THEGAYUK

Tag: London News

All the latest from London, the capital of the UK, home to the UK’s largest gay community.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Get Em Off, Above The Stag

    ★★★ | Get Em Off

    Well, it’s not exactly The Full Monty – it’s called ‘Get ‘Em Off!’ Set in the suburbian enclave of Croydon, ‘Get ‘Em Off’ takes place in the only gay bar around for miles – The Golden Canary – and it’s a dive.

    Run by proprietor/proprietress Quinny, a/k/a Baz (Dereck Walker), it’s a bar that needs some spicing up. So it’s his employee Mitch (Joe Goldie) who comes up with the idea of turning Monday night into a gay strip competition to bring in more customers. And so that’s what they do. And they encourage their customers to enter in the hopes of winning the cash prize. Milosh (Michael Nelson), from Kosovo, is one of the first ones to enter, he’s definitely not shy about showing his body. Then there’s Ricky (Ashley Daniels), who is a regular customer to the bar when his boring partner (David Michael Hands) is out of town on business and who actually forbids Ricky from going to the gay bar as he doesn’t think they should lead ’that kind of lifestyle.’ But there’s a spark between Milosh and Ricky that’s palpable.

    Meanwhile back at the bar, Baz, all dolled up in sequins and a head wrap, hosts the competition. Mitch urges his all so sexy and very hot straight friend Luke (Tom Bowen) to enter, hey Luke’s wife is about to give birth to their first child so he says why not? And it’s poor Brian (Stuart Harris), Mitch’s school teacher, newly single after six years, trying to find his way back into the gay scene, and finds himself at The Golden Canary. With the strip competition such a success, Quinny decides to enter her men in a national strip competition. So ‘Get Em Off’ follows The Full Monty’s plot where the men practice and practice for the competition where we all know what’s going to happen.

    ‘Get Em Off’ should’ve been called ‘The Gay Full Monty.’ It’s a camp musical comedy with very funny lines but not very funny nor memorablesongs (one is titled ‘Get Your Dick Out).

    The book, by Jon Bradfield and Martin Hooper, gives Quinny some of the best lines in the show, though Milosh and Mitch have some as well. Walker steals the show even when his/her men get naked – he’s hilarious! Hands also deserves a mention as he plays various roles and is unrecognizable in each one of them. ‘Get Em Off’ is not the best show the Above the Stag has produced, but it’s perhaps perfect for the summer season when all gay boys want to do is see to watch light-hearted fare with cute guys and lots of nudity. This is the show for them.

    Get Em Off run at Above The Stag until 28/08/16

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Dancing with the Devil

    ★★★ | Dancing with the Devil

    Josh Brandao and Nicolai Kornum
    Josh Brandao and Nicolai Kornum

    Rudolph Nureyev was one of the greatest ballet dancers of the 20th century. His colourful life and volatile personality make him a fascinating study and a perfect subject for drama. Aletta Lawson has taken an inspired premise of looking at Nureyev’s life in retrospect via his dying delusions. Starting in his Parisian flat in the early 1990s we see Nureyev in his early 50s, weak and frail, in denial about his imminent death from an AIDS. related illness. He opens and closes a jewellery box, conjuring up hallucinations of his most famous dance partner Margot Fonteyn (who sits on a lit podium like a ballerina on a spring in a child’s music box). His memories drift back to his early life, through to his present illness.

    The program contains a writer’s note stating that the play isn’t intended to be a biography. Bizarrely, the play then runs as a biography with a whistle stop and often superficial imagining of key events in Nureyev’s life. We briefly glimpse a troubled childhood, the discovery of his talent, his defection to the West, his love affair with Eric Bruhn and some of the more show-business aspects of his stardom. It’s a lot to fit into ninety minutes and the play suffers for this, often failing to have impact or to convincingly engage with emotional events.

    Benny Maslov is spookily reminiscent of Nureyev and he works well within the confines of an often-clumsy and occasionally mawkish script. The moments where he dances are illuminating and captivating although sadly sparse. He captures a multi-faceted character perfectly, veering from petulant arrogance, passionate perfectionism through to glimpses of vulnerability and fragility.

    There are some good scenes such as the one where Rudolph and Eric first meet or the occasional interactions with Nureyev and Fonteyn. Sadly, these are few and far between and the play feels bogged down by its awkward dialogue and occasionally clumsy presentation. Some of the accents feel like they belong in terrible 1980s sit-com ‘Allo ‘Allo and the acting is variable with some uncomfortable moments that are painfully pantomime where the comedy falls entirely flat.

    This is worth seeing for Maslov’s performance alone but that aside this is a 5 star performance from an accomplished actor and dancer in a 2 star play.

    Dancing with the Devil plays at Sadlers Well until 29th of June 2016

  • “Get Gays Out” chant heard in London’s Covent Garden

    “Get Gays Out” chant heard in London’s Covent Garden

    Racist and homophobic chants have been reportedly heard in the centre of London, days after London plays host to UK’s biggest Pride.

    CREDIT: ©-Chalabala-Depositphotos
    CREDIT: ©-Chalabala-Depositphotos

    Chants of, “Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves! First we’ll get the Poles out, then the gays!” was allegedly heard in Covent Garden, London over the weekend after over a million people participated in Pride In London.

    A group walking down Drury Lane in Covent Garden, a short distance away from where Pride took place on Saturday, was heard shouting the racist and homophobic chant just days after the UK voted to leave the EU.

    Hate crimes reports have surged 57 per cent since the vote.

    Colin Appleby told Gay Star News that he heard the chants as he went to bed.

    “I was in bed just drifting off to sleep when I heard them.

    “There had been football chants all day long from the direction of the pubs so didn’t really pay much attention until the words became clearer.

    “This is Drury Lane in Covent Garden, London, it’s the home two theatres, a plethora of restaurants and bars and it is in liberal, tolerant London.

    “To those who voted Leave but didn’t have the balls to stand up and counter the racism underpinning that campaign, I say be careful what you wish for.”

    The incident has been reported to the police.

    ALSO READ: Homophobic hate crime soars in London

     

  • WATCH | Peter Tatchell addresses Pride In London

    WATCH | Peter Tatchell addresses Pride In London

    Human rights activist Peter Tatchell addressed thousands of people in Trafalgar Square over the weekend.

    Peter Tatchell Foundation
    Peter Tatchell Foundation

    The long-time rights advocate and campaigner, Peter Tatchell addressed thousands of people at Trafalgar Square over the weekend at Pride In London.

    He spoke for just over four minutes and paid tribute to the Orlando victims as well as standing up for Muslim communities asking to remember not to “demonize” or “scapegoat” Muslim people.

    He called for “solidarity to fight all hate.”

    Remembering the Orlando victims, Tatchell said,

    “It’s hard on this day of joy to not forget the pain and anguish the people of Orlando have felt and are feeling, but we stand in solidarity with LGBT Orlando, we stand in solidarity with LGBT people everywhere who are affected by hate crime.”

     

  • BAR REVIEW | Myki Sand Bar Sails into Soho

    ★★ | Myki Sand Bar

    Archer Street Bar Soho, oddly enough on Archer Street, when mentioned might send an immediate dentist-implement-touching-nerve to your heart. This used to be the bricks and mortar that housed a guaranteed-tug-in-the-toilets bar and felt like throwing-shapes-on-three-week-old-pina-colada dance floor, once known as Barcode Soho. The good old days: still missed by many, we are sure.

    What London needed, and of course what this great country needed, was another heterosexual establishment. Archer Street Bar draws a clientele that travels to Ascot by coach, buys their fascinators from Debenhams and still thinks holidaying in Ibiza is cool.

    Myki Sand Bar is located on the lower ground floor where the sticky dance floor once resided, and is billed as ‘London’s first beach club bar’ – a pop-up until late 2016. White and blue sails hang from the ceiling, white painted wooden boards, blue cushions, sandbox seating areas and some scattered beach balls – an impersonation of Neptune’s from ITV’s Benidorm.

    It would have been quicker to fly to Mykonos and sample an authentic Greek cocktail – the beach boys behind the bar were as quick as a deflating lilo.

    Parched, but eager to sample, we started with a Myki’s signature cocktail, Heatwave: Ciroc vodka, peach liqueur, chilli bitters and orgeat served martini-style at £12.50. Peachy with a sand-in-ya-eye chilli twist – worth its weight in budgie-smugglers.

    Corporate functions and those who think they are worthy of a ‘VIP booth’ (Myki’s has a few) will like the setup.

    Our next tipple, Boys of the Summer: Ciroc pineapple, blood peach puree, lime juice, vanilla topped with Billecart Salmon champagne. It was like drinking breakfast juice – maybe they thought one cocktail was enough for us gays and didn’t add the alcohol. At £14.50 a pop we could have better spent on two bottles of Factor 15 Piz Buin – what a waste.

    If you want sand this summer head to Kent’s Botany Bay or hop on a plane.  If you want over-priced but decent cocktails, head to Ham Yard Hotel or The Blind Pig at The Social Eating House – both in Soho. And if you want to wear a Hawaiian shirt – best not to leave the house.

    Myki Sand Bar Opening Hours: Thurs–Sat: 4pm–1am

    Private Hire: Monday – Saturday

    Capacity: 220

    Archer Street |3-4 Archer Street Soho London W1D 7AP T – 020 7734 3342 www.archerstreet.co.uk
    bookings@archerstreet.co.uk

  • Building firm fined over half a million for the deaths of gay couple

    Building firm fined over half a million for the deaths of gay couple

    A construction company has been fined over £500,000 after a gay couple fell to their deaths.

    CREDIT: Facebook / Evening Standard

    Gavin Brewer, 32, and Stuart Meads, 34, both fell to their deaths in October 2013 after making contact with hoarding on a building which gave way sending both men down a 12ft drop.

    Both Gavin and Stuart were pronounced dead at the scene following their fall.

    Monavon Construction pleaded guilty to the corporate manslaughter of Gavin Brewer, 32, and Stuart Meads, 34, at the Old Bailey on Monday, 9 May.

    The Metropolitan Police launched a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive. This investigation found that the hoardings had been fixed in such a way that only negligible force would have been required to make them give way.

    Monavon Construction were responsible for a building site in Netley Street at the junction with Hampstead Road, NW1. Work had been ongoing at the site for approximately three years and construction was nearing its conclusion.

    Part of the site bordered Netley Street and plywood hoardings had been put in place there which covered the pavement. On 14 October 2013 work began to change the hoarding so the pavement could be reinstated. On Friday, 18 October this work had been completed leaving the hoardings, measuring approximately 4ft in height, fixed by wooden struts to a wall behind which measured between 130mm to 280mm in height.
    Behind this wall was a drop of approximately 12ft down into a basement area.

    Monavon was fined £250,000 each for the deaths of Gavin Brewer and Stuart Meads as well as £50,000 for heath and safety breached. They were also ordered to pay £23,653 prosecution costs.

    Mr Meads’s father told the London Evening Standard shortly after his death,

    “Stuart was a wonderful son and is a huge loss to our family. We are in shock. It is a very difficult time.”

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Barbu

    ★★★★ | Barbu

    What can be better on a rainy summer night in London than sitting in an atmospheric, mirror lined, wooden tent (once graced by Marlene Dietrich) and watching a troupe of hairy male acrobats strip down to their skimpy pants? Not much if you ask me. I quite like a hairy man in black pants. Cirque Alfonse have returned to London Wonderground after their hit show “Timber!” with another testosterone-fuelled show of daring circus skills. “Barbu” is absurd, silly and above all entertaining.

    Accompanied by a live band, who set the tone with a throbbing and dirty soundtrack, they roller skate, backflip and form human pyramids. The awkward yet thrilling dancing is a site to behold and there’s more perineum and hairy thigh flashed onstage than in a night in a backroom in Playa Del Ingles. Naturally they’re not just pieces of gristly, fleshy meat with beards (but oh what flesh). They’re also consummate performers who are self-mocking and raucously funny at times. Whilst not the most thrilling of circus shows around, there are moments that set the audience’s pulses racing. It’s also an incredibly raunchy show, provided dirty and sweaty gets you off. There’s a moment of pure beauty when they set a whole new standard of pole dancing with an ensemble horizontal twirl. It’s a wry and witty piece that’s good (if not clean) fun.

    The show starts a little too slowly and although there’s nothing limp about these men there’s the occasional flaccid moment in the first half hour or so. Prepare to be wowed when it warms up though. There’s real skill here and whilst the movements are less balletic than gruff bearish male strutting and lumbering this just adds to their charm. The physical performances are definitely spectacular too.

    The Southbank’s Wonderground is a stylish funfair themed go to venue for early evening drinks and there’s a frenetic feel to this show that mixes well with alcohol and groups of friends. It’s not hard to see why this show was such a hit in Edinburgh last year.

     

    Reviewed by Chris Bridges, follow on Twitter

  • Addison Lee showing their pride by turning 30 cars into rainbows

    Will you be stepping into a rainbow taxi this weekend for Pride in London?

    Addison Lee Pride Car 2

    Addison Lee are coming out in support of the gay community by turning 30 of their fleet into rainbow cars.

    The car service is offering a promotional discount code (*PRIDE10) to help revellers get around on the day of the London parade, Saturday 25th June. Addison Lee will also be donating £5 to Pride for every customer that uses that code right until the end of July.

    This, they hope is a visual reminder of the real investment by Addison Lee in its commitment to the vales of tolerance, equality and diversity.

    Addison Lee Pride Car (3)

    Andy Boland, CEO, Addison Lee says,

    “Addison Lee has been proud to serve all Londoners for over 40 years. Pride is a great opportunity for Addison Lee to celebrate that we do more than anyone else in the industry to train drivers about equality and diversity issues.”

    Michael Salter-Church MBE, Chair, Pride in London says,

    “I salute Addison Lee for the journey that it has undertaken as a business. Its equality, diversity and disability training is unmatched within the minicab industry. We are delighted to have Addison Lee as our transport partner, helping volunteers, performers and others to create a successful Pride.”

     

    Addison Lee has worked for the last three years with Stonewall, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender rights charity, to create an inclusive and accepting environment in its vehicles and offices. The company’s determination to ensure that all of its passengers and drivers feel safe and secure has been recognised by Stonewall with the award of Diversity Champion status.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Aladdin

    ★★★★ | Aladdin

    Disney has done it again. They’ve produced another musical based on one of their very popular animated movies – this time it’s Aladdin.

    Already playing on Broadway where it opened in 2014 to very good reviews, Aladdin takes the colorful animated movie and successfully transfers it to the stage. It’s a production so colourful, so full of life, with quite a few memorable scenes, that it’s likely this show will follow in the footsteps of The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast in entertaining lots of children (and adults) for years to come.

    Of course the Aladdin film is most famous for Robin Williams as the voice of the Genie. It was a natural fit; his huge character persona so in line with the genie’s. In the stage version, the genie is just as memorable (played by a campy and very funny Trevor Dion Nicholas), who practically steals every scene he’s in. He can grant three wishes in this love story between Aladdin (Dean John-Wilson) and the Princess Jasmine (Jade Ewen). Aladdin is poor, and hangs out with a trio of losers and thugs in the town of Agrabah. Meanwhile Princess Jasmine is very unwilling to enter into an arranged marriage by her father the Sultan (Irvine Iqbal). But lurking in the background is the Sultan’s Prime Minister Jafar (Don Gallagher) – his right hand man – who wants to overthrow the Sultan and will do whatever it takes to do so. This entails locating a dangerous cave where there’s a special lamp that grants wishes.

    Back in town, Princess Jasmine dresses as a commoner and walks around town and meets Aladdin. They’re smitten with each other but the romance hits a rocky start when Aladdin gets arrested for being in the palace. He’s saved by Jafar, who enlists him to go into the cave to retrieve the lamp. But it’s Aladdin who, accidentally, gets to own the lamp, and like in the film, he has three wishes to make, wishes that will not only change his life but the lives of his friends and Princess Jasmine as well.

    Aladdin is not a perfect musical. There’s not very many memorable musical numbers (except the well-known ‘Friend Like Me’ and ‘A Whole New World,’ which plays out on a magic carpet flying above the stage with the stars twinkling all around. It’s a magical and mesmerizing scene).

    John-Wilson is good as Aladdin, but he doesn’t wow us. Gallagher as the evil Prime Minister is especially good. He’s evil, cunning and very clever, with the aide of his assistant Iago (Peter Howe).

    Former UK Eurovision contestant Ewen, as Princess Jasmine, is very good and proves that she can sing AND act. However it’s Dion Nicholas as the genie who you will cheer and applaud. But it’s the sets, wow the sets, that are the real star of the show.

    Moroccan deserts, palaces, villages, sunsets, and perfect costumes are all worth the ticket price. And while Aladdin resurrects the story and music written for the 1992 movie by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice and the late Howard Ashman, it’s no Lion King but it sure comes close.

    Alladin plays at the Prince Edward Theatre (London)

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Karugula

    ★★★ | Karugula

    What is “Karugula” and what is this play about? I’m not sure that you’ll leave this play with a definitive answer and you may well not even care but it’s an epic journey in this dark imagining of a dystopian world. Prom kings and queens are ritually shot dead, strange cults rule and a twisted version of the Kennedy assassination is a legend that has influenced society as the grassy knoll is reverentially mentioned. This is a sprawling and pleasantly confusing play with non-linear storytelling and a cast of seventy characters played by nine actors in a constantly changing set.

    Philip Ridley has been knocking audiences sideways and winning multiple awards for his ‘in-yer-face’ plays since The Pitchfork Disney in 1991. He’s elicited wide ranging critical responses and there are fables of fainting audience members and people stalking out of theatres in disgust. However, to look at his plays as ‘shock’ pieces would be to misunderstand and cheapen his work. His worlds are violent and terrifying but his skill is in integrating horror with the everyday world that we know. His work draws you in politely and then grabs you with an icy hand and refuses to let go. He’s also witty and wise, with a wry sense of the state of the world. Karagula is no exception. Ridley fans have learnt to never know what to expect from each new play. Here he’s crafted a fable reflecting modern society and the world’s political tensions but has set it the framework of an apocalyptic science fiction story. Much like Alistair McDowell’s ‘X’ and Anne Washburn’s ‘Mr Burns’ that both recently divided critical opinion; this is an unusual theatrical foray into an infrequently explored genre.

    Cheerleaders chant about assassinations, 1950’s housewives brag of murders in pink kitchens and milkshake parlours aren’t places you’d really want to be. Figures in white clothing inhabit starkly lit interrogation boxes and talk of concentration camps whilst Mad Max style renegades pick over ruins. It’s tongue in cheek and thankfully self-mocking throughout. There are insane touches reminiscent of a 1970’s Doctor Who episode intercut with David Lynch style eeriness. The science fiction references are frequent. Extremism, jingoism and patriotism abound. It’s a mad, mad world but one not far removed from our own. The dialogue is perplexing, odd and hilarious. Ridley’s hallmark style of slowly imbuing the innocuous and banal with sinister overtones works well here.

    The play is overlong at over three hours and is by no means perfect with uneven tones and scenes that feel extraneous. Emotion is rarely poignant or moving (with the exception of a beautiful scene surrounding a mother who’s daughter was taken from her). It’s housed in a disused ambulance station in Tottenham Hale. The production is shaky at times and Shawn Soh’s constantly changing set and the script’s moving focuses of action although impressive, are too distracting. Regardless of any flaws, the acting is skilled and Jethro Cooke’s throbbing ambient soundtrack is a suitable accompaniment.

    Overall it’s an intriguing play but feels less accessible and immediately beguiling than some of Ridley’s prior work.

    Karugula plays at the Styx Theatre until the 9th of July 2016

    Follow Chris Bridges on Twitter

  • HOTEL REVIEW | Eccleston Square Hotel

    ★★★★ | Eccleston Square Hotel

    Eccleston Square Hotel

    I visited the Eccleston Square Hotel previously to review their restaurant, which I awarded five stars. Classed as London’s most hi-tech hotel, before arrival you’re encouraged to download their app from which you can request various items and drinks to be waiting in your room.

    Further to the app, your room comes with an Ipad 2. Again, you control everything using the iPad; from wake up call, free 3D movie requests (for your 46inch), to room service- and of course you still have the option to pick up the phone and speak with someone.

    Eccleston Square Hotel

    The bed was exquisitely comfy, and it wants to be with a price tag of 12k (literally sleeping on someone’s salary). The only thing it can’t do is make you climax, unless you’re super sensitive and switch that massage mode on full whack- it really goes for it!

    The bathrooms are kitted out palatially; a “rainfall” shower fit for four (channel Pamela Anderson in Barbwire when using the shower seat), a TV in the mirror, smart glass technology to frost the glass for privacy, and a lovely selection of L’occitane products.

    Upon request you can get the key for the Square’s shared private garden across the road, so we took our Cosmos and went for an evening walk around the gardens. Very pretty and peaceful.

    Due to birthday celebrations we took full advantage of the 24hr room service with a fair few bottles of fizz and post-prosecco paninis being brought to the room. So much so the next day we actually had to return a bottle of bubbles to the front desk as we had over ordered. I partly blame the iPad for making the process so easy & streamline.

    Breakfast was slightly unfortunate with pancakes cold and bacon hot for my friend, and everything was flavoursome in my full English, but the beans were beastly!

    Eccleston Square Hotel

    The experience altogether is a clever meeting of automated / hi-tech, and delivery with a smile from the kind and personable team that bring the real touch to your stay.

    Hi-tech, high spec , a stay you won’t forget.