Despite the graphic violence on screen, you can’t help but find yourself root for the heroine as she gets one over on the gang who attacked her. And, if you have often dreamed of Chris Hemsworth naked and tied up in front of you, then look no further.

    BUY IT FROM AMAZON

  • THEATRE FEATURE: From Russia, With Love

    A theatrical fundraiser which aims to tackle homophobia in Russian is to take place on Sunday 27th October 2013.

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  • COMEDY REVIEW | In The Midst Of Crackers

    On a journey through debauchery; silliness and hypocrisy, Reginald D. Hunter explores themes of human nature and the intrinsic nuances which make up our cultural world.

    In, In The Midst of Crackers, Hunter takes a more introspective and confessional approach to respond to the controversies which have surrounded his work and, in particular, his choice of language, by demonstrating the hypocrisies which exist hidden behind euphemism, within society.

    Exploring themes of Race; Sex and Relationships through, often, long philosophical ramblings whose only punchline seems to emerge from the need for a release from the awkward tension that has arisen, Hunter poses some difficult questions with a remarkable ability to silence his audience completely, before raising them into a fit of giggle fury.

    The more personal material presented through the discussion of relationships and, in particular, Hunters confessions of cheating on former girlfriends, leaves a slightly awkward and unsympathetic taste, despite the intellectual repartee with which the anecdote is staged, and leaves you feeling a little like you’re sat in the pub with a group of Blokes and a sign outside reading “Beer as cold as your ex-girlfriend’s heart”

    He has an ability to frame a discussion of some merit in rapturous silliness, drawing the audience in with philosophical smarts which endeavour to highlight and often shame the inequalities, hypocrisies and injustices of life and then ending on a butt joke. An altogether whimsy which just goes to show that life is really silly sometimes and so are the inequalities in it.

    The overall tone of the show is one of confession, as Hunter aims to respond to critique; controversy and personal failings, where he is more often than not painted as the “Bad Guy”.

    It is a show that, in its best moments, explores society with philosophical vigour and great intellect leaving the audience in a limbo of perplexing morality and a “whatever” giggle. At times, however, it feels lacking in clarity perhaps, as simply because; life, in itself, is lacking in the very clarity which Hunter aims to examine.

  • Heartbreaking Video About Unmarried Gay Couple Made Into Feature Film

    Four million YouTube views later, Shane Bitney Crone’s emotional story about his partner Tom Bridegroom is made into a film, called Bridegroom.

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