THEGAYUK

Tag: Top List

  • COLUMN | Chris Bridges’ That Was The Year That Was

    It’s that time of year when we all get reflective, and occasionally sentimental and mawkish, thinking about the past year. I’m definitely not going to do that. Instead, I thought I’d share a few cultural highlights of 2013. I’ve waded through some pretty grim stuff and also been lucky enough to witness some totally stunning stuff. Here’s my gay Top 5 of 2013:

    1) Cabaret: The Black Cat Cabaret
    As sleek and slinky as a black cat stalking the back streets of Paris, this is a diverse mix of burlesque, novelty acts, dance, comedy and music. It’s definitely atmospheric and often dark and enticing. Featuring a variety of hosts including the alluring Dusty Limits, this show played to packed houses at the remarkable Café de Paris in Leicester Square. 2014 sees new line-ups and exciting new venues. Check out the itinerary here: http://www.theblackcat.info

    2) Dance: Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty. If you weren’t fortunate enough to see this in the flesh then the television screening on Christmas day was well worth seeing. Matthew Bourne dazzles as ever with inventive sets, eclectic choreography and clever reworking of classics. Catch up with the latest projects here: http://www.new-adventures.net

    3) Theatre: The Pride. This was an exceptional play with comedy, pathos and a thought provoking message. Justifiably praised by critics, this was a play that cleverly explored the parallels between gay life in the 1950s and the present day. Look out for upcoming shows at the Trafalgar here: http://www.trafalgar-studios.co.uk/

    4) Film: Behind the Candelabra. High camp, pianos, Matt Damon in tight trunks? What more do you need to know? Oh, it was actually quite moving in places too as well as being hilariously funny. Buy it here.

    5) Comedy: Scott Capuro. One of the most naughty and funniest of our openly gay comedians, he’s a pleasure, albeit an uncomfortable pleasure at times, to witness. Check out his next dates here: http://scottcapurro.com/wp28/upcoming-shows

    2014 is definitely going to be an exciting year for culture. I’ll keep you posted with hot tips.

  • Top 10 | Theatre Film and TV of 2013

    Well we’re at the end of 2013 and what better time to look back at my 10 best theatre, tv and film moments of the year, some of which I reviewed, some of which I didn’t.

    Sadly, my first choice only managed a run of a few months at the London Palladium, nor is it a show I reviewed myself. The original Broadway production of A Chorus Line opened in 1975 and ran for 6,137 performances, garnering no less than 12 Tony Awards. It was the longest running musical in Broadway history, until overtaken by Cats in 1997. Here in London it managed a respectable 3 year run, when it opened at the enormous Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1976. The Palladium revival was a loving re-creation of the original, using Michael Bennett’s original choreography (Bennett died in 1987 of AIDS related lymphoma), and it brought back many memories of when I was a young dancer, working in the West End. This revival was every bit as brilliant as the original production and various reasons were offered as to why it was not as huge a success this time round. Apparently it had minority interest (only dancers and people in show business could have any interest in the travails of being a Broadway/West End hoofer); at 90 minutes without an interval, it was too long and attention flagged; it lacked spectacle being set, for the most part, on an empty stage with dancers in practice clothes. But this was all true the first time round, and the show was a huge success back then. Audiences have changed, I suppose. Certainly the second time I attended this revival (on press night) the audience seemed more interested in being seen themselves than watching the show.

    I did review my next musical of choice, and am happy to report that it is still running at the Phoenix Theatre, and absolutely demands to be seen. Once was originally a charming indie film, which has been expanded and fleshed out to make a full evening at the theatre. The stage of the Phoenix has been decked out to look like an Irish pub, where members of the audience can enjoy a drink before the show and during the interval. Almost imperceptibly the show starts, while the audience are still making their way to their seats. Not really a musical in any conventional sense, it is original, charming, sublimely poetic, moving, eloquent, and stylish. Don’t miss it.

    Of my next three choices, only one is still running in the West End, though the Menier Theatre production of Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along enjoyed a new lease of life when the production was filmed and shown in cinemas up and down the country. Maybe it will eventually also get a DVD release. It has always been one of my favourite Sondheim shows, though its rather cynical message found little favour among audiences when it was first produced back in 1981, when it ran for 44 previews and only 16 performances. At least Maria Friedman’s debut production for the Menier Theatre did a lot better than that. Given a slightly more upbeat twist by Friedman and via a few deft re-writes by Sondheim, and with some fabulous performances (particularly Jenna Russell as Mary and Damian Humbley as Charlie) this was a sure-fire hit.

    Not to be missed was Jamie Lloyd’s revival of Alexi Kayle Campbell’s superb The Pride at the Trafalgar Studios. This superb play that juxtaposes two parallel love stories, one from the 1950s and one from today, deftly reminds us that prejudice is still here, despite the strides we have made in recent years. With fantastic performances all round, this was an extremely memorable night in the theatre.

    Still running (though the Apollo has been closed for a while after part of the ceiling collapsed a couple of weeks ago) is the National Theatre’s production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Wonderfully inventive, superbly theatrical, this adaptation of Mark Haddon’s popular novel will no doubt run for years. We were fortunate enough to book our tickets a few days before the production won no less than 7 Olivier awards, as it sold out completely after that. I’m sure it’ll be around for quite a while yet though.

    Andrew Lloyd Webber and Time Rice are back in the West End this year, though not working together this time. Lloyd Webber ‘s new musical Stephen Ward is at present previewing and Time Rice’s musical version of From Here To Eternity (with music by Stuart Brayson) opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre in October. In many ways a reassuringly old-fashioned musical (it is not sung through and has a very strong libretto by Bill Oakes), it is a thoroughly enjoyable, brilliantly conceived and executed new show. Let’s hope it has a deservedly long run.

    In the cinema, I got the chance to review HBO’s Behind The Candelabra, made for TV, but here given a theatre release. Stephen Soderbegh’s direction is not always sure-footed, and the film drags a little in the middle, which might be less noticeable in the context of a TV movie. He does however, get wonderful performances out of his all-star cast. Aside from Rob Lowe’s brilliantly immobile plastic surgeon, there are some great cameos from Dan Ackroyd, Scott Bakula and Debbie Reynolds (remember her?), but the movie succeeds or fails on the work of its two stars, and both Michael Douglas and Matt Damon give faultless performances. Damon is thoroughly believable as the star-struck young innocent who gradually descends into drug addiction, and Michael Douglas quite simply gives one of the best performances of his career. It would have been so easy, and so tempting, to overplay the role and come up with a clownish caricature, but Douglas completely avoids that trap, and comes up with a performance of great subtlety, which deservedly won him an Emmy Award.

    I didn’t review I Want Your Love which was granted a limited cinema release in the UK. Given the amount of explicit sex in the film, this is hardly surprising. Like Shortbus before it, director Travis Matthews breaks new bounds in how to present sex on the screen. The sex, and there is a lot of it, is real, and we get to see everything; blow jobs, penetration, cum shots, the lot. What makes it different from your bog standard porn movie is that this features real actors, and very good ones at that, pushing the boundaries of what they will do on screen in the context of a role. The sex scenes are handled rather differently than they would be in a porno, and much more sensitively; the connection between the actors, the reactions on their faces rather more important than the sex itself, though the camera doesn’t shy away from that either. There’s not a lot of plot, so it certainly doesn’t keep you on the edge of the seat wondering what will happen next. It’s one of those movies in which people spend a lot of time talking to each other; about their feelings, about their relationships, about work. I found it totally immersing and involving.

    Though I understand that many will not respond to I Want Your Love as I did, I do recommend unreservedly David France’s masterly documentary How To Survive A Plague. This remarkable movie tells the story of a small group of men and women in America, most of them HIV positive, who battled against government indifference and departmental incompetence, to save their own lives. In so doing they helped save the lives of 6,000,000. Gripping, moving, inspiring, at times emotionally draining, it is a story that demands to be told. Required viewing for every gay man, particularly those under the age of 30.

    And finally to a great piece of television, shown just this last month on BBC4. Don’t Ever Wipe Tears Without Gloves, is an award-winning Swedish three parter, based on novelist Jonas Gardell’s trilogy about the impact of AIDS on the gay community in Sweden in the early 1980s. Subtly and sensitively acted, and beautifully filmed, this was great television, the last of its three episodes almost unbearably moving, so much so that I watched it through a film of tears. If you missed its network TV showing, then do not hesitate to buy it on DVD, but make sure you have a box of tissues at the ready.

  • TOP 10: Eastenders Hottest Guys of 2013

    Eastenders, the soap laden with handsome young men that set our hearts (and pants) alight all year. Here’s 10 reasons why you had to watch the show.

    1) David Witts plays Joey Branning on Eastenders…

    2) Gary Lucy plays Bi-sexual resident Danny Pennant on Eastenders.

    3) Ben Hardy now plays Peter Beale on the soap… one of our favourites!

    4) Danny Dyer plays Mick Carter, the new landlord of the Queen Vic, oh and his Son Johnny is pretty hot too… 2 for 1!

    But the best news about this is Johnny (Sam Strike) has been hiding his sexuality from his Dad Mick after his sister Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) caught the 19-year-old in the act with Albert Square’s bisexual resident Danny Pennant (Gary Lucy – above) when they kissed in a drunken exchange.
    5) Sam Strike as Johnny Carter…

    6) Tony Disapline played Tyler Moon in EastEnders…

    7) Matt Lapinskas played Anthony Moon, the Brother of Tyler Moon on EastEnders… another 2 for 1!

    8) Musician Matt Willis will join the cast of EastEnders in 2014 as Luke, the boyfriend of Stacey Branning, who is played by Lacey Turner

    9) George Sergeant plays Terry Spraggan Jnr in EastEnders…

    10) Khali Best plays Dexter in the Hartman family…

    So there you have it. 10 reasons to watch EastEnders, we suggest you have a little look. You’ll not want to watch anything else.

     

     

    by Kris Searle

  • 5 Pagan origins of Christmas

    Christmas is a Christian festival, but a lot of its traditions originate from the older pagan festival of Yule. Yule or the Winter Solstice is on 21st December; it is the shortest day and longest night in year. From this point on days will begin to get longer. Pagans come together celebrate the return of the sun or re-birth of the sun God.

    Let’s have a look at 5 Christmas traditions and discover their pagan origins:

    1. The Christmas tree
    The evergreen Christmas tree started with the pagans. They saw evergreen as symbolic of the eternal cycles of nature: birth, life, death and re-birth. The re-birth always being seen as a result of the sun’s return.

    I remember decorating the Christmas tree when I was little. My mum would let me and my brothers decorate one side of the tree and then put that side against the wall. Or she’d let us decorate it and then strategically move all of the decorations to where she wanted them to be, before visitors began to arrive. As we got older, she simply refused to let us decorate the tree at all. Did anybody else’s mum do that, or was it just mine?

    The decorations, like the round baubles in colours of red and yellow and the lights (before electricity candles were used) are all seen by pagans as representations of the sun God.

    2. The Presents
    Pagans gave presents long before Christian’s came along, but on New Years Day rather than at Yule. The presents were often small and symbolic of a blessing for the year ahead.

    Christian’s didn’t start giving presents until relatively recently. In Britain due to poverty and culture, Christmas presents didn’t commonplace until around the Victorian Era. There are records of wealthy people giving presents before then, but it was only some people and these were the upper classes of society.

    3. Father Christmas
    Father Christmas or Santa goes back to the Christian Saint Nicholas. Saint Nicholas had a reputation for secret gift giving to children and for valuing children greatly.

    But what show his pagan roots are the colours of his archetypal dress. When I think of Father Christmas, I think of Miracle of 34th Street. I imagine the scene in which Kris is putting on his suit for the first time. His red suit with white trim, black belt with golden buckle, his black boots and of course his red hat. These colours: red, white and gold are all associated with the pagan sun god, who is believed to be re-born on Yule.

    4. Kissing Under The Mistletoe
    This time of year, mistletoe always seems to find it’s way to the office Christmas party. Hung in some precarious doorway, it can lead to an awkward moment of avoiding eye contact and pretending you’ve not seen it or to a drunken Christmas snog with the hottie from the IT Department.

    Mistletoe’s pagan origins are as a symbol of fertility. Yule was a festival of fertility, by the very nature of it being the festival were the life-giving sun God is re-born. Often pagan’s would give mistletoe to those wanting to conceive.

    5. The Humble Robin
    Every year I receive at least one Christmas card with the humble robin on. His pagan associations come from his striking reddy orange chest, a symbol of the sun and also in his ability to fly. His ability to fly means that he can leave and then return, very much like the sun God.

    There you have it, 5 Christmas Christian traditions that originated from paganism. It’s not just Christmas that has pagan roots, Christian festivals throughout the year have pagan traditions and elements integrated into them.

    Have a great Christmas or Yule, whichever you choose to call it and whatever religious belief system (or not) is.

  • 14 ways to beat bullying

    This month it’s been anti-bullying month here at THEGAYUK. Bullying takes many forms: Name-calling, making negative comments on your work, making someone feel worthless, physical abuse are just some examples.

    So we’ve put some tips together to help anyone out there who might be being bullied. It doesn’t matter if you’re being bullied at school, college, university, work or home.

    Remember if you are being bullied remember it’s not your fault.

    Write Everything Down
    Keep a log of every incident; write down the date, time, location, what happened, what they said and any witnesses that were around.

    Tell Someone
    Tell someone in authority and ask them what they intend to do about it. Tell them any fears you have about reprisals from the bully.

    Someone you trust, like a family member or a friend can also be useful. It means that you’re not dealing with the problem on your own; a problem shared is a problem halved.

    Get Support
    Don’t try to deal with it and your feelings about it all on your own. Get some support. Consider counselling for some additional support around your feelings.

    Know Your Rights
    All educational settings have anti-bullying policies. Some employers have these as well. Even if your employer doesn’t they will have Equality & Diversity Policies as well as other relevant policies. Read them.

    There will also be procedures for investigating and dealing with bullying – so have a look at these as well.

    Know your rights. Nobody has a right to bully another. Make authority figures aware that you know you’re rights.

    Don’t Let It Get To You
    Try to not let the things the bully says or does get to you. Bullies bully for a variety of reasons, but it’s always about their issues, not yours.

    Try Not To Show A Reaction or Smile
    Don’t let the bully see that they are getting to you. To do this, try to give them no reaction or smile. You know that phrase: Smile – it confuses people.

    Walk With Confidence
    Use your body language to make you look larger. Stand with your legs apart, your back straight and your chest pushed out slightly. Have your arms slightly away from your body and loose by your sides. Head up as you walk looking straight ahead. This does take a bit of practice but try practising in front of a full-length mirror. Believe it or not, this is how most bullies walk.

    When we see someone walk like this, especially a bully, we do the opposite with our body language. We make ourselves as small as possible including hunching our back, pulling our arms in close and looking down at the ground. Try to remember to keep this confident body language, even when you see the bully.

    The only time to avoid using body language to make you look larger is in the event of a physical assault. In that case, have your side to the perpetrator, as this will give them less of a target. In the event of a physical assault, get yourself out of the situation as soon as you can and to a place of safety.

    Remember nobody has the right to be violent towards you; likewise, you don’t have the right to be violent towards anyone else. All physical assaults should be reported to the Police.

    If It’s CyberBullying
    If the bully is sending you messages, texts, images and videos, keep them all. Don’t respond to any messages and make good use of privacy settings. Block/Ignore the bully and report them to the social media provider. If the messages get particularly abusive report them to the Police (this is why you need to keep all the messages as evidence).

    Take Sensible Steps To Keep Yourself Safe
    Keep yourself safe by carrying a mobile phone, personal attack alarm and being aware of your surroundings. Never walk home on your own and always try to stay with someone when travelling around the setting where you come into contact with the bully.

    Involve The Police
    Any violence or physical assault should be reported to the Police.

    If the bullying is homophobic or racist in nature you can report it to the Police as a hate crime. Hate crime also covers bullying that is related to disability religion, ethnicity or transgender identify. Find out more about hate crimes on the True Vision website.

    Come up with Good Coping Strategies
    We all have different coping strategies. Some good ones are: taking up sports or martial arts (these are particularly empowering and you learn to defend yourself as well), talking to people, expressing how you feel creatively (e.g. writing, music, drawing, making movies, etc.). All of these activities also raise your confidence and self-esteem – something that bullies try to damage or destroy.

    Avoid Drugs & Alcohol as a Coping Strategy
    There is research that links drugs and alcohol misuse to bullying as a coping strategy. Avoid using drugs or alcohol to cope with the bullying. It might make you forget or feel happier in the very short term (for the night), but the next day the bullying often seems a much bigger problem.

    Know that It Gets Better
    Bullying is a massive issue. Many people get bullied. Remember that the situation you’re in now won’t last forever. There will be a time that the bullying will stop.

    Avoid Becoming The Bully
    There’s some research that shows that some people who have been bullied, later become bullies. Don’t let it happen, you’re better than that! Remember how it felt to be bullied. If you’re in a position to safely stand up to a bully that’s bullying someone else – do.

    If you’re affected by bullying please check out our resources page for further help and support.

  • TOP 5: Chocolate Advent Calendars

    I love Christmas and even more the build up to it.

    What better way to excite yourself silly throughout December than to own a chocolate advent calendar. 24 reasons to get up in the morning. The building excitement as you hit the double figure windows. Then finally the opening of door 24 and knowing this is it, this is the night he’ll visit and spoil me rotten for all my hard work throughout the year. However we’re a long way off yet, so here are my top 5 chocolate advent calendars to help you build the festive cheer this coming December.

    La Maison Du Chocolat: The Advent Calendar

    £48.00 – 24 chocolate boxes.

    This delightful tree shaped calendar decorated with cream and gold numbered boxes hide a collection of holiday chocolates and pralines. My mum will love it even more as it’s the kind of thing she’ll keep to refill herself next year. Top tip, don’t allow her to, she won’t refill with the quality of these delicious chocs!

    www.lamaisonduchocolat.co.uk

    Hotel Chocolat: Truffle for Two Advent Calendar

    £26.00 – 48 truffles

    There’s nothing worse than having your morning choccie pinched by the boyfriend before you’ve had chance to wipe the sleep from your eyes. Well here’s the perfect solution. Behind each window are two mini-dome truffles, one for you and one for him. Of course there’s no law that says you have to share them.

    www.hotelchocolat.com

    Charbonnel et Walker: Christmas Advent Calendar

    £30.00 – 24 chocolates

    A smart classy red box with gold dangling bauble design hides 24 windows to hand-made milk and dark chocolates (non-alcoholic). The trick is to hold off opening all the doors on day one.

    www.charbonnel.co.uk

    Thorntons: The Snowman and the Snowdog Advent Calendar

     

    £5.99 – 28 chocolates

    The cheapest in the bunch and chosen mainly because Christmas isn’t Christmas without watching The Snowman and turning into a blubbering heap on the floor. Well now every morning can be one long emotional mess as you tuck into the milk chocolate treats. Plus there are extra white chocolate snowmen to enjoy and you can have your name iced onto the main window chocolate. It’s what every adult wanted as a child and never got!

    www.thorntons.co.uk

    Drinks by the Dram: Whisky or Gin Advent Calendars

    £149.95 – Whisky, £109.95 – Gin

    For those of you who hate chocolate and feel you need something stronger than a shot of coffee to get out of bed on a cold winters morning, here is the perfect solution. 24 windows each containing 3cl bottles of whisky or gin. These aren’t just your standard wee drops though, these are a selection of the finest tipples from around the world. You can make your own tasting notes throughout the month to find your perfect Christmas plonk. This may be one for opening in the evenings!

    www.masterofmalt.com

  • 9 of the best films for Halloween

    * Contains descriptions and images which some readers may find upsetting *

    Now the clocks have gone back, there’s only one day left till Halloween. As the leaves are blown from the trees and dance across the road in the breeze, rain pelts against your windows and the wind howls, it’s the perfect time to settle in, open a bottle of red and creep yourself out with a good horror film. So in this special extended edition of Six of the Best, we have a few suggestions for something you can watch from behind the cushions…

    Halloween

    Let’s start with an absolute classic. Malevolent monster Michael Myers has become a horror icon, but it all started with this low budget slasher. Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) is stalked by a seemingly unstoppable man who lurks in the shadows before attacking her and her friends on Halloween night. This film slowly winds up the tension by crafting a feeling of paranoia before culminating in a memorable ending. What makes this film so good is its urban setting and it’s “this really could happen” this story. Forget the inferior remake and stick with the original and best.
    Buy it here

    Maniac

    Elijah Wood gives a brilliant performance in this exceptional remake of an 80’s slasher flick. A young man struggles with his mental health which leads him to stalk and murder women on the streets of LA. But he falls in love with a beautiful young photographer, which slowly develops into an obsession. This excellent film is shot entirely from the point of view of the murderer and has an outstanding soundtrack, graphic violence and is beautifully filmed. This hidden gem is a more cerebral horror which plays on primal fears.
    Buy it here

    The Strangers

    A young couple (played by Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman) find themselves trapped in a nightmare when their home is invaded by a group of strangers in masks. Who they are and why they are terrorising the couple is unknown, but this film proves that you are not even safe in your own home. This tense film is full of suspense and will make you check you have locked the door before you go to bed.
    Buy it here

    The Descent

    In this claustrophobic British horror, a group of friends go caving and discover more than they could ever have imagined when they find themselves trapped following a tunnel collapsing. As they head deeper and deeper into the cave system, they are clearly not alone as they are set upon by something in the dark.
    Buy it here

    Trick ‘r’ Treat

    Four tales of Halloween are intertwined in one night of horror. A group of children play a trick on a young girl based on a local legend which goes horribly wrong, some teenage girls are stalked by a masked man through a Halloween street carnival, a school principal has a secret life and a man is terrorised by a very special Trick-or-Treater. The stories all combine in this enjoyable anthology horror.
    Buy it here

    Hocus Pocus

    In this camp classic, three witches are accidentally resurrected on Halloween by a group of teenagers. With the help of a talking cat called Binx, the friends battle the witches in an attempt to save the town. With the entire cast camping it up and Bette Midler singing “I Put a Spell on You”, this family film is great fun.
    Buy it here

    Frankenweenie

    When Sparky, a young boy’s beloved dog, dies, his grief stricken owner bring him back to life in his makeshift attic laboratory. But when his friends find out, the young boy is blackmailed into bringing other pets to life, which escape and cause havoc. Using beautiful stop motion animation, this gentle Tim Burton animation is both touching and funny. If you loved The Nightmare before Christmas, then you’ll love this too.
    Buy it here

    La Horde

    In this French new wave horror, a group of people are trapped at the top of a high rise building which is besieged by the living dead. Making their way down the levels, they are relentlessly attacked by the fast moving monsters. This film is like “28 Days Later” on speed and is full of gore, fast paced action and terrific set pieces.
    Buy it here

    The Hills Have Eyes (2006)

    In this modern remake of the 1970’s shocker, a family on a road trip across the dessert find themselves besieged by a group of cannibals. When their baby is stolen by the cannibals the family revert back to their own tribal instincts to fight back. This graphic and violent film is one of the better remakes of the last few years and has blood, guts and shocks aplenty.
    Buy it here

  • 15 Ways To Spend A Pleasurable Evening

    With the dark nights closing in, the routine this time of year can feel a bit monotonous. So we’ve come up with 15 pleasurable ways to spend an evening.

    Depending on your own personal preferences some of these activities might be your idea of absolute pleasure or excruciating pain. Still, hopefully, this list will inspire you to do something different and fun that will break up the routine.

    15. Spending Time with your Family
    Whether it’s seeing my mum, catching up with my brothers, sister, or my nephews it’s always great to spend time with the family. With life being so busy an unexpected catch up is always welcome. So why don’t you text or call your family and see what they’re up to tonight?

    14. Getting on the Consoles
    Dust off and switch on your Xbox, PS3 or even the Wii and rediscover an old game. Spend the night shooting zombies, being a manager of your own football team and playing online with people from across the world. You never know, you might even make a few new online friends.

    13. Ordering A Takeaway
    Treat yourself to some delicious food from your local take away. Best of all – don’t stress about the calorie intake, just enjoy.

    12. Cinemas or A Night in Watching Films
    Venture out of the house to the Cinemas for the latest flick. Alternatively pop in your favourite DVD’s at home for a cosy night in.

    11. Hitting The Gym
    We all know the gym is good for you, but many of us don’t go often enough. Burning off that excess energy at the gym has two main benefits. First, exercise releases endorphins that make you feel amazing. Second, you’re guaranteed to sleep well.

    If you make it a regular thing, you only add to the benefits. Think: loosing weight, tighter body, more muscle mass and more stamina.

    Plus there’s an opportunity to see that fitty that frequents the gym. You never know, you may even get talking to him and he may end up becoming your workout buddy.

    10. Reading A Good Book
    Reading a good book is like being transported into a whole different world; your imagination is ignited and you become totally absorbed.

    9. A Romantic Meal Out, or A Meal Out with Friends
    If you’re in a relationship, take the time out to have a romantic meal for two out at your favourite restaurant. If you’re single, drag one or three of your friends along to try a new restaurant.

    8. Ten-pin Bowling, Laser Quest or Both
    Find your local bowling, laser quest or both and book a night out of competitive gaming for you and your mates. Choose your team carefully, though – as the losing team is buying the drinks!

    7. Taking A Dance Class
    My friend and I took up Salsa Dancing a few winters ago and we were useless at it. I honestly haven’t laughed that much in ages; we both came out with bellyache from laughing so much at each other.

    So take a dance class, even if you’ve got two left feet like me. You can also find some same-sex dance classes that cater for gay people.

    6. Meditation
    Meditation may not be the first thing that springs to mind when you think of a pleasurable evening but bare with me here. Imagine low lighting, a scented candle (or three) and a guided meditation CD that makes you feel completely relaxed and slightly giddy from the visualisation.

    I think relaxation can be pleasurable in itself, especially with the amount of stress we all have in our lives. I’ve spent many evenings doing mediation because I finish feeling absolutely blissful and if that feeling of bliss isn’t pleasurable, then I don’t know what is.

    5. Having Sex
    Spend an evening having sex! But rather than the usual quickie, make a night of it and take it slow.

    Light some candles, sprinkle some rose petals and get the baby oil out. Give your partner a naked massage using the oil and resist the urge to step things up a gear.

    Take the time to get to know every part of his body and let the tension slowly build, until climax.

    4. A Few Social Drinks
    Find out all the latest gossip by having a good chinwag with friends over a few social drinks. Just make sure that you know your limit if it’s a work night.

    3. Visit the Roller Ring or go Ice-Skating
    Visiting your local roller ring or ice skating may bring back memories of falling on the floor or on to solid ice, but you’ll enjoy it once your there. They usually have flashing disco lights and great music for you to skate to!

    2. The Theatre
    Book tickets and go and see a production at a theatre. It gives you something to look forward to and there are some absolutely fantastic shows on.

    1. Being Creative
    There’s nothing better than creating something. Whether you’re into making music, creating collages, painting, writing, do whatever takes your fancy. Even if you don’t think you’re that good at it, just do it for the love of it.

  • 6 Of The Best Torture Movies

    As it is #PleasureAndPain month here at TGUK, this month’s 6 of the Best looks at the genre of torture films.

    The genre has recently been subject to a resurgence in mainstream cinema, initially coming back to the attention of the masses with Eli Roth’s much publicised Hostel. The “torture porn” genre, as it is often known, has recently culminated in films such as The Human Centipede 2, which was the subject of much controversy and a “ban” by the BBFC until certain parts were cut from the movie. But the history of on screen torture is long standing with films like Marathon Man and A Clockwork Orange being considered cinema classics. So sit back, prepare to wince, hide that pair of pliers (just in case) and enjoy six of the best…..

    Hostel

    In Eli Roth’s genre setting film, a trio of American students on a back packing trip around Europe find themselves drawn to a Hostel in an unidentified Eastern European country, lured with the promise of sex and hedonistic pleasures. But the Hostel serves to provide young victims for a business which allows the rich to pay to have a private room in an abandoned factory, which is well equipped with every tool and torture device imaginable. The payment allows them to do whatever they want to poor, helpless victims. What follows is a nightmare of pain, graphic scenes of torture and wince inducing moments. For those who are not too keen on watching people have their kneecaps removed with an electric drill, there is always the beautiful looking Jay Hernandez to take your mind off the dank basement horror on display. Hostel was also rated in our most homoerotic horror movies.

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    The Tortured

    When his child is abducted and murdered by a paedophile, a young doctor takes matters into his own hands and kidnaps the maniac to exact his revenge. Keeping the killer chained up in his basement, he uses his medical knowledge to ensure that the maximum amount of pain is inflicted whilst keeping him the right side of consciousness. But as the torture continues, the doctor finds himself increasingly struggling with his morals, despite the fate of his child. Jesse Metcalf sheds his Desperate Housewives image with this brutal film which raises an interesting moral debate about how far you would go if someone hurt your loved one which is set against the cruel acts being perpetrated.BUY IT FROM AMAZON

    Martyrs

     

    This French Language film is one of the most notable films to come out of the French New Wave Horror Genre. A young girl seeks revenge on the people who held her captive and tortured her as a child. In her perusal of her captors, it leads her and her best friend, another victim of abuse, on a horrific journey which unfolds the mystery of who the organisation is and why they have a programme of systematic torture. This film is a disturbing mix of psychological horror and brutally realistic scenes of relentless torture, particularly in the latter half. This is extreme cinema and is certainly not for the faint hearted. If you have a low threshold in terms of screen violence, then this is a film you should avoid. If you have a strong stomach, then this film provides some original viewing. This is a good film but certainly not one for everybody.

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    Eden Lake

    A young couple head to Eden Lake, a beauty spot which will soon be turned into a gated community, for a romantic weekend together. After a run in with a group of hoodie wearing teens, whereby the gang leader’s beloved dog is accidentally killed, the couple find themselves on the run through the woods, relentlessly pursued by the youngsters. This tense British horror/thriller is an excellent film and is filled with realism and scenes which make you hold your breath and peek through your fingers. Michael Fassbender stars in this underrated and incredibly tense film. Watching a gang of youngsters torture the couple is uncomfortable viewing and if you ever wondered what it would look like to cut out someone’s tongue with a Stanley knife, then this is the film for you.

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    Hard Candy

    After three weeks of chatting on line, a thirty-two year old photographer arranges to meet a 14 year old girl in a coffee shop. After she shamelessly flirts with him, despite the age difference, she suggests going back to his house where she drugs him and ties him to a chair. She accuses him of being a paedophile and proceeds to try and extract a confession out of him. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues, but has she got it wrong, and is his photographic project the real reason why he has met her, or is there something more sinister going on? This film raises a number of moral questions and has you guessing all the way through as to who is right and who is wrong; who is the victim and who is the villain. Once again featuring some moments to make you grimace, this thriller is a tense film which keeps you guessing.

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    I Spit On Your Grave

    In this remake of the classic 1970’s film, a writer heads to the solitude of an isolated cabin in the woods to cure her writers block. But after falling foul of a group of locals, she is sexually assaulted in a disturbing attack. Managing to escape, she rebuilds her strength and exacts her revenge on each of the gang, one by one, and in fitting ways to how they had treated her. This film is vicious at times and is one of the better remakes of old films of late. Despite the graphic violence on screen, you can’t help but find yourself root for the heroine as she gets one over on the gang who attacked her. And, if you have often dreamed of Chris Hemsworth naked and tied up in front of you, then look no further.

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  • FEATURE: 10 Celebs Who Came Out In 2013

    It’s been quite a year for celebrity outings, and as yesterday was National Coming Out Day, we decided to highlight the wonderful celebs that came out in 2013.

    Coming out is never easy, especially when the world’s cameras and press are following your every move and your career could fail because of it – so we applaud these celebs for coming out in 2013

    Robbie Rogers

    February 2013

    In February Footballer Robbie Rogers came out after posting a blog entry on his website saying, ‘Secrets can cause so much internal damage. People love to preach about honesty, how honesty is so plain and simple. Try explaining to your loved ones after 25 years you are gay. I always thought I could hide this secret. Football was my escape, my purpose, my identity. Football hid my secret, gave me more joy than I could have ever imagined’

    Jodie Foster

    January 2013

    Hollywood royalty, Jodie Foster finally ended years of press speculation when she came out during her acceptance speech at the 70th Colden Globe Awards. In the speech Foster said: ‘I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago, back in the Stone Age. In those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends, and family, co-workers and then gradually, proudly, to everyone who knew her.’

    Matt Dallas

    January 2013

    Former “Kyle XY” came out of the closet to his fans in the beginning of 2013, via Twitter – when he tweeted about his engagement to his partner, Blue Hamilton.

    Jason Collins

    May 2013

    One of the world’s most famous Basketball players came out as gay in May 2013. He said that he chose to wear the jersey number 98 in tribute to Matthew Shephard who was a victim of hate crime in 1998. Collins called the number: “a statement to myself, my family and my friends.”

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  • 5 Reasons Why Madonna’s Justify My Love Video Is a Masterpiece

    5 Reasons Why Madonna’s Justify My Love Video Is a Masterpiece

    Madonna is often knocked these days. Whether it’s for having younger boyfriends (good for her, I say), adopting African children, or dressing ‘inappropriately’, Madonna is frequently ridiculed.

    Even when making a statement such as dressing up as a boy scout in opposition to the Scouts in America not allowing gay people to join, Madonna was slated and told to dress her age. The whole point of what she was doing was missed. It’s frustrating, but I doubt Madonna cares. I have always admired her for doing things on her own terms and having a don’t give a f**k attitude.

    Over the years I have accumulated many favourite Madonna moments. Whether it’s snogging with Britney, supporting gay people and Pussy Riot when in Russia, putting on a triumphant performance in Evita (she should have won an Oscar for that), or refusing to grow old gracefully, I adore the woman. But my absolute favourite Madonna moment is her video for “Justify My Love”. It is a masterpiece. I’ll tell you why.

    1. Sex

    Human sexuality and the act of sex fascinate me, so it’s great to see various facets of that in the video. Sex is a natural human behaviour and I enjoy seeing it portrayed in artistic glory. It’s not done in a trashy, sluttish way the likes of Rihanna would put in their music videos. It’s shot in an artistic way. It’s filmed in black and white, features the art of tease, and plays with varying genders and sexualities. It does not feature women bouncing their bottoms and boobs about like so many music videos do in these modern times. Those young girls who are in the charts today can learn a lot from Madonna and should explore her back catalogue of excellence.

    2. Gender Bending

    Men dressed as women and ladies dressed as fellas. I like it. I like it a lot. Especially as it’s not done in a way that exploits cross-dressing and makes those who partake in it look like freaks. Again it is a natural part of being a human. Self-expression should be treasured and that extends to people having the right to dress in any way they choose. It’s a positive portrayal of something that still largely remains behind closed doors.

    3. Gay and lesbian romping

    In the early 1990s. In a music video. I cannot think of another music video from a mainstream artist that features such a thing. Madonna was a trailblazer. I can only commend her for that.

    4. Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the permission of another .

    That’s right. Unless of course, someone wants to be submissive and allow another person to dominate them. Which is ok of course. Human sexuality can be so fluid and rarely stays within the confines of what is perceived to be the norm. We all have our kinks and things that do it for us. I simply love that quote from the song and how the whole sub/dom topic is covered in the video. It’s a breath of fresh air.

    5. The dancer covered in black paint.

    He is a bizarre addition to proceedings but at the same time is utterly fabulous. He has me captivated as he winds his body into all sorts of shapes. I can only dream of moving like that.

    So there we have it; five reasons why Madonna’s Justify My Love video is a masterpiece. It’s five minutes of artistic brilliance. I cannot think of a video before or since that covers such a topic in a positive and empowering way. The act of sex in its various forms, cross-dressing and fluid sexuality tend to kept behind closed doors. I feel we are quite prudish in this country at times. Personally, I am quite open and talk about sex with great ease. There’s is nothing that fazes me. Perhaps my past working in sexual health has made me more open. Or perhaps I’m just filth. Either way, I applaud Madonna and thank her for the gift of “Justify My Love”.