THEGAYUK

Tag: London News

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

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Rip It Up, Garrick Theatre, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | Rip It Up, Garrick Theatre, London

    ★★★ | Rip it Up

    The 60s are back in the West End, and add a lot of dancing, throw in a few handsome pop stars, and what you have is an evening of very very light theatre.

    Rip it Up, now playing at the Garrick Theatre, throws into the mix the best songs from the 60’s with beautiful choreography (by Gareth Walker, who is also the Director), and starring four former Strictly Come Dancing Contestants, and heartthrobs.

    Louis Smith MBE (former Olympic gymnast and all around hunk), Aston Merrygold (former member of the X-Factor group JLS), Harry Judd (drummer in the worldwide famous pop group McFly), and last but not least Jan McGuiness (from The Wanted). These men, along with a bevy of young and sexy backup dancers, give it their all with fancy dance moves and upbeat music. But the best part of the show is the amazing singing by Jill Marie Cooper and Ant Brant. Cooper wins the audience over in her renditions of songs from Dionne Warwick to Jefferson Airplane, which lifts this show up a couple notches for without them this would’ve been just another jukebox musical without the jukebox.

    All of the four male leads are fine, but they are not allowed to individually shine that much. Merrygold only gets to sing a couple songs, while we are treated to an all too short gymnastics routine by Smith (though luckily for he spends most of the time in the show either topless or wearing tight clothes). He is also a very graceful dancer. Judd is allowed a one minute drum solo (the audience wanted more), while McGuiness really doesn’t seem to offer much, though he tries his darndest to keep up with the dance moves.

    Emcee Cavin Cornwall does a fine job guiding the audience through the different musical sounds of the 60s, though he wobbles horribly through ‘Heard if Through the Grapevine‘. Videos of Lulu, Tony Blackburn, designer Zandra Rhodes and the indelible Dionne Warwick tell us what is was really like in the 60s – show us don’t tell us! And Lulu actually comes on a few too many times.

    But ultimately Rip it Up will only appeal to fans of the X-Factor and Strictly Come Dancing (of which all four stars have danced in). I can see this show selling out on the UK tour, but for a West End stage, it doesn’t quite feel right.

    Rip it Up plays at The Garrick Theatre until June 2, 2019

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | BOWLS, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | BOWLS, London

    ★★★★ | BOWLS, Soho, London

    One of the tastiest, and fun, and coolest restaurants in Soho is not on the trendy streets of Old Compton Street or Dean Street, it’s on that walkway called St. Anne’s Court. Most people use St. Annes Court for easy and quick access to Wardour and Dean streets. But next time you pass through St. Annes Court, look for BOWLS – and go right in.

    Once you walk in you will be enveloped in warmth, with smells that you can’t quite put your fingers, and tastebuds, on. And once you are shown to your seat, you will feel like you’re in a friends house. All of this is due to owner and manager Zarifa Ragimova. Moscow born, she has really put her heart and soul into this restaurant, which is just over 2 months old. She trained at Le Cordon Bleu London, and her hard work here has paid off. Right next to the bar as you walk in there is a painting of her co-created by her boyfriend Will – it’s stunning. And further in you can see bowls on the main wall from all over the world, and heading downstairs there is a clever and stylish lit up guardrail, and downstairs the walls are painted in tropical style – beautiful! Oh, and let’s not forget the food.

    BOWLS menu is a mix of Jamaican, South American, and Southeast Asian – a combination that really really works. Starting with the Painkiller Slush from their cocktail menu – it sure was a killer – deliciously so! With Gosling’s and Koko Kanu Original Jamaican Rums, orange, pineapple and coconut, this yellow looking drink, served in a coconut bowl, was ever so sweet and ever so delicious – the best drink I’ve had in a very very long time. My dining companion had the Bloody Marley – and while it was not an actual bloody mary, it was more of a cocktail, with white tequila botanical tea, bloody mary mix and lemon and tomato juice – and quite refreshing he said. Lots of other drinks to try, which I will on my next visit! £8.50 each.

    The food menu is nice and concise, and not overwhelming at all. From the choice of six starters, we had the BBQ Jerk Chicken Wings (3 very large pieces – at only £5.50), with mango and spring onions, which was assigned a hot chilli symbol on the menu but was not very spicy but was finger-lickin’ good. The BBQ glazed pork belly bao – two – were very large, but a bit on the dry side. Perhaps a bit more BBQ would’ve made them tastier.

    However, when it comes to the main portions – the Greedy Bowls – BOWLS excels. 5 mild choices, 2 medium choices, and 3 hot choices are on the menu. As I am a wimp, I had the mild Braised beef cheek. It sure was a cheek – a very large one at that, and was served with sweet potato mash (superb), sauerkraut and pickled carrots. The combination of all this was very clever, and wonderful. And while the beef was oh so tender and delicious, mild was just a bit too hot for me. I would’ve liked to have seen a non-chilli dish on the menu, but since Caribbean, South America and South East Asian foods are known for their spiciness – perhaps it’s not an option. My friend gobbled up his Laksa – a large soup dish with prawns, fish slices, tofu, and vermicelli noodles – which fell into the Hot category – but the hot spiciness level didn’t hinder him. He said this Singaporean dish was perfectly spicy.<

    And for dessert, we had to try two of their three items on the menu. The Chocolate Truffle Cake was just to die for. Warm, very rich, and not too big, it was a nice large finger slice with a bit a fruit on top. And The Churros were just divine. Served with a wonderful white chocolate & raspberry dip, the dozen or so were crispy, warm and luckily not drowning in sugar – for a perfect finish.

    Other dishes on the menu that might take your fancy include Tuna Poke, Zari- Pho- Braised Pork Belly, Homemade Broth, Soft Boiled Egg, Chilli, Thai Basil, Bean Sprouts, Spring Onion and Flat Rice Noodles, and Pan-fried Sea Bass or perhaps a Coconut Rundown Curry. Starters (Prawn Tostado, Butternut Squash croquettes, and Seared Tuna Salad) and sides (Cassava fries, fried plantains, kimchi and Truffled Courgette Fries) all sound oh so very good. Perhaps for the next visit.

    ‘BOWLS make dishes taste better’ – this is their tag line, and they are right. The food, from the starters to the main dishes, are served in varying designs and in bowls from large to small, and all pure comfort food. And the vibe is FUN! Having walked by the restaurant a few times in the past couple months, it’s constantly buzzing and busy – and with its central location, makes it a great place to meet friends after work as well as a nice weekend meal. You might also catch a night when the DJ is on the decks – all to make BOWLS extra spicy. I guarantee you will leave Bowls feeling satisfied, nourished and deeply contented, an experience that is good for the soul, and the tummy!

    https://bowlsrestaurants.co.uk

    27 St Anne’s Court,
    Soho, London W1F 0BN
    020 3146 0445

    soho@bowlsrestaurants.co.uk

    LUNCH
    Monday – Friday: 11:30 am – 3:30 pm (last reservations at 3 pm)
    Saturday: 11:30 am – 4:30 pm (last reservations at 4 pm)
    Sunday: closed

    DINNER
    Monday – Wednesday: 5 pm – 11 pm (last reservations at 10.30 pm)
    Thursday – Saturday: 5 pm – midnight (last reservations at 11:30 pm, Reduced menu available only between 10:45 pm – 11:30 pm)
    Sunday: closed

  • THEATRE REVIEW | My Dad’s Gap Year, Park Theatre, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | My Dad’s Gap Year, Park Theatre, London

    ★★★★ | My Dad’s Gap Year

    Review of My Dad's Gap Year
    (C) Pamela Raith

    A father and son take an adventure of a lifetime in My Dad’s Gap Year.

    Now playing at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park, My Dad’s Gap Year is a hilarious comedy about a father trying to bond with his conservative gay teenage son while going through a mid-life crises. Dave (Adam Lannon), dad of 18-year old William (Alex Britt), feels it’s time for them to sow their wild oats. But uptight William is not so wild, he frowns upon everything his unemployed dad does, which includes lying around the messy house not being productive. Meanwhile, William’s mom and Dave’s ex wife Cath (Michelle Collins), being the sensible one, holds a full-time job while maintaining an arm’s length relationship with Dave. But when Dave, at the very last minute, persuades William to go with him to Thailand for some father and son bonding and fun, them, and Cath, have no idea who sort of adventure, and trouble, Dave and William will get into.

    But once in Thailand, William meets cute architect Matias (Max Percy), while Dave meets beautiful Mae (a lovely Victoria Gigante). While Williams falls head over heals for Matias, Dave does the same for Mae, who works at a bar where all the ‘women there were born boys.’ But Dave’s drinking problem never goes away, while William has his own personal meltdown, leaving Cath to go to Thailand to do damage control.

    My Dad’s Gap Year is a fun show with a great cast. At only 90 minutes, it’s crisply directed (by Rikki Beadle-Blair) with funny dialogue and actors who deliver their lines perfectly. And while the show wraps up a bit too neatly at the end, all the actors are very good throughout. Lannon is very good as the father, Collins gives the show extra spark, but it’s Gigante who is extra special as Mae, a girl who just wants to have a happy life.

    My Dad’s Gap Year plays at the Park Theatre until 23rd Feb 2019. Book Tickets Here

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Kompromat, The Vaults, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | Kompromat, The Vaults, London

    The unsolved 2010 murder of Gareth Williams is the focus of a new show called ‘Kompromat’ now playing at The Vaults as part of their Vault Festival 2019.

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    Williams was found dead in his Pimlico flat, naked and stuffed into a red bag. Foul play was the expected cause death as there was no way that he could’ve zipped himself in that bag on his own. Kompromat goes so far as to suggest that Williams, who was suspected of being gay, was targeted by another man, someone he hooked up with at a gay bar, and took him back home, and that this hook-up would be William’s last one. Max Rinehart plays Zac, goodlooking and convincing, enough so that any gay man would be lucky to take him home. Guy Warren-Thomas plays Tom (Gareth), shy, a bit introverted, yet careful who he lets into his life. Zac is very confident, and as we get to learn, he’s been around the block a few times, and as his story unravels, so does the soon to be shortened life of Tom. All of this takes place in the intimacy of The Vaults which has on tap loads of other gay-related stories to tell during the 2 month festival.

    Other offerings include:

    Open

    Two husbands. One hundred lovers. A modern day romance. Join Chris and Tim for an intimate exploration of their love, jealousy and desire for one another…and many, many others.

    23 — 27 Jan 2019

    Juniper and Jules

    Until Juniper, Jules hadn’t realised she liked girls. Falling headlong into a relationship, in a world where monogamy is the norm, they soon discover they want to do things differently.

    23 — 27 Jan 2019

    Yours Sincerely

    Will has accidentally stolen 300 2nd class stamps, but he’s making them count. A queer comedy about the lost art of letter writing. Stamp collecting has never looked so sexy.

    30 Jan — 03 Feb 2019

    Greyscale

    Explore the minefields of dating in a post #metoo era. Who do we have faith in when one party believes it’s sexual misconduct, and the other, simply a bad date?

    02 Feb — 17 Mar 2019

    Bleach (main photo)

    Tyler sells his body nightly, but his world is about to be turned upside down when life takes a sinister turn. A soul-jolting story of sex, violence and city living.

    06 — 10 Feb 2019

    Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist

    Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Instagram star Tom Lenk portrays iconic actress Tilda Swinton, imagined as an edgy, modern day Mary Poppins in this LGBTQ hit and Edinburgh Fringe favourite.

    06 — 17 Feb 2019

    Marmite

    Dylan and Eddie have just moved in together. They’re both really happy. Except Dylan isn’t. Between sex parties and roast dinners, ‘Marmite’ explores gay monogamy.

    13 — 17 Feb 2019

    ADMIN

    Pisín moved to London to pursue his dream of becoming socially mobile. Now, he’s having an existential crisis in a Pret A Manger toilet, trying to remember his mindfulness techniques.

    18:1027 — 28 Feb 2019

    Coming Clean: Life As A Naked House Cleaner

    Sex! Fantasies! Voyeurism! Vacuuming! Come inside the world of a naked cleaner as he explores what we want and what stops us from asking for it.

    27 Feb — 03 Mar 2019

    General Erection (a political cabaret)

    COMPILING THE SHARPEST AND MOST OUTRAGEOUS ACTS ON THE CIRCUIT, HERE IS A VARIETY NIGHT THAT CATERS TO BOTH THE 52% AND THE RACISTS WHO VOTED TO LEAVE!

    22:50

    07 Mar 2019

    Gaylords

    “GAYLORD NOUN, PEJORATIVE. Used to describe someone so gay it defies the laws of physics.” A gay hour of comedy from two Gaylords. Work in progress. Breeders welcome.<

    10 Mar 2019

    For tickets to Kompromat, which ends on Feb. 3, please go here:

    https://vaultfestival.com/whats-on/kompromat/?spektrix_bounce=true

    Eight weeks of theatre and comedy, immersive experiences, cabaret, live performance and late night parties.

    To see the mega program with all the shows on offer, please go here:
    https://vaultfestival.com/whats-on/

  • Tickets for Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 are just £24, here’s where to get them from

    Tickets for Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 are just £24, here’s where to get them from

    It’s the show that has one of Dolly’s enduring songs, at its very heart – and now the tickets are as low as £24, find out where and how you can get them from.

    get tickets for 9 to five the musical

    Fans of Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 the musical can now get their hands on some really affordable tickets and those tickets are available to performances right away. The show, which has been touring the UK is opening in London’s West end has now has some tickets at the bargain price of just £24 and from £30 on a Saturday night.

    Based on the 1980 hit movie starring Dolly Parton, 9 to 5 The Musical is coming to London after a UK tour and London Fringe Premiere. With the characters you loved from the film, songs (music and lyrics) by Dolly Parton herself, and a book by Patricia Resnik 9 to 5 tells the story of 3 working women who find their voices and take control.

    Find out more and browse tickets by clicking here

     

    This article contains one or more affiliate links. This means we may receive a commission on any sales of products or services we write about. This article was written completely independently but about a subject that we think you, as a reader of THEGAYUK will enjoy, see more details here

  • Scores of people were outside the Russian Consulate to protest the persecution of gay people in Chechnya

    Scores of people were outside the Russian Consulate to protest the persecution of gay people in Chechnya

    A demonstration, led by Peter Tatchell, All Out and Queer Tours of London were outside the Russian Embassy over the weekend to protest the “gay purge” in Chechnya.

    rihaij / Pixabay

    As the “gay purge” continues in Chechnya, a protest group gathered outside the Russian Embassy in London to demand “never again ever”. The protest was timed to coincide with Holocaust Memorial Day.

    The protest organisers had four demands,

    1. We call on Theresa May to publicly condemn these atrocities;
    2. We ask all Governments to give shelter to those fleeing from Chechnya;
    3. We call for a United Nations Independent Investigation on Russia with a specific mandate on the human rights violations in the Chechen Republic
    4. We urge Russian authorities to bring those responsible for these atrocities to justice and, failing that, for the international community to intervene and arraign the perpetrators before the ICJ

    Speaking about the protest, Peter Tatchell said,

    “The heart-breaking reports of renewed state torture and murder of LGBT+ people are a damning indictment of the tyrannical Chechen regime and of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has refused to use his powers to stop the homophobic terror campaign and to bring perpetrators to justice. We deplore all human rights abuses in Chechnya – including detention without trial, torture and arbitrary killings. At this protest, we stand in solidarity with Chechen LGBTs and all persecuted Chechen people.”

    Matt Beard, Executive Director of All Out, added:
    “A new wave of brutal state-sponsored attacks against LGBT+ people is taking place in Chechnya right now. Silence is complicity. World leaders must condemn these atrocities and ask Russian authorities to bring those responsible to justice.”

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    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

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  • Tickets for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie are just £24, here’s where to get them from

    Tickets for Everybody’s Talking About Jamie are just £24, here’s where to get them from

    It’s the show that Everybody is talking about – and now the tickets are as low as £24, find out where and how you can get them from.

    Jamie’s fans can now get their hands on some really affordable tickets and those tickets are available to performances right away. The show, which has been running in London since 2018 has now lowered some of its prices to just £24 – even on a Saturday night. The show is just about to be refreshed as it welcomes new cast members including Layton Williams as Jamie New, Shane Richie as Hugo/Loco Channelle, Hayley Tamaddon as Miss Hedge, Sejal Keshwala as Ray and Sabrina Sandhu as Pritti Pasha.

    The show has just celebrated its 500th show in London.

    Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is a coming of age story which is more reflective of today’s society than most of the genre. Gone is the stigma of sexuality, and gone is the major struggle for acceptance by his peers. Jamie is embraced by his supportive mother and loved by his friends at school. The story is more about Jamie’s internal struggle and his relationships with family, rather than it being “him against the world”.

    This refreshing approach makes for a more intimate and focussed narrative and one which genuinely pulls you in. It has been a while since audiences get so much behind a show, with cheers of support echoing around the theatre at key points in the story, which can only be a testament to the quality of the production.

    There’s also a tour

    It was also announced that the show is about to embark on a UK wide tour from 2020. Look out for dates which will be announced shortly.

    Find out more and browse tickets by clicking here

     

    This article contains one or more affiliate links. This means we may receive a commission on any sales of products or services we write about. This article was written completely independently but about a subject that we think you, as a reader of THEGAYUK will enjoy, see more details here

  • New LGBTQ film ‘WRETCHED THINGS’ World Premiere in Londons’ Leicester Square

    Wretched Things – a hedonistic, seductive and sexy gay film – had its film premiere in Leicester Square last week – an achievement for its cast and crew.

     

    Written and Directed by Gage Oxley, and made by 16-25 year olds and inspired by the #MeToo and #TimesUp campaigns, Wretched Things deals with sexual exploitation, toxic masculinity and abuse of power. In it, a first-time model, a webcam sex worker, and a power-hungry homophobe journey through their insecurities and vulnerabilities. This hedonistic and seductive 80-minute film challenges toxic hyper-masculinity and the abuse of power through three vignettes.

    “Wretched Things challenges our thoughts about some of the insecurities and vulnerabilities we face through sexual exploitation, as well as highlighting the aggressors in our every day lives.” says Oxley.

    The film was shot entirely in Leeds, working with young professional filmmakers and artists based in Leeds. All cast and crew worked completely voluntarily, and made the feature-length film on a self-funded low budget. But it doesn’t look low budget at all. It has three throbbing storylines, and actors who will make you throb in other ways.

    The film, told in three chapters, stars popular talent such as Bruce Herbelin-Earle who appears in Netflixs’ Free Rein. For a taste of the film, check out the clip below

    Oxley, and his company Oxygen Films, hopes the film will make the gay film festival circuit and will open the doors for him, the actors and cast and crew, and Oxygen, for future projects. By the looks of this film, Oxley and his team are on the road to success.

     

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    We’re asking our readers to pledge just £1 per month, more if you’re feeling swanky. You can stop payment at any time.

    It’s quick and easy to sign up and you’ll only have to do it once.

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  • Where can I buy poppers in London?

    Where can I buy poppers in London?

    If you’re out and about and looking to buy poppers in central London, you can buy from a number of outlets, here’s where.

    CREDIT: TheGayUK

    In central London, particularly in Soho, many of the sex or adult shops sell poppers. If you’re looking for a gay shop to specifically buy poppers from then Prowler, which is located 5-7 Brewer Street and Prowler Red and CloneZone, both of which are on Old Compton Street all stock various brands of poppers.

    It is completely legal to consume and sell poppers in the UK, in 2017 poppers were proven to not be a psychoactive substance and so the government made a U-turn on their decision to outlaw the liquid. If you’re wondering whether poppers are safe to use, then read our advice on them here.

    Of course, you can always buy Poppers online, THEGAYUK’s partner shop sells a variety of brands which can be delivered anywhere in the UK.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Leave to Remain, Lyric Hammersmith, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | Leave to Remain, Lyric Hammersmith, London

    ★★★★| Leave to Remain

    Tyrone Huntley (Obi) and Billy Cullum (Alex) in Leave To Remain at the Lyric Hammersmith. Photo credit Helen Maybanks.

    Leave to Remain, now playing at the Lyric Hammersmith, is a modern love story set to a rock score and brilliantly tells the trials and tribulations of a multi-racial same-sex couple dealing with their upcoming marriage.

    Alex (Billy Cullum) and Obi (Tyrone Huntley) met just ten months ago but they’re already in love with each other. But American Alex, you see, is 5 years clean from drugs, and the company that sponsors his work permit is moving to Abu Dhabi. Obi, meanwhile, is a successful advertising executive with a nice loft in a trendy part of town. But Alex is not a British citizen, so if his job relocates to another country Alex has to go back to America. So what could be more simple then for Alex and Obi to get married in order for Alex to remain in the country? Well, it’s a lot more complicated then it sounds.

    The complications aren’t with Alex’ past drug history, nor is it with Obi’s secret meetings with a man named James, but the complications lie with their respective families. Alex’s mom Diane (a wonderful Johanne Murdock) is a non-stop talking busy body hands-on mom with a relatively patient husband Brian (Martin Fisher). Meanwhile, Obi’s father Kenneth (Cornell St. John) never quite accepted his son’s homosexuality, throwing him out of the house when he was just 16, much to the dismay of Obi’s mother Grace (a fantastic Rakie Ayola) and understanding sister Chichi (a great Aretha Ayeh). But with days and even hours, before the wedding, complications arise, and it’s touch and go if the wedding will happen at all, even in the light of a startling announcement from Alex’s parents and the continuing disapproval from Obi’s father. It’s all set to a rock score that’s just as modern and good as anything you’ll see in the West End.

    All the songs that are catchy and memorable and are a very good match for the story. Credit for this goes to writer Matt Jones and writer/composer Kele Okereke (Bloc Party) who somehow seamlessly and superbly set this story in present-day London to fantastic music. There’s a brilliant, and well-choreographed scene, where both families get together for the first time and sit around a dining room table set to a song called ‘To Family’ that is both hilarious and memorable. And while not one single cast member really really stands out, it’s the mothers of both young men (Ayola and Murdock) that will most stay with you. A mother’s love for her son will always remain, no matter what. Leave to Remain, directed by Robby Graham, is a truly wonderful piece of theatre. 

    Leave to Remain plays at the Lyric Hammersmith until the 16th Feb 2019, Book tickets here.



    4 /
    5 stars

  • There’s a new naked gay dating event, but only if you’re under 35

    There’s a new naked gay dating event, but only if you’re under 35

    “No 23-year-old wants to meet a 55-year-old man” –  said the event’s host.

    (more…)