THEGAYUK

Tag: London News

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

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre, London

    ★★★ | Kinky Boots, London

    It’s a huge hit on Broadway and it’s now finally opened in London. ‘Kinky Boots’ is in the house!

    If the name rings a bell, it’s because Kinky Boots was a 2005 film about a struggling shoe factory about to go out of business until they change their product line and start making boots that are sexy, and, literally, not worn by the everyday woman. The musical version of Kinky Boots follows the same story, but it’s got a book by Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy and La Cage Aux Folles – books he also wrote), music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper (“Girls Just Want to Have Fun”), and choreography by Jerry Mitchell (The Full Monty and Hairspray). That’s a lot of power and muscle behind a show, and it works, to a degree. (The show won six Tony Awards).

    Killian Donnelly (the breakout star of The Commitments and co-star of Memphis) easily and comfortably plays Charlie Price, whose late father leaves him his shoe factory in Northhampton. It’s losing money, and Price might be forced to close it down, something that would make his London-bound fiancee Nicola (Amy Ross) happy. By chance, he comes to the aid of a drag queen who is being beaten up in a park. The Drag queen, Lola, played very ably and loudly by Matt Henry, is grateful to Price for saving him. But their meeting turns into a business relationship where Lola plants the idea into Price’s head to have his factory make Kinky Boots – boots for him and his fellow drag queens – boots that are big, flashy and preferably red! And eventually, Lola gives up her life (and leaves her fellow drag queens) in London to go up north to help in the factory to lead in the design of some Kinky Boots. But he’s not too accepted in a town and factory where no drag queen has walked in heels before. Even though he’s dressed as a man, some of the other workers make fun of him, especially Don (Jamie Braughan), who challenges Lola to a boxing match. Of course, conflict and arguments take place between Price and Lola, and Lola decides that she’s had enough of the northerners and heads back down to London. Meanwhile, Price is being wooed by one his employees – Lauren (Amy Lennox – wonderful) But it’s bad timing as Price is about to show his latest models of shoes at a Milan fashion show – he’s got no Lola, no models, and tons of shoes that need to be worn.

    And you can only guess what will happen next. To say this show is predictable is an understatement.

    While there are no surprises in the plot, it’s the music that raises the show up a notch or two. Lauper has injected her personality into songs that only she can write – when all the actors sing “Everybody Say Yeah” – it’s a song that will stick in your head for the rest of the night – in a good way. And of course each actor has their own song moment – Donnelly sings his heart out in “Soul of a Man” while Lola is given “Hold Me In Your Heart”- a song that highlights his very deep baritone voice in a soulful way (it sounds a bit like the song in Dreamgirls – “And I am Telling you I’m not Going”. If there’s one person who steals the show it’s Lennox – she’s hysterical in the role of Price’s colleague who pines for him while he’s focused on keeping the business afloat.

    Production values are fine – the set morphs from factory to the fashion show. For me it’s the drag queens that make this show good – their sparkling clothing and sass and attitude and sequins are just right – for without them Kinky Boots wouldn’t be so Kinky at all.

    At the Adelphi Theatre 020 3725 7068 | http://www.kinkybootsthemusical.co.uk/tickets.php

  • Transformer: A Night With Lou Reed At Soho Theatre, Polymorphous Perversity

    Does gay culture have Alzheimer’s or rather, collective amnesia? Sure, for straight, non-artistic philistines Jonny Woo seems ground-breaking, but truthfully, he’s one rich link in a historically brilliant chain. ★★★★

    The once-signature beard, teamed with trowelled-on make-up? Straight from the Cockettes, the 1960s, San Franciscan performance art troupe, via David Hoyle’s car-crash Liza Minelli make-over. Ditto the confrontational rants, identity politics and shot-gun conflation of trash and fine art – uh, hello, John Waters and Divine, anyone?

    And let’s not forget gorgeous lifestyle peacocks Quentin Crisp and Colin Swift (don’t know them? Do a Google), the epitomes of waspishly debonair decadence. ‘I love watching ballet’, Crisp hissed, ‘You never know when the dancers will slip and break their necks’.

    And something of that same, devilish relish instantly curdles easy, audience enjoyment tonight. Because, if ever a show demanded snarling contempt for punters, it’s this. See, Lou Reed – the ragingly gay, rock ‘n’ roll beast so timidly evoked tonight – wasn’t even borderline polite. Screw social graces – he brutally massacred finesse with the aplomb of a fresh, human turd served at a Buckingham Palace banquet. Sure, Woo serves up a live, Reed songbook and patter, but it’s a pale, disappointing Xerox of Warhol sleaze, venom and spunk, West End Wendies doing a Lou Reed-Lite karaoke.

    Let’s get specific. The biggest, howlingly apparent problem is a skewed, dramatic spine, all Hunchback of Notre Dame excess but no pay-off. It’s the sin of pride. perhaps, or, less religiously, King Midas Syndrome, the belief that sexually diverse mind-sets turn everything they touch to pure gold.

    Not here. Unshakeably sure of his own cachet, Woo simply assumes, limpet-like, that his blessed touch automatically annexes and glorifies all things queer in his own image. If only, if only, as Tennessee Williams should’ve said to Salvador Dali. Full points to Jonny for even trying, but I deeply missed Lou’s clinically insane, live-gig frazzled mania, nowhere evident tonight.

    It’s unfair, perhaps, to compare Transformer to the utterly deranged, swamp-rock transvestism of The Christeene Machine, another Soho Theatre stand-out. But frankly, Jonny, bless his surely rock ‘n’ roll heart, just pussyfoots, and merely apes, but never memorably embraces, piss-stained leather pants dementia.

    Still – as with the filthiest, most depraved sinner – there are points of brilliant redemption. Breaking London drag superstar Pretty Miss Cairo is an outstanding Candy Darling, even though that transsexual, Warhol luminary would rather cut her bashful, self-effacing dick off than get naked on stage. And better still is Fi McCluskey’s jaw-droppingly stunning Valerie Solanas, the militant feminist who shot Warhol nearly point-blank in ’68. Reciting still-incendiary verses from the SCUM manifesto – the Society for Cutting Up Men – McClusky gives every ounce of witchy, confrontational venom a sublime, poison perfection.

    So should you see Transformer, and part with your hard-earned, precious shekels? Oh god, yes, even for just the memory of that glorious, unrepeatable era when the streets of early 70s Soho were awash with drugs, pansexuality and promise – a time, we hope, might soon come again.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Sum Of Us

    A father who loves and accepts his gay son is the theme of the new play ‘The Sum of Us.’ ★★★★

    In 1994, a young Russell Crowe played the gay son in the movie version of The Sum of Us which was originally staged as a play in New York City in 1990. Now a new version of the play ‘The Sum of Us,’ which has never played in the UK, has just opened at the Above the Stag Theatre in Vauxhall.

    Harry (Sephen Connery-Brown) is a forty-something widower raising his twenty-something young son Jeff (Tim McFarland), who happens be gay. Harry is not bothered about his son being gay, he actually encourages Jeff to go out and meet other guys, to enjoy life while you can while you are young. And Harry doesn’t mind when Jeff brings other guys over to their home. Jeff is good-looking and athletic with a very positive look on life, but he says there’s a space in his heart that is empty, a space that could be filled by another man. When he meets someone he likes (Greg – played by Rory Hawkins), he’s immediately smitten. But it’s Harry who interrupts the two young men who are on the couch getting to know each other. Harry says a bit too much about Jeff, and their close father and son relationship makes Greg feel insecure about his own relationship with his father. Meanwhile Harry, after being a widower for a number of years, also starts dating – he feels like it’s time to get out there and meet another woman. And he does. Her name is Joyce (Annabel Pemberton), and her and Harry are getting on like wildfire. But when she learns that he has a gay son, she just can’t accept this. Firstly she’s angry that Harry didn’t tell her when they started dating, secondly she just can’t accept gay people at all. Even after Harry proposes to her, she just doesn’t want to see him anymore. So thus we have a father and a son who both yearn to be with someone yet obstacles get in their way. And as Harry tells Jeff, he is the sum of us, the sum of him and his late wife, and the sum of his grandparents and great-grandparents. Actually, we are all the sum of us, and this is the message of the play.

    Above the Stag Theatre really sets the bar high on this one. Their previous shows had names such as ‘Rent Boy: The Musical’ and ‘Bathhouse: The Musical.’ However, they have now produced a play that is serious, heartwarming and very well-acted. The Sum of Us is a story that most gay men may not relate to; who can say that their fathers have whole heartedly accepted their homosexuality. But the play, written by David Stevens, who also wrote the film version and the original play version, successfully combines the son’s and father’s search for love and the close relationship they have with each other. And in the end, the message is that we all want someone to love and someone to love us, no matter whether you are gay or straight.

    Connery-Brown is great as Harry, as is McFarland as Jeff. They have a real rapport as father and son, and even resemble each other a bit. Hawkins and Pemberton are fine as the other halves, who may or may not wind up in the men’s lives. The set, down to the details of the1990’s script, cleverly goes from a living room to a park, in this cute theatre that is nice and cozy with a bar to match.

    The Sum of Us is playing at Above the Stag Theatre until October 4th. Tickets can be bought here:

    http://www.abovethestag.com/shows/

    Buy tickets now – it’s selling out fast!

  • Ivan Massow Backs Zac Goldsmith For London Mayor

    Ivan Massow, has backed MP Zac Goldsmith for London mayor in 2016 and is inviting those who backed his campaign to vote for the MP, when the time comes, as well.

    Four declared Conservative candidates are now vying for the votes of Londoners for the 2016 Mayoral race, which will see Boris Johnson’s tenure as London’s mayor end.

    The four candidates which were successfully chosen by the Conservative party are: openly gay Andrew Boff, MP Zac Goldsmith, Deputy Mayor for policing and crime Stephen Greenhaigh and Syed Kamall, who is an MEP for London.

    Ivan Massow had mounted his own campaign to run for mayor but was unsuccessful at the primaries stage that saw him lose out to four Tory in-siders, including MP Zac Goldsmith. A statement from the businessman said,

    “He believes that Zac is the only candidate with the gravitas and potential, not just as a Conservative candidate, but also as Mayor – to carry the torch of Ivan’s ideas on social mobility, policing and even more so – how London can further embrace entrepreneurship, micro business, incubators and mentoring.”

    Zac Goldsmith voted in favour of the same-sex marriage law in 2013, and has consistently voted in favour of pro-LGBT laws.

  • London Gay Centres Are A Breeding Ground For Homophobic Attacks

    Westminster and Vauxhall, two of London’s main LGBT areas have been revealed as having the most homophobic hate crimes reported.

    Westminster has been revealed as having the most homophobic hate crimes reported followed by Vauxhall, both locations are known to home the majority of London’s LGBTI spaces. Crimes in Westminster have soared 23% while in Lambeth, which homes Vauxhall’s gay scene, anti-gay crimes have risen 25%.

    When Hackney, which homes another important LGBTI centre (Shoreditch) is included in the number of crimes reported up to July 2015 rises to 406 – over 1 crime per day.

    Overall, homophobic crime has risen, year on year, 29.3% in the capital. However, this may be a result of more reports of crimes. Of course, these figures do not reflect the true scale of the problem – as many crimes against LGBTI’s go unreported. Research from University of Leicester’s Centre for Hate Studies reveals that 88 per cent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people had experienced some form of hate incident and that over 35,000 of these crimes go unreported across the UK.

    Shockingly some boroughs have seen increases of up to 217% (Bromley) and 185% in Croydon. Almost every borough has seen an increase of anti-gay crimes.

    A total of 1667 homophobic hate crimes were reported in the 12 months to July 2015, up from 1289 in the 12 months to July 2014. The figure rounds down to almost 5 homophobic hate crimes a day in the UK’s capital.

    Crime in London had risen overall by 3.5%.

  • Anna Calvi at Meltdown: Hellfire Passion in Pantyhose

    Rock guitarist Anna Calvi is living feminist wildfire. Her 2011, game-changer debut album instantly castrated sacred notions of male guitar god supremacy, and tonight, her beautiful heresy’s fiercer still.

    Is she straight? Bi? Undecided? Who cares? Isn’t mystery and mystique the most panting aphrodisiac ever? And in a web-scape awash with Miley Cyrus booty, frankly, flesh-flashing is beyond passé.

    So back to Miz Calvi, the darling of indie-kids of all ages. You’ve seen her, maybe, on You Tube or Jules Holland, all crimson, neck-high blouse, raw-wound lipstick and black toreador pants, her classic, Michaelangelo mouth constantly kissing desire. Petite but poised, her hair as tight-gripped as a suppressed climax, she’s perfect pop androgyny, a female Pete Doherty of startling cupidity.

    Not tonight, however, in her highest profile gig yet at ex-Talking Head David Byrne’s Meltdown. Hushed and expectant, eyes straining for Calvi’s entrance, we’re unexpectedly caressed by a low, almost subsonic, hum, as twelve white-cloaked choristers file onstage. Forming a protective crescent moon, they frame the suddenly-here Calvi, a rock-goddess Joan Of Arc dwarfed by her trademark guitar.

    And quite properly, in accord with the aura of imminent rapture, it’s as if Calvi’s signature scarlet blouse has bled out to pure, satin-weave white from the streaming wounds of her sung passion. Ah, but if the trappings, ambiance and yearning seem screamingly religious, they’re focused on human transcendence, not some dumb, mythical sky-guy; Calvi’s way too sharp to fall for manic dogma.

    Rather, she’s the lead attack angel of bliss, frenzy and scorching connection, an imperial killer queen drunk on her own guitar ecstasies. Miraculously fusing flamenco, rock and reverb over furious, stampeding drums, her mezzo-soprano simply soaring with liquid libido, Calvi is pure, delirious, multiple sonic orgasm.

    Singing with excess, storming ambition and sheer abandon inconceivable to X-Factor mediocrities, Calvi, incredibly, utterly redefines Torch Song sizzle for the 21st Century.

    Okay, the set’s not all deathless swoon and smoulder – especially when a duet with lean, tanned preppy David Byrne arguably breaks the flow – but Calvi’s glacial, blue-steel guitar brilliance is a constant beacon to otherworldliness.

    And what fabulous harbours that beacon signals; Edith Piaf’s ‘Jezebel’, Bruce Springsteen’s ‘On Fire’ and Suicide’s ‘Ghost Rider’, seamlessly buttressed by ‘The Devil’ and ‘Blackout’, Calvi’s own glorious odes to the ineffable.

    Moving like no other guitar player, part matador, part frenzied, sacredly erotic Ken Russell nun, Calvi brandishes her snow-white Stratocaster like a reincarnated Boudicca pissing on male patriarchy.

    Far more than Kate Perry, Jessie J or even the ferociously trashy, but culturally impotent, Courtney Love, Calvi crucially reclaims impeccable pop dignity for standalone, female artistry. No, she’s not competing with the boys in their playground – her conceptual aplomb dwarfs that demeaning idiocy – and has no need or wish to.

    Instead, as she exits in a susurrus of chanted, hymnal Latin, Calvi – along with like-minded mavericks Bjork, Laurie Anderson and Diamanda Galas – is building new platforms for new voices, and new expressions of confronting gender. To do that in the world of pop and rock is impressive enough, but – like David Bowie before her – she’s helping pan-sexuality pour free, naked and unrestrained in an explosive, cultural ferment. Anna Calvi – the warrior-queen harbinger of a world way beyond binary, us-and-them stupidity? Perhaps there’s no greater praise than that.

  • Barbra Streisand is coming back to London

    Well, it’s not the real Barbra Streisand but the world’s most famous Barbra Streisand impersonator – Steven Brinberg.

    Brinberg is returning to the lush surroundings of Brasserie Zedel’s Crazy Coqs cabaret room with his show titled ‘Simply Barbra celebrates Funny Girl’ to coincide with the 40th release of the film ‘Funny Lady.’

    Steven has been acclaimed for his vocal performance of Barbra Streisand for over a decade around the world. He has also appeared in numerous concerts with the late Marvin Hamlisch, released two CD’s, appeared in films such as ‘Camp’ and ‘Boys Live,’ and has also appeared in a concert version of ‘Funny Girl’ on Broadway, with Whoopi Goldberg and Kristin Chenoweth.

    Tickets for ‘Simply Barbra celebrates Funny Girl,’ which is running from Tuesday September 15 to Saturday September 19th, can be bought here

  • THEATRE REVIEW | F*cking Men

    I was all set in my mind to hate this; I imagined it being hammy, awkward and amateur. It was, after all, a play about gay sex lives to be performed in the back of a pub. I had images in my mind of either uncomfortable soft-core porn or over-pretentious dramatics involving a man in clown makeup reading poetry and eating an apple.

    The play follows the intertwining lives of 10 gay men, tackling the usual gay issues of fidelity, trust and sex. Yes, of course, there’s a character who’s an escort in there. It wouldn’t be gay theatre if there wasn’t.

    The setting was simple, if amateurish, reminding me of the various performances we put on during A-level drama exam week. Although if the boys in my school looked ANYTHING like the cast I would never have left.

    Which brings us on to the most important part, the cast. They were fantastic. Those who weren’t stunningly gorgeous were hilarious and heartfelt. In fact many were gorgeous and heartfelt, a combination you don’t actually see in real life… so maybe a bit of realism lost there. Some of the acting was a little laboured; feeling over the top and out of place for such a small and intimate setting. When there were fight scenes you heard the fake slap, and when there were screaming matches you got wet. And not in a good way.

    The initial intimacy of the play can be a bit overwhelming, but the rhythm of the scene changes is consistently good and you’re easily moved from one character’s story to another. Some of the best characters aren’t introduced until towards the end, by that I mean both the funniest character and then arguably the hottest character. Despite its low budget, the show is still appealing to a wide audience, nothing too gay niche to prevent the characters from being relatable.

    I am forced to wonder, however, if the play would have been as engrossing if the cast weren’t as beautiful as they were. The good thing is you don’t need to find out.

    Entertaining and full of eye-candy. Go and see F*cking Men at the King’s Head Theatre, Islington before the end of it’s run in September (extended for another month due to popular demand).

    Worth it even if you’re just looking for new entries in your spank bank.

  • London Sex Health Clinic Accidentally Publishes Email Addresses Of Patients

    Around 780 HIV patients from the sexual health clinic, 56 Dean Street, have had their personal details disclosed in an email sent in an “administrative error”

    The personal email addresses of around 780 patients at London’s busiest sexual health clinic have been leaked via an email. A newsletter was sent to HIV patients of the clinic which disclosed names and emails addresses to everyone on the list.

    The clinic immediately apologised for the mistake and have started an investigation into how the breach happened. A helpline has been set up by the clinic for patients who are worried about the exposure.

    Dr Alan McOwan, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS trust’s director for sexual health said in his apology,

    “I’m writing to apologise to you. This morning at around 11.30am we sent you the latest edition of OptionE newsletter.

    This is normally sent to individuals on an individual basis but unfortunately we sent out today’s email to a group of email addresses. We apologise for this error.

    “We recalled/deleted the email as soon as we realised what had happened. If it is still in your inbox please delete it immediately.

    Clearly this is completely unacceptable. We are urgently investigating how this has happened and I promise you that we will take steps to ensure it never happens again. We will send you the outcome of the investigation.”

    Concerns have been raised about how the leaked email addresses could be used, including typing the addresses into Facebook to find out a full profile, including pictures and other personal details.

    A spokesperson speaking to THEGAYUK for the clinic said the breach was an “administrative error”,

    “We can confirm that due to an administrative error, a newsletter about services at 56 Dean Street was sent to an email group rather than individual recipients.

    We have immediately contacted all the email recipients to inform them of the error and apologise. Any concerned patients can call 020 3315 9555 and 020 3315 9594.”

  • Andrew Hayden Smith To Get Soaked For Hot Fellas

    Banana and Cucumber star Andrew Hayden Smith is playing a DJ set tonight at Ku bar to celebrate the launch of a calendar of gay men getting soaked in aid of charity, Prostate Cancer UK.

    Speaking to TheGayUK, Andrew said,

    “It’s for a great cause. I was happy to lend my support and go down and spin some tunes for them and there’s going to be some hot fellas as well – so that’s always good!”

    Clonezone and Soho based KU Bar have joined forces for a charity evening of surprises, cocktails and guest DJ’s to present the launch of Project SOAKED, brain child of photographer Mark Lister.

    Project SOAKED is a visual venture from the award-winning photographer showcasing striking portraits within a calendar and hard back photo book of men amidst a downpour of water. Lister launched the project to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer with proceeds going to Prostate Cancer UK.

    “It’s important to us to support Project Soaked and assist Mark in his efforts to raise funds for Prostate Cancer UK” said Clonezone’s Marketing Manager Topher Taylor. “We’ve found as a company that a surprisingly low-number of men know the basic facts of Prostate Cancer, including not knowing how to examine themselves for symptoms. We are excited to build a long-term relationship with Project Soaked, with 100% of proceeds from the calendar going directly to the cause”.

    The event will take place at KU Bar’s award winning gay bar on 30 Lisle Street, WC2H 7BA in the centre of vibrant London’s Soho tonight from 8PM.

  • Naked Shopping Is Coming Your Way

    Fancy doing some naked shopping… Come on you know you want too, well the good people behind naked mates have organised a naked shopping experience.

    Naked Mates, the online community for men who enjoy being naked with other men, is offering its members the opportunity to enjoy a unique naked shopping event. Teaming up with Expectations, London’s largest and most popular store for leather and rubber gear, the night promises to be a unique experience for anyone who likes the idea of browsing the aisles wearing nothing at all.

    The event takes place on Thursday 10th September between 7 pm and 9 pm. The event is open to all Naked Mates members, all you have to do is join up (if you aren’t already a member) and register in the Events section of the site. If shopping with all your naked mates wasn’t enough, the store is offering all Naked Mates members 15% off all sales on the night.

    Mark Routeledge, founder of www.nakedmates.co.uk, comments,

    “Naked Mates biggest strength is its community and the events which they arrange. A lot of emphases is placed on meeting your “naked mates” in the real world and not just chatting online. At any one time there are up to 100 events posted on the site and each of can be attended by upwards of 70 members. These events cover everything from parties, naked swimming and even naked holidays!!

    “With this is mind, we are delighted to be able to team up with Expectations and offer this unique experience to our members, we hope that this is just the first of many Naked Mates branded events that we can offer to our members.”