THEGAYUK

Category: Entertainment

  • FILM REVIEW | Reinventing Marvin

    ★★★★ | Reinventing Marvin

    Touching performances make this film about the troubled life of a young gay man In the new film ‘Reinventing Marvin’ a must see.

    Newcomer Finnegan Oldfield plays Marvin as a young man (while Jules Porier plays Marvin in his younger years). As a child, he lived a very dysfunctional, and depressing life. Marvin was bullied and beat up at school, constantly taunted for his soft mannerisms (and also for appearing to be gay), and even worse at home where he had a volatile stepfather, slept in a closet, and had a mother who was supportive yet unable to provide him with what he needed most.

    Reinventing Marvin cleverly uses flashbacks that takes the story from his childhood to him discovering a new life in Paris where he truly discovers who he is. He meets people just like himself there, befriends an older gay couple who provide him support that he never got. And finally, he is introduced to Isabelle Huppert (playing herself), who helps him to tell his life story on stage, which changes Marvin’s life, and perhaps will bring some sort of reconciliation with his family, and hopefully, finally, acceptance.

    Marvin reinvents himself, and it’s nice to see the transformation, and Director and writer Anne Fountaine (The Innocents), has crafted a beautifully told and acted story with great performances.

    Now playing at the cinemas and available to order.

  • Dolly is coming back to the UK

    Dolly is coming back to the UK

    Squeal.

    Dolly Parton

    Dolly Parton is coming back to the UK – with her musical 9 to 5 – and it stars,  Louise Redknapp, Brian Conley, Amber Davis and Natalie McQueen.

    To celebrate, the Queen of Country Music uploaded a camp AF promo starring the cast mates. Check it out

    Book tickets now

    WE. ARE. SO. THERE.

  • There’s a new gay bar opening in Weston-Super-Mare

    There’s a new gay bar opening in Weston-Super-Mare

    A brand new LGBT+ venue is opening in September in Weston-Super-Mare.

    In contrast to the scene across the UK, Weston-Super-Mare is about to get a brand new queer space, Proud Bar after a nearly a decade of no gay scene.

    The bar recently shared a post saying it was “bar stool shopping”

    There are no gay bars in Weston at the moment, the longest standing bar, Alexandra Bar served its last pint in August 2009, before being rebranded as The Edge.

    Weston-Super-Mare does have a very popular annual pride, which is attended by thousands of people.

    The new bar is located 20 Boulevard BS23 1NA in Weston-Super-Mare and is due to open on the 19th September 2018 at 5PM.

     

     

  • 7 LGBT films you need to stream on Netflix September 2018

    Netflix has an incredible catalogue of LGBT+ films on its service. Here are our picks for September 2018

    Pride

    The story is simple, set in 1984 in the midst of the Miner’s strike, the Unions versus Thatcher’s government and its hard stance, and a politicised London gay boy suddenly gets the idea to raise funds for the miners, having heard how they are being intimidated back to work. The majority of the film deals with how the two communities grow to know each other, how the London group gets to grips with a small community and its prejudices (or in some cases, lack of them) and the Welsh group and their education into the world of “the gays”! Read the full review here. Biography  / Comedy  | GAYUK RATING ★★★★★

    King Cobra

    King Cobra Movie

    Based on a true story, King Cobra is the story of the making of a gay porn star and the demise of another and the murder of a studio owner. Starring the newly out Garrett Clayton as gay porn star Brent Corrigan Also starring James Franco and Christian Slater. Biography | GAYUK RATING ★★★★

    Boulevard

    Boulevard Robin Williams

    The late Robin Williams is bank branch manager Nolan Mack. He’s literally just going through life’s motions – working at a bank, with a longtime wife (Kathy Baker) and a very sick father in the hospital. Then one late evening after visiting his father, he drives through a derelict part of town and almost runs over a young man, Leo (Roberto Aguire), who turns out to be a male prostitute. Williams gives a delicate performance as the lonely and subdued Nolan. He’s a man whose conflicted, despondent and depressed until Leo comes into his life. Read the full review here.  Drama | GAYUK RATING ★★★★

    I Am Happiness On Earth

    If you like a conventional start, middle and end to your movies, then this is certainly not one for you. However, if you are up for a very intricate piece that is shot almost like a ballet with its seemingly choreographed moves and against an exhilarating soundtrack (composed by Arturo Villela) that is steeped in both passion and pain (with sex too), then you will revel in this extraordinary new movie. Read the full review here. Drama / Biography | GAYUK RATING ★★★★★

    I Am Michael

    Based on the true story of Michael Glatze, who claimed he was no longer gay and became a straight pastor. But in 1999, Michael was in a gay relationship with boyfriend Bennett (Zachary Quinto) and was the editor of the successful real-life XY Magazine, while at the same time living in San Francisco – it was the ultimate gay life and gay lifestyle. But Bennett’s father has a job for him in Halifax, Canada, so they relocate there – it’s a city with not much to do, but they end up hooking up with the young good looking Tyler (Charlie Carver). But after a few panic attacks, and memories of his late father and mother, Michael starts to question his homosexuality – he starts to re-evaluate his life, loves, and takes up to reading the bible for answers, until one day he leaves it all behind for a new life. Read the full review here. Drama / Biography | GAYUK RATING ★★★★

    Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party

    PR SUPPLIED

    Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party is a coming out story that’s not, forgive the pun, all preachy about being accepted for being gay. It’s a celebration and a masterfully directed film not just about a young man who happens to be coming out of the closet but also about the Evangelical Christian community. Read the full review here.  Drama | GAYUK RATING ★★★★

    Paris Is Burning

    An intriguing view into the world of New York’s ball scene. Fierce drag queens, heartbreaking trans stories and the celebration of LGBT+ life from all walks of life. Award-winning documentary from Jennie Livingston. Powerful and necessary viewing. Documentary | GAYUK RATING ★★★★★

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Keith Kat Klub – Phoenix Artist Club – London

    THEATRE REVIEW | The Keith Kat Klub – Phoenix Artist Club – London

    ★★★★★ | The Keith Kat Klub –The Phoenix Artist Club

    Keith Ramsey is just fantastic in his new one-man show ‘The Keith Kat Club.’

    Now playing at The Phoenix Artist Club, London’s ‘most loved late night local,’ Ramsey is Keith Kat in a show that will razzle and dazzle you (while the musical Chicago plays upstairs at The Phoenix Theatre and is no match for Keith!). In perhaps the most entertaining and best 90 minute show currently playing in the West End, Keith will take you to his own version of Berlin’s Kit Kat Club where he sings songs from the greats, reminiscent of a combination of Joel Grey and Liza Minelli in the film Cabaret.

    Keith completely takes control of his evening and entertains the audience with his winning smile and amazing voice, and convincingly sings songs with the voices of Cher, Bette Davis, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and many many more. But he wows his fans by singing Stephen Sondheim’s ‘The Ladies Who Lunch’ and he saves the best for last, including stunning interpretation of Edith Piaf’s ‘Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien.’

    It’s a show that ends too soon and we are left wanting more and more. Keith Ramsey in The Keith Kat Club is just the best. Enjoy being whisked back in time by the wonderful voice of Ramsey and his superb talents.

    Upcoming show dates are: 12th, 19th, 26th September

    To book, please visit this link:

    https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-keith-kat-klub-tickets-49000396505

  • CABARET REVIEW | Black Cat: Bohemia

    ★★☆☆☆ | Black Cat: Bohemia

    The Black Cat cabaret has been slinking its way round the London circuit for a good few years and frankly, it’s starting to look a bit mangey round the haunches. This autumn’s incarnation is themed around Bohemia with an attempt at a demi-monde atmosphere but which has about as much relation to the bohemian style as an afternoon sipping Sherry and nibbling on Bourbon biscuits with your auntie Pam from Dagenham.

    The problem lies, not in the acts but in the overall show which is lacking in edge. If you’ve seen cabaret before you’ll also have seen it all before and it’ll either have been similar, better or worse in quality than you witness here, which isn’t the problem.

    There’s the usual acrobatics, fire-eating and hoop work and all of it’s pretty much faultless. However, the seven performers feel like a backdrop to the talents of compere Laura Corcoran (a.k.a. Frisky). She banters with the audience, makes jokes, sings a medley of uninspired musical choices (and at times unwise ones such as the choice of trying to cover ‘Wow’ by Kate Bush (who’d even try that?)

    There’s nothing wrong with her work. She’s archly funny and generally fun but there’s just too much of her. Way too much. It feels like the cabaret performers get a brief chance to pop on, do a turn and pop off again and then she’s off again. On the rare occasions that there’s an atmosphere building up or the remotest hint of thrill then she quickly re-appears and the mood returns to bawdy comedic chit chat, dashing any hope of anything that feels cohesive or novel.

    If you’re a huge fan of Miss Frisky then knock yourself out. This is her night and she’s largely only briefly interrupted in owning the stage. If you’re after something darker and more edgy and with some variety then there’s plenty more cabaret shows on the circuit.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, The Birmingham Rep

    ★★★★★ | The Comedy About A Bank Robbery, The Birmingham Rep

     

    Mischief Theatre did it again! Masters of comedy and experts in dropping jaws, The Comedy About A Bank Robbery was another side-splitting hit.

Set in Summer 1958, Minneapolis City Bank has been entrusted with a priceless diamond. An escaped convict is dead set on pocketing the gem with the help of his sidekick who has a crush on him, his con girlfriend, and her con lover. A recipe for hilarious disaster.



    Liam Jeavons, Sean Carey, and Julia Frith did a sterling job at multi-role playing while showcasing dexterity in movement, voice and perfect comedic timing. Particularly stealing the show was Julia as Caprice whose constant tricking of lovers and the incessant charade playing to get out of sticky situations uplifted the very already funny production. Sean as Sam was a mastermind in roleplaying, switching from characters in a matter of minutes and fast changes of costume while never giving up the ‘act’ doing everything for his love, even spanking her boyfriend while they make love – it’s hard to explain; you have to watch it to see what I mean.



    Ruth was another shining gem, playing the mother of Sam, with an angelic voice and superb acting ability full of foxiness. Her energy was effervescent and though was not a key role, she always enhanced the scenes with her character. A very agile performance was seen by George Hannigan who played Caprice’s three lovers – in one scene, it was just George on stage portraying the three men at the same time, changing between each character with such fluidity that each one was clearly distinct.

    All other actors were subliminal too, for instance Damian Lynch who played Bank owner Robin Freeboys had a true command of each scene with intelligent comedic timing. His sidekick Warren Slax played by Jon Trenchard was a formidable entertainer too grabbing the audience by the heartstrings as he was always butt end of a joke or something going wrong.

    What was a real marvel was the set design which contained versatile/multipurpose sets mesmerising the audience. One piece was so jaw-dropping, which speaking to my plus one – thought the same, was the scene on the wall, where Jon and Damian were suspended from the ceiling and acted as if they were grounded! This just shows that Mischief Theatre continues to be bold, unique and dangerous! I hope they are writing the next one!

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Play That Goes Wrong, Theatre Royal Brighton

    ★★★☆☆ | The Play That Goes Wrong

    The Play That Goes Wrong, Theatre Royal Brighton

    There is an old saying in theatre that “the show must go on” and nowhere is that old adage put more to the test than in The Play That Goes Wrong, a comedy of errors which collates every actor’s worst nightmare and throws them at the cast who are determined to carry on regardless.

    Borrowing heavily from The Mousetrap, The Play That Goes Wrong is a scattergun comedy set around the fictitious Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society, who is performing The Murder at Haversham Manor, a murder mystery set in the roaring twenties. Despite the best endeavours of the cast, nothing quite goes right for them, as scenery collapses, actors are knocked unconscious, props break and unprepared understudies stand in.

    With a varied blend of visual gags, slapstick, farce, wordplay, one-liners, missed cues and a rather more animated corpse than one would expect, the gags come thick and fast; some hitting the bullseye and others missing the target; but the whole thing is so fast-paced, that there is always another gag heading your way imminently. Garnering some genuine laugh out loud moments, the show has a sensible one hour forty minute runtime meaning that even if a few of the gags begin to outstay their welcome, the show does not.

    Whilst there is plenty of fun to be found and a lot of chuckles, guffaws and belly-laughs to be had, the ending of the show descends into a rather shouty and chaotic handful of closing scenes which, unfortunately, slightly takes the edge off of what has come before. But that said, the cast is delightful, in particular, Kazeem Tosin Amore; and there is some excellent split second comedic timing and plenty of physical dexterity on offer as the fictional cast try desperately to keep their faces straight, their upper lips stiff and prevent the performance collapsing into a catastrophe.

    *This review was taken from the Sheffield production*

    Book tickets for Theatre Royal Brighton through our ticketing partner ATG Tickets

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Swan Lake – St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre – London

    THEATRE REVIEW | Swan Lake – St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre – London

    ★★★★★| Swan Lake – St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre – London Coliseum

    You’ve only got until Saturday September 1st to see perhaps one of the most amazing, and beautiful, ballet performances you’ll ever see this year, and perhaps in many years.
    The internationally acclaimed St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre have made their return to the London Coliseum with their production of Swan Lake. And what a production it is! With picture perfect ballet performances, amazing costumes, and even more amazing sets, you will sit spell-bound as you watch the performers dance to one, if the not the most, famous ballet pieces of all time.
    The St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre 2015 season was a sell out with over 25,000 seats sold. So due to huge demand, the company has graced London with 9 performances. This strictly limited 2018 season now takes place between Wednesday 22nd August and Sunday 2nd September 2018.
    Founded in 1994, St Petersburg Ballet Theatre is renowned globally not just for its beautiful Vaganova trained dancers, but also for its stunning full-length productions. The company travels internationally performing classical masterpieces from its repertoire includingGiselle,Don Quixote,The NutcrackerandSleeping Beauty. The incredibly popular Company is in such demand that it gives over 200 performances every year.
    Irina Kolesnikova, prima ballerinaat St Petersburg Ballet Theatre since the age of 21, leads the Company that continues to have remarkable successes around the world – from Sydney to Johannesburg, from Paris to Istanbul. And she is truly astonishing in the role.
    Kolesnikova will be joined by guest stars including the Bolshoi Balletprincipals Denis Rodkin and Alexander Volchkov . Both will dance the role of Prince Siegfried. TheMariinsky Theatre’sprincipal dancer, Kimin Kimwill also dance Siegfried. Also joining isBolshoiprincipal dancerYulia Stepanova, who will also dance the role of Odette/Odile.
    Swan Lake, if you don’t know the story, tells the classic love story of Prince Siegfried and Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. St Petersburg Ballet Theatre will perform this balletic masterpiece as it was meant to be seen, boasting gorgeous traditionally painted backdrops, Tchaikovsky’s moving score, a full-sized orchestra and critically acclaimed dancers performing the full-length production for London audiences.Swan Lakeis undoubtedly a production everyone must experience at least once in their life.
    It’s really an amazing production, and will leave you breathless and speechless. I highly recommend getting tickets as soon as possible as the short run, might, and will probably, sell out.
    Production:St Petersburg Ballet Theatre Present Swan Lake
    Venue:London Coliseum,St Martin’s Ln, London WC2N 4ES
    Dates:Wednesday 22ndAugust – Sunday 2ndSeptember 2018
    Performances:Tuesday – Sunday Evenings 19:30, Thursday & Saturday Matinees 14:30, Wednesday 29thAugust & Sunday 2ndSeptember Matinee 14.30
    Prices:£20 – £95 plus booking fee.
    Booking:https://londoncoliseum.org/swan-lake-st-petersburg-ballet-theatre
    Performance Schedule*
    Odette/Odile
    Irina Kolesnikova Aug 22ndeve, 23rdeve, 25thmat, 26thmat, 28theve, 29theve, 30theve, Sept 1stmat,
      2ndSept mat
    Yulia Stepanova Aug 23rdmat, 24theve, 25theve, 29thmat, 30thmat, 31steve, Sept 1steve
    Prince Siegfried
    Denis Rodkin Aug 22ndeve, 23rdeve, 25thmat, 26thmat, 28theve,
    Kimin Kim Aug 23rdmat, 24theve, 25theve, 30thmat, 31steve, Sept 1steve, 2ndeve
    Alexander Volchov Aug 29thmat, 29theve, 30theve, Sept 1stmat
    *The Producers reserve the right to substitute any named artist(s) at any scheduled performance(s).
  • Bianca Del Rio defends rape jokes (sort of)

    Bianca Del Rio defends rape jokes (sort of)

    Bianca Del Rio has gotten into some trouble over a rape joke and now she’s defended herself, kinda, sort of… not really.

    CREDIT: kathclick / Bigstock

    The first thing you need to know about Bianca Del Rio, apart from she is one of the funniest insult comedians on the drag circuit, is that she’s not very good at apologising for jokes that cause offence.

    So to quickly recap, BDR, who won season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race, was performing a routine discussing how emotional the cast of season 10 was. She singled out Blair St. Clair in particular for her emotional recounting of rape at a college party.

    She said,

    “Seriously, I don’t even want to talk about season 10 because every fucking bitch cried every f*cking episode. Did you see that? Every episode!

    It’s her fat ass going ‘Ugh I’m fat’ and then the other one… and then you’ve got that other bitch: ‘I was raped!’

    No – f*ck you. You notice she wasn’t raped until she was in the bottom two? Think about that, bitch – that’s f*cking strategy.

    Oh f*ck you rape is funny if you haven’t had it.

    And if you weren’t raped, remember this – you’re ugly.”

    The comments were quickly condemned, Montreal Pride distanced itself from the queen saying, it was “severely disassociating” from BDR.

    “I wasn’t questioning the validity of anyone’s personal struggles”

    BDR took to Instagram to share her response, which she gave to Hornet, to the backlash,

    “Look, my point was everyone was crying on the last season of Drag Race to win over the judges and “save yourself from elimination.”

    “I wasn’t questioning the validity of anyone’s personal struggles, but bringing it up right before you “lip sync for your life” was strategic … in my opinion.

    “Back in the day, when a man in a wig had to “lip sync for their life,” they relied on a wig reveal, rose petals or picking up their opponent and twirling them around.

    “Maybe I’m just nostalgic for the old days when drag was fun, not personal.

    “Call it political correctness, social justice or whatever else. Bottom line is there will always be people who don’t agree with you. That’s life. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. That’s why there’s coffee.”

    Blair St. Clair responded (although didn’t mention BDR by name) with a statement “rape jokes contribute to rape culture”.

    “In the U.S. someone is sexually assaulted every 2 minutes, but people persist in thinking that making rape or sexual assault jokes is “comedy.” It is not. Rape jokes contribute to rape culture”.

     

     

     

     

  • The world’s first bisexual dating show is coming to the UK and Courtney Act is HOSTING

    There’s a brand new dating show launching and the focus is bisexual people.

    (C) Magnus Hastings

    How about this for representation?

    E! Entertainment Television UK & Ireland, NBCUniversal International Networks’ pop culture channel, has commissioned a ten-part reality dating series entitled The Bi Life, for the UK and Ireland markets. The original concept, produced by NBCUniversal International Studios’ Monkey, is the first UK broadcast series to focus exclusively on bisexual dating. It will see a group of bisexual+ (bi, pansexual, fluid, etc.) or questioning British singletons sent on an adventure to find love abroad.

    Fronted by entertainer, advocate and Celebrity Big Brother 2018 winner, Shane Jenek (also known as Courtney Act), The Bi Life will premiere in October 2018 and will be set against the cosmopolitan backdrop of Barcelona. The cast will live together, party together and help each other navigate the rocky road of bisexual+ dating as they observe and feedback on each other’s experiences. For some, this will mean exploring who they are, for the very first time.

    Throughout the experience, the cast will provide each other with support and encouragement as they share their stories, form new friendships and go looking for love. The series will chart their highs and lows as they embark on a life of dating and romance in Barcelona.

    Shane Jenek says: “As if this summer hasn’t been hot enough, we decided to crank it up another notch with The Bi Life on E! It’s high time there was a dating show for the large number of young people today, like me, who are attracted to more than one gender. In 2018 we know that sexuality is fluid and sharing the stories and experiences, the laughter and the love making, of young bi people is so important. So get ready to see the true stories of bisexual singles, who are the largest part of the LGBTQ+ community, but the least known.”

    “This new commission is a pivotal point for E! Entertainment Television in the UK as we bring a fresh take on the full diversity of modern British relationships,” commented Lee Raftery, Managing Director UK & Emerging Markets and Chief Marketing & Content Officer, NBCUniversal International. “With the number of British people identifying themselves as bisexual rising by 73% in four years*, we are incredibly excited to be introducing this pioneering series to our audiences in the UK and Ireland.

    Ros Coward, Monkey, Executive Producer comments: “A TV show that better reflects diversity within society’s dating pool has been long overdue. The Bi Life is a modern dating show for a modern generation of daters and E! is the perfect home for it.”

    The Bi Life was commissioned for NBCU International for E! Entertainment Television UK. It will be produced by Monkey, the award-winning makers of Made in Chelsea and The Real Housewives of Cheshire.

    Further details on the series format and cast members are set to be announced in the coming weeks.