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Get the latest LGBT+ Sheffield news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Sheffield in England, UK.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Into The Hoods: Remixed, National Tour

    ★★★★ | In The Hoods: Remixed

    Two children are lost on the Ruff Endz Estate and in exchange for a bus ticket home; they agree to help The Landlord, who sends them out on a quest to find the gifts he wants to give his daughter for her 18th birthday.

    Their search, to find an iPhone as white as milk, a hoodie as red as blood, weave as yellow as corn and trainers as pure as gold, leads them on an adventure with the residents of Beanstalk Towers. Spinderella, wants to DJ at the ball, Lil Red has just signed a recording deal with Wolf, of Big Teef Records, Jaxx lives in the basement and is trying to avoid eviction and Rap-en-Zel will do anything to escape her room.

    In this hip-hop, street-dance fairy-tale, the story is little more than an excuse for some spectacular choreography, made up of routines laced with humour and character. There are some superb set pieces, nowhere more evident than in the 70’s style afro-tastic party of the local gangster and the explosion of break-dancing pensioners in Grandma’s retirement home.

    Borrowing from the familiar fairy-tale stories which are re-written for the hip-hop generation, the show is incredibly well presented, made up of superb animated backdrop projections, clever lighting and simple division of the four intertwining stories by use of colour and character. The routines provide for clearly defined and detailed characters that come across solely by the use of dance and music; and Kate Prince’s confident direction is effective in conveying the narrative and bringing out the best in the ridiculously talented cast.

    Based loosely on the Stephen Sondheim musical, of a similar name, Into the Hoods: Remixed is a streetwise, mash up of music with a smart, sassy and humorous personality performed by a slick, polished and disciplined cast. With its use of snippets of a variety of songs from different genres and styles to tell the story, it has a hint of “Moulin Rouge” about it and an energy which falls somewhere between relentless and jaw dropping. Into The Hoods is both impressive and great fun, and you cannot help but be swept up by this very entertaining and vivacious production.

    Into the Hoods is currently on national tour until the 9th April 2016. Full details can be found on the show’s website at www.intothehoodsremixed.co.uk .

    Into the Hoods: Remixed was reviewed at Sheffield Theatres , who have recently launched their new season, which includes No Man’s Land starring Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Nap, Crucible Theatre, Shefield

    THEATRE REVIEW | The Nap, Crucible Theatre, Shefield

    ★★★★★ The Nap | In this comedy thriller, up and coming snooker star, Dylan Spokes (Jack O’Connell) returns to his Sheffield home and is gearing up for his match in the World Championships, but is drawn into a police operation to target match fixing within the sport.

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  • THEATRE REVIEW | Gangsta Granny, Sheffield Theatre

    ★★★★ Gangsta Granny | Ben dreads Friday evening coming around – another night when his parents send him to his granny’s house whilst they go ballroom dancing.

    Birmingham Stage Company presents Gangsta Granny by David Walliams.
    Birmingham Stage Company presents Gangsta Granny by David Walliams.

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  • THEATRE REVIEW | Let It Be

    ★★★ Let It Be | Beatlemania returns to the stage with a show celebrating the music, fashions, phases and classic performances of arguably the most influential pop group in history.

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  • Sheffield Library Adds 100 LGBT Books To Its Shelves

    Sheffield Library Adds 100 LGBT Books To Its Shelves

    Sheffield Library has announced that it has added 100 LGBT titles to its shelves to celebrate LGBT History Month.

     

    Sheffield Library
    CREDIT: Photograph courtesy of Sheffield City Council

     

    Over 100 books, which include those from authors Patrick Gale, Stella Duffy and Armistead Maupin have been added  to Sheffield‘s central library, bringing their collection of LGBT books to 300 titles.

    Councillor Sioned-Mair Richards, cabinet member for neighbourhoods at Sheffield City Council, said:

    “The libraries in Sheffield are for everyone and we want everyone to feel catered for. It’s great more titles have been added with LGBT interests but I hope all people will enjoy them.  Patrick Gale, Stella Duffy and Armistead Maupin are particular favourites of mine so I’ll be in the queue!”

    The new books hit the shelves this month to mark LGBT history month which promotes diversity and equality.

     

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    The collection is held in the Central Lending Library but the books can be loaned from all branches.

    Sheffield City Council aims to promote fairness and equality. Last month the authority was named as one of the top 50 places to work in Stonewall’s nationally acclaimed Workforce Equality Index, and was the 6th highest achieving local authority in the country.

    To get involved in Sheffield’s Equality Hub Network – set up to give under-represented communities in Sheffield a louder voice on issues that affect them and influence decisions that are made in the city – please visit www.sheffield.gov.uk/equalityhub.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The 39 Steps National Tour

    ★★★ The 39 Steps | A murdered spy, a misty Scottish moor, a dastardly plot and a daring escape (coupled with a stiff upper lip and rather attractive pencil moustache) are the order of the day as dashing hero, Richard Hannay, uncovers the secrets of The 39 Steps in this knockabout comedy.

    Based on the book and the Hitchcock film of the same name (and with more than a few nods to the Hitchcock legacy, including a cameo from the man himself), The 39 Steps is a classic spy thriller which finds our hero, Richard Hannay, falsely accused of the murder of a seductive spy, leading him to go on the run to Scotland and to uncover a dastardly plot to smuggle secrets out of the country.

    This playful, tongue in cheek production takes a gentle comedy sideswipe at the spy films of the 30’s and 40’s with a knowing smile and an approach which displays a genuine affection for the source material and the genre as a whole. But the twist with this production is that the 130 characters that adorn the stage are played by just four actors, who give a whistle stop tour of the major plot points and protagonists at breakneck speed.

    In a style that is not too far removed from the deadpan delivery of the “Airplane” or “The Naked Gun” films and with just a hint of “The League Of Gentlemen” – the rapid delivery and scattergun approach to the stream of gags ensure that if you don’t find the last joke funny, there is another on the way in a few seconds. The cast play their roles with a completely straight bat, taking the narrative deadly seriously and seemingly oblivious to the chaos and ridiculousness that surrounds them.

    The use of mime, limited props, quick change costumes and clever staging compel the audience to use their imagination to an extent, but by buying into the premise and presentation, the audience is well rewarded. It was hard to fault the physical performances of the cast who were clearly so well-rehearsed that the switching between characters was second nature; and who were all clearly thoroughly enjoying themselves on stage.

    As with all comedy, not every joke hit the mark, but there was a fair balance of comments, actions or situations which led to a smile, a groan, a guffaw or a belly laugh. Despite a few of the repeated gags starting to nudge their way towards outstaying their welcome, the main criticism of the show was that it was sometimes difficult to hear the script, either as a result of quiet diction from the actors, the fast paced nature of the script or due to their indeterminable caricature accents, but these issues were soon passed and soon forgiven as the next comedic moment rolled along.

    Happily, the show stays on the right side of silly fun, delivers a joke-per-minute ratio which far exceeds most productions over the course of the show’s 100 minute running time and rightly retains its reputation on its tenth anniversary tour.

    The 39 Steps plays at Sheffield Theatres until 20th February 2016.

    @IAmScubamonkey

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Hairspray – Sheffield Theatres & National Tour

    Tracey Turnblad is not your average 1960’s American teen. She is a big girl, with a big heart and even bigger hair. ★★★★★

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  • THEATRE REVIEW | A Raisin in the Sun, Sheffield Theatres

    With the current controversy around the lack of diversity this year’s Academy Award nominees, it seems somewhat timely for Sheffield Theatres, Eclipse Theatre Company and Belgrade Theatre, Coventry to present “A Raisin In the Sun”, a landmark play in Black theatre and one which explores issues of racial politics and social attitudes through the eyes of the Young Family. ★★★

    Set in 1950’s Chicago, the family await the receipt of a cheque for $10,000, a life insurance payment from the patriarch’s recent death. Each of them harbours their own ideas about how the money can be used to transform the lives of all of them and release them from the crammed apartment they all share. The tensions in the family are exacerbated by Walter’s propensity to drink, Benetha’s desires to go into medicine (despite the duel disadvantage of her sex and skin colour) and the challenges of a family all trying to do right by each other.

    Ashley Zhangazha gives a very strong performance as Walter, bringing across the characters mixture of frustration, enthusiasm, desperation and ultimately his misguided attempts to better himself for his family’s benefit. There is a certain vulnerability within the character which draws the audiences sympathy and whilst his actions are questionable, his motives aren’t. Equally, Angela Wynter’s portrayal of Mama is just as accomplished; with her melodic intonation becoming somewhat mesmerising and softening the matriarchal figure.

    The director, Dawn Walton, steers the production with solid confidence and garners performances from her small cast which allow you to instantly warm to the family, despite their individual flaws, fantasies and motivations.

    The play looks at the issues of change on both a personal level and of the community at large. Written in 1959, Lorraine Hansberry’s script certainly reflects the mood of the time, leading to it being the first play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway. The family comes across as a metaphor for the civil rights movement and social consciousness of a society on the cusp of change, with a mixture of methods and reasons for wanting to improve their situation for the better in the face of blatant challenge and prejudice.

    The theme of the play remains relevant – motivation, money and moving forward – and steadily builds towards an emotional denouement, despite a handful of somewhat intrusive scene changes and a slightly overlong scene between Beneatha and Joseph Asagai towards the end. The play is a straightforwardly presented production which allows the script and performances to speak for themselves.

    A Raisin In the Sun is currently at Sheffield Theatresuntil 13th February 2016. 0114 249 6000.

     

    by Paul Szabo | @IAmScubamonkey

  • THEATRE REVIEW: St Petersberg Classic Ballet – Sheffield Theatres & National Tour

    THEATRE REVIEW: St Petersberg Classic Ballet – Sheffield Theatres & National Tour

    Formed in 1996, the St Petersberg Classic Ballet is currently in the midst of their first ever UK tour, bringing an abundance of classically presented ballet and a trio of traditional tales; The Nutcracker, Giselle and Swan Lake. ★★★

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  • THEATRE REVIEW: The Bodyguard UK TOUR

    Based on the 1992 film of the same name and starring Alexandra Burke and Stuart Reid, The Bodyguard is the story of a pop diva, Rachel Marron, who receives threats from a stalker, leading her managers to employ Frank Farmer, former Secret Service agent and the best bodyguard in the business.

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  • THEATRE REVIEW | Vincent & Flavia in The Last Tango – Sheffield Theatres & National Tour

    If the return of Saturday Night stalwart ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ has whetted your appetite for some classic crooning, some archetypal moves on the dance floor and all things sequined, then why not swap your sofa for a theatre seat and see the whole thing live? ★★★ (more…)