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  • THEATRE REVIEW | Dreamboats And Petticoats, UK Tour

    ★★ | Dreamboats And Petticoats

    Dreamboats and Petticoats transports the audience back to the early 1960s where two young friends, Bobby and Ray, spend their evenings at the youth club hanging around with the local band. Bobby auditions for the role of lead singer but is beaten to the role by Norman, the new guy in town and a suave ladies’ man, brimming with self-confidence. Bobby has a crush on Sue, Sue has a crush on Norman and Laura, Ray’s sister, has a crush on Bobby. With the announcement that there is a national song writing contest on the horizon and every one dying for fame and fortune, their lives, loves and song writing partnerships are played out against a belting Rock ‘n’ Roll soundtrack.

    This jukebox musical has been successfully packing out theatres both in the West End and around the country for a number of years and upon watching it, you can easily see how it appeals to its target audience and how the sense of nostalgia and the sentimental glance back to the 60s, resonates with those who lived through the time. The show references those things from the audience’s childhood and serves as a nod to more carefree days where the lure of American culture beckoned and music was breaking new ground.

    The show itself is bursting with a relentless barrage of classic Rock ‘n’ Roll songs – around 40 in total – and it’s hard to deny that the selection of songs are balanced in terms of the upbeat numbers and the ballads. Songs such as “Let’s Dance”, “Bobby’s Girl”, “Do You Wanna Dance”, “Let’s Twist Again”, “C’mon Everybody” and “Teenager In Love” all make an appearance and do get the feet tapping. The songs were impressively performed by the on stage band, with many of the cast playing numerous musical instruments and a couple of the songs being accompanied by enjoyable ensemble pieces.

    There were, however, a number of flaws in the show. The predictable plot and clichéd characterisations were paper thin and served mainly as a link from one song to another. The production of the show was very basic, with a largely static set, minimal props and uncomplicated choreography; the volume of the music far outweighed the vocals for the majority of the show and the microphones for the cast were frequently tuned on after they had started their lines. The show came across as a cabaret performance and you had to wonder whether putting the story to one side and having a musical revue of Rock ‘n Roll songs, in the same vein as “Thriller Live!” would have been a better idea.

    But despite its basic appearance, the appeal of this show is the nostalgia for an older audience and the music. For those who like Rock ‘n’ Roll, they will enjoy the almost constant musical numbers. The show does finish with a mini concert which had the audience on their feet and the resounding cheers and applause suggested that the audience had thoroughly enjoyed the show as a whole. However, this show sadly lacked style and substance over and above a decent band and a soundtrack of classic songs.

    The show is currently at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre until Saturday 18th January 2014 (details can be found here www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk) before continuing on its national tour. Details of the tour can be found at www.dreamboatsandpetticoats.com

  • CNWL NHS named as one of the top gay friendly employers

    Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) has been rated one of the most gay-friendly employers to work for by gay rights organisation Stonewall.

    The Trust was ranked 23rd in the charity’s annual Top 100 Employers List which showcases the achievements of employers submitting to the Workplace Equality Index.

    As part of the submission, employees from across the United Kingdom were asked to complete a confidential survey rating their employer’s performance in LGB related matters. A total of 38 different industries from across the private, public and third sectors entered the Index this year, many of these being international private sector organisations with far greater resource than the public sector.

    Organisations were required to not only explain what they do to improve their workplace for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff, but also to demonstrate how that has had a real and lasting impact on their organisation.

    Robyn Doran, CNWL Chief Operating Officer, Equality and Diversity Lead and member of the LGBT Staff Network, said “We are immensely proud to be recognised for our work in creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for our lesbian, gay and bisexual employees. Getting to number 23 is not an overnight achievement; it is thanks to the efforts of our Equality and Diversity Team, the LGBT Staff Network and a commitment by the leadership team to demonstrate the kind of employer we want to be and our core values. We hope to improve upon this result year after year.”

    Stonewall, Europe’s biggest LGB charity, praised the Trust for its efforts and cited its policy of delivering LGBT equality and awareness training.

    Claire Murdoch, CNWL Chief Executive, said “This is a fantastic achievement! The nature of our workforce and of the populations that we serve means that, for all staff, responding to diversity lies at the heart of our CNWL identity. As a Trust, we are committed to ensuring that staff, service users and patients are treated with equal respect and dignity and warmth, irrespective of their diversity.”

    The Trust’s employee engagement activities include strong and robust policies to tackle workplace discrimination, an advice, information and support service for LGBT staff, internal communication channels to raise employees’ awareness of issues affecting LGBT people, as well as training to equip staff to foster an inclusive working environment and reinforce the message that CNWL does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Putting It Together, St. James Theatre

    ★★★★★ | Putting It Together, St. James Theatre

    The original New York production of “Putting It Together”, a musical revue created by Julia McKenzie and Stephen Sondheim, starred none other than Julie Andrews. This first London staging of the show is much like Ms Andrews’ famous character Mary Poppins: practically, perfect in every way.

    If you already love Sondheim then this is a rare treat, with a chance to see a whole host of his songs performed to a stunningly high standard. If you don’t know Sondheim’s work then this is a brilliant way to get to know his style and revel in his wit and panache.

    From lovelorn, embittered and angry, through to wistful, longing and hopeful, the song selection covers a huge range of emotions and facets of the terrifying and perplexing thing that is human relations. The cast selection is staggeringly good too. Listening to David Bedella’s voice is like sipping smooth Bourbon, whilst Janie Dee manages to pack pathos, rage and comedy into every word (and what a lot of words some of the numbers contain). Damian Humbley, Daniel Crossley and Caroline Sheen make up the rest of the strong five-person cast and all do more than justice to Sondheim’s numbers with amazing vocal talents, backed by a skilled sextet of musicians.

    The show cleverly utilises a diverse range of songs as the audience watch the progress of a couple as they undergo a tempestuous night at a cocktail party. The audience last night certainly loved the show and there was a standing ovation with rapturous applause.

    I can’t recommend this enough. It’s on for a strictly limited 3 week run until the 1st of February

    Buy tickets here: http://www.stjamestheatre.co.uk/events/putting-it-together/

  • TOWIE Star Dan Osborne Shows Off Body For Splash

    TOWIE Star Dan Osborne Shows Off Body For Splash

    Well hello Boys! TOWIE Star Dan Osborne shows off his form in Baywatch style swimmers for next episode of Tom Daley’s Splash!

    Dan Osborne has been confirmed as one of the next celebrities for Tom Daley’s current promotional vehicle Splash!

    Each will each take to the diving board under the watchful eye of Olympic Bronze medal and British and European Championship winner Tom Daley, in an attempt to master one of sport’s most difficult disciplines.

    The five are currently in training ahead of diving live in a bid to impress the show’s panel of the judges and the viewing public.

    Dan said “Splash! is the best of both worlds for me as I love a challenge and I’m totally sports mad. That said I’ve never even been able to dive off the side of a pool so how I’ll cope with the heights is anyone’s guess. I’m most nervous about diving in front of an audience but as long as I stay focused hopefully I’ll get through.”

     

     

  • Men charged for homosexual group sex in China

    Eight men have been charged for engaging in homosexual group sex in China.

    • 8 Men from the ages of 20-40 were discovered by police naked in hotel room
    • Participants were charged 50 yuan (£5) by the organiser to attend China.org,cn reports
    • The group was organised via chat service QQ

    Eight men in the Xuhui District, in Shanghai have been given detention or administrative penalties for participating in group sex, China.org.cn are reporting.

    According to the site, Mr. Wu, the organiser booked a hotel room and waited for attendees, who he connected with via a chat service called QQ. Wu charged each of the attendees 50 Yuan to attend, around £5.

    He was sentenced to five months of administrative detention for engaging and organising the group sex. The attendees were give administrative penalties.

    China has a chequered history in LGBT rights – same-sex sexual activity has only been legal since 1997, whilst the country does not recognise gay relationships or marriages. Same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt and there is no legal statute to protect gays from discrimination. However transsexuals are legally permitted to change their legal gender.

    Homosexuality was removed from the Ministry Of Health’s list of mental illnesses in 2001.

  • SINGLE REVIEW | Shakira Ft. Rihanna I Can’t Remember To Forget You

    What do you get when you mix one of Latin music’s biggest female stars with one of the hottest stars on the planet at the moment? Well, the answer is, ‘I can’t remember to forget you’ the new collaboration from Shakira and Rihanna! On Monday the 13th of January, after Rihanna hinting only a week before on her Twitter page that it might be happening, something extremely exiting happened. Fans didn’t have long to wait.
    This up-tempo song is a blend of Latin, Reggae and Pop-Rock. The verse begins sounding Latin pop with Reggae induced RnB beats and soon morphs into a guitar heavy chorus that sounds more signature Shakira. I was a little worried with both gals having a bit of an accent of how it would sound but it works perfectly. Shakira’s odd but brilliant vocals deliver the lyrics “But when you look at me, the only memory, is us kissing in the moonlight”. Rihanna then pipes up, in the second verse, singing “I go back again, fall off the train, land in his bed, repeat yesterday’s mistakes” in her cool, edgy and fun voice with her accent sounding more Bajan than ever.

    The song is about a woman who knows she should forget all about her undeserving man but can’t help but fall back into his arms. You could be forgiven for thinking Rihanna was referring to her turbulent relationship with Chris Brown but I doubt the songs intention is to dig that deep. This is a fun, pop anthem with two of music’s hottest babes.

    The artwork for single is equally as exciting. Shakira with her blonde locks tousled over one shoulder and minimalistic make up looks simply stunning! Rihanna, her dark, bouncy curls lying over Shakira’s lap looks smouldering with her blood red lipstick and cleavage aplenty!

    This will be the debut single from Shakira’s long awaited, untitled album and is already storming the charts. It’s her first single since ‘Waka Waka’ the song she wrote for the 2010 World Cup. The Columbian goddess is no stranger to a savvy collaboration. Since her 2001’s triple platinum album ‘Laundry Service’, she has teamed up with Beyoncé, Pittbull, Dizzee Rascal and who can forget the fabulous, belly-dancing, bum shaking ‘Hips don’t Lie’ with Wyclef Jean. The judge from The Voice is back again and she aint messing around. “It was utopia. She’s the sexiest woman on the planet.” Shakira tells Glamour magazine on working with Rihanna. She’s a crafty one is our Shakira. RiRi can do no wrong at the moment, she is music royalty, at the top of her game and manages to add a little sprinkle of Bajan magic to anything she touches.

    This song certainly does what it set out to do and that is to tell the world Shakira is back!
    Is it as good as her 2007 collaboration ‘Beautiful Liar’ with the bootylicious Beyoncé? I will let you decide!

  • Boy George’s backing dancer gets own radio show

    New LGBT Radio Show ‘Noise In The Machine’ Starts On Hotmale Radio

    • New show broadcast by 24/7 radio station Hotmale Radio
    • Show presented by Marc Massive, who has fronted Massive Ego since 1996
    • Marc Massive Was Dancer For Boy George

    Marc Massive adds a new string to his bow with the introduction of his new show on HotMale Radio.

    The radio star is not shy of publicity having been a backing dancer for Boy George, a model for Dolce And Gabanna and has even fitted his pert butt into a pair of Levi’s before now.

    Massive’s new show is broadcast on Saturday night

    You can listen to the show via their new app or via their website.

  • Your new popsession is Bel Heir

    Boys & Girls, let me introduce you to amazingly named Bel Heir
    A 4 piece outfit from sunny Philadelphia in the US of A. Over the past year they have been releasing 2 singles a month, slowly building up an impressive collection of music, even more impressive when you hear them and then realise they are still unsigned.

    So this music then, If you can imagine a bit of Lana Del Rey’s glamorous gloom-pop throw in a touch of London Grammar, a dash of the Twin Peaks theme and pile on some sexy brooding synths and you have the makings of a very special band indeed.

    The sound is fresh, thrilling, hypnotic but at the same time, it sounds like you have been listening to them for years, like a hot cup of tea on a cold but sunny winter day, basically.

    “Fault Lines” really is like the offspring of the Twin Peaks theme and Lana Del Reys’ retro Americana at its finest. “Kiss The Devil” for me is their standout track, a glossy, dramatic, huge chorused anthem about liking bad girls or boys, and lets face it, we have all been there at some point in our lives.

    If you love discovering new music then it would be rude to not to have a listen to “Bel Heir”
    Like the aforementioned bad boys/girls one taste and you will be hooked!

    Check them out here at these various internet places.

    Facebook / Twitter / Soundcloud

  • Heartbreaking online vigil for Roger Jean Claude Mbede

    A heartbreaking online vigil has gone online at AllOut.org for Roger Jean-Claude Mbédé who was killed in Cameroon, where it is still illegal to be gay.

    • Roger Jean-Claude Mbédé was jailed for 3 years in prison
    • He had sent a text saying ‘I’m very mich in love w/u
    • He faced physical abuse and was unable to find employment or critical healthcare after prison.

    Sign Petition Now

    From AllOut.org

    On January 10, 2014, we learned that Roger Jean-Claude Mbédé had died in Cameroon. Roger had been sentenced to 3 years in prison because he sent another man an SMS that said “I’m very much in love w/u” – in a country where it’s illegal to be gay.

    The details of how Roger died are not yet clear – but what we know is this: In prison he faced physical abuse and medical emergencies. Out of jail he was attacked and turned away from employment, school, shelter and even critical healthcare.

    Despite attacks and great hardship, Roger spoke out against Cameroon’s anti-gay law. He said he did it so that other lesbian, gay, bi and trans people in Cameroon would not have to face what he did.

    Roger lived with love but died without seeing justice for himself. The world needs to hear his story. Will you add your name to this ‘virtual vigil’ to honour Roger’s memory, and call for an end to the anti-gay laws that are destroying lives?

    Sign Petition Now

  • Autopsy show about Whitney Houston on Channel 5 tonight

    Channel 5 will broadcast a programme tonight on the autopsy of Gay Icon Whitney Houston to discover the reasons for the diva’s death.

    This episode features Whitney Houston, a singer and actress with a once-in-a-generation voice that propelled her into the pop stratosphere. No amount of talent, however, could protect her from the demons that brought about her death in a Hollywood hotel bathroom at the age of just 48.

    The evidence revealed by Houston’s autopsy tells an astonishing story of excess. It reveals in detail the damage done by years of abuse, from liver and heart disease caused by alcohol and smoking to the perforated septum ravaged by repeatedly snorting cocaine. The programme also uncovers the cocktail of drugs that contributed to the star’s death, from prescription medications to marijuana and freebase cocaine.

    Most importantly, the evidence offers a unique insight into the final minutes of Houston’s life alone in a bathroom, finally revealing the causes of her death, how she died, and the desperate battle to save her life.

  • Nigeria passes anti-gay law

    The president of Nigeria has signed a new bill, shrouded in secrecy that outlaws homosexuality.

    • Law criminalises homosexuality
    • Punishment includes prison tariff up to 14 years.
    • Law does not allow gay clubs, associations or organisations.

    A step in the wrong direction for Nigerian LGBT people, as the Country’s President signs into law a bill that will make being gay in the African country a near impossibility, the telegraph is reporting

    Associated Press obtained a copy of the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which was signed by President Goodluck on the 7th January. However, no official announcement was made that the law had been signed.

    The law has made it illegal for gay people to hold meetings, run LGBT organisations, associations and clubs.

    Nigeria is still part of the Commonwealth. Last year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II signed a charter that opposed all forms of discrimination.

    TheGayUK has contacted the Commonwealth for comment.

    British human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell, has been campaigning with Nigerians against the Bill. He commented:

    ‘This is a tragic day for human rights in Nigeria. Signing the Bill is a backward step that gravely intensifies the already existing harsh anti-gay laws in Nigeria. These laws were originally imposed by the British during the period of colonial rule in the nineteenth century.

    ‘The legislation outlaws the hosting, participation or witnessing of a same-sex marriage or civil union. It also criminalises LGBT organisations and advocacy groups, support for gay organisations and events, and public expressions of same-sex affection. This makes it one of the most draconian homophobic laws in the world.

    ‘The Bill violates the equality and non-discrimination clause of the Nigerian constitution (Article 42), the Commonwealth Charter and Articles 2 and 3 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, which Nigeria has signed and pledged to uphold.

    ‘This law is symptomatic of the many human rights abuses that prevail in Nigeria and which all Nigerians – LGBT and straight – have a common interest in overturning.’

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