All the latest from London, the capital of the UK, home to the UK’s largest gay community.
The musical based on a nightclub called Taboo and London club legend Leigh Bowery makes a return to London. A new production of the musical written by Boy George will be playing for a three month run at the Brixton Club House. The first run of the show was held by audience and critics alike as sensational and not to be missed.
It will star The Voice finalist Samuel Buttery as Leigh Bowery.
These include the stunning KEEP THE LIGHTS ON from acclaimed director Ira Sachs (Forty Shades of Blue) and this year’s official Cannes Un Certain Regard entry, OUR CHILDREN starring A PROPHET’s Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, with a blistering performance from Emilie Dequenne (Rosetta), who took home the Un Certain Regard Best Actress prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Both films will have theatrical releases in 2012 and 2013, respectively.
The televised event was seen by an estimated 1 billion people across the globe and a crowd of over 80,000 in the stadium.
In an extraordinary show of British talent the Closing Ceremony hosted some of the finest talents of the UK music and fashion scenes both past and present as the cast of thousands was joined by George Michael, The Spice Girls, Annie Lennox, Jessie J, Pet Shop Boys, and controversially Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, causing an immediate Twitter backlash.
The Daily Mail reported that Piers Morgan wrote on twitter: ‘I suspect Kate Moss might fail her drugs test later’, in reference to her alleged drug abuse and Jojo Mayes wrote: ‘Naomi Campbell: gold medal in phone throwing’, while Charles Arthur wrote: ‘Kate Moss! Who represents the Olympic ideals of not doing drugs, or smoking, and achieving lots. Work with me here.’
Campbell and Moss weren’t the only stars to feel the wrath of the Twitter audience as thousands of users used the service to Tweet their frustrations of Emeli Sandé’s double appearance in the show.
The show had moments of sheer joy, eccentricity and contemplativeness, in what turned out to be a show to rival that of the Opening Ceremony in July at the beginning of the Olympic games.
George Michael wowed the audience with a two song set of arguably one of his greatest hits ‘Freedom’, and his forthcoming single ‘White Light.‘ He looked trim and healthy wearing an all black ensemble complete with trademark sunglasses and leather jacket.
Annie Lennox a long time campaigner for LGBT rights sang in great voice for her moment in the spotlight. The singer sang her hit ‘Little Bird’ whilst surrounded by pirates and was brought on to the stage in a giant skeletal ship.
However it was the reformation of The Spice Girls that really lifted proceedings, producing an incredible buzz on social networks across the globe. As five brightly lit London taxis parked centre stage, the crowd roared almost uncontrollably as Ginger, Scary, Sporty, Baby and Posh alighted to sing two of their biggest hits: ‘Wannabe’ and ‘Spice Up Your Life’. Their appearance at the show set a new record of 116,000 Tweets per minute on Twitter. Even London Mayor Boris Johnston couldn’t resist a boogie to the sounds of 90’s ‘Girl Power’.
Jessie J was featured heavily in the proceedings having sung her own hit ‘Price Tag’ and then joining Brian May on the main-stage to sing the iconic ‘We Will Rock You’. A poignant moment in the show however was when the 80,000 strong crowd echoed Freddie Mercury in a video installment in the middle of the stage.
The Pet Shop Boys also enjoyed their moment in the spotlight, appearing in orange chariots, singing ‘West End Girls’.
The closing ceremonies brought an end to a record breaking games for Team GB having secured 29 Gold medals, 17 Silver and 19 Bronze to make a total of 65. Team GB came 3rd in the Olympic leader-board, with China in second place and the USA in poll position.
I saw a production of Matthew Bourne’s brilliant “Edward Scissorhands” in Nottingham a few years back and was proved entirely wrong. I’ve since seen quite a bit of modern dance and most of it has exceeded my expectations but my loyalties still lie with Mr Bourne. He’s certainly earned the many accolades and awards he’s gathered with his productions including the long running all male production of “Swan Lake”. He’s also earned the admiration of a whole load of gay men with the gay themed “Dorian Gray”, the homoerotic “The Car Man” (loosely based on “Carmen”) and the recent “Early Adventures” with its gay overtones and its homage to male underwear modelling. That’s not to mention the obligatory amount of lithe male flesh which is often on show. The Joan Crawford style stepmother in “Cinderella” was pure high camp and the scene where loose women and even looser men ply for trade in a 1940s Underground Station was enough to titillate even the most jaded palate.
His latest production has just opened at Sadler’s Wells and is due to transfer to Norfolk and I’d recommend catching it before it’s too late. Forget the Olympics. This is definitely an inspirational show.
The show is called “Play without Words” and is loosely based on 1960s British films like “The Servant”. It’s set in Chelsea in the upper class home of a bright young thing and revolves around his relationship with his manservant. It’s a fantastic production. The sense of seductive and permissive morals is played out with intensity against a back drop of desperate power struggles. The costumes, set and styling are breathtaking and the show manages to be suave and erotic as well as funny and invigorating. The dancing styles encompass a range of movements and the sheer force of some of the dance sets is immensely powerful. Catch it while you can! It’s the most chic and stylish thing you’ll see this year. Think Colin Firth in Tom Ford’s “A Single Man”. Oh…did I mention? There are some very attractive men in it too and they’re not too unhappy about showing off their bodies along with their dancing skills.
The show is running at Sadler’s Wells until the 5th of August 2012 before a transfer to Norwich Theatre Royal from 7th to 12th of August 2012
http://www.new-adventures.net/productions/play_without_words
Matthew’s new production of “Sleeping Beauty” starts in November.
http://www.new-adventures.net/productions/sleeping_beauty
Chris Bridges writes for the Gay UK team and also publishes reviews and opinion articles on his blog: http://gayboyinterrupted.blogspot.co.uk/
Glamberts get ready. Adam is coming to the UK. His sophomore album Trespassing is due for release on the 2nd July and is rocking out with Queen at London’s Hammersmith Apollo.
Lambert started his journey in the entertainment industry working on a cruise ship and has certainly come a long way. In 2009 he came runner up, in arguably, the biggest talent show in the world, American Idol; and this summer landed the gig of a life time, fronting the band Queen in their upcoming tour.
The singer has had more input into his second album, co-writing almost all the songs with the likes of Bruno Mars, Pharrell Williams and hit maker Dr Luke, which has given the album a fresh mix of retro, funk and pop. Lambert says that the album is more mature than his 2009 release, For Your Entertainment.
Trespassing is out on RCA 2nd July Adam Lambert is on tour with Queen at London’s Hammersmith Apollo on 11, 12 and 14 July.