Tag: UK
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THEATRE REVIEW | The Solid Life of Sugar Water
This is a story that describes events between a couple who go through hell and back again while having disabilities.
★★★
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Squares Above The Rest: The Box, Seven Dials
The London gay scene, much like Wayne Rooney’s hairline, has fluctuated, mutated and diminished since the millennium. A plethora of happening gay drinking holes and night clubs have appeared, done a stint – then poof! Disappeared.
One bar that stood out, due to her lengthy sentence and touch of the David Bowie’s – her unique edge – is The Box.
The Box bar was perched on the edge of Covent Garden’s Seven Dials, a good distance away from tempting forbidden fruit trees and tricker-ous serpents of Soho. Faraway enough you didn’t end up attempting a Grey-Goose-infused suspended pirouette on the pole, attached to the plinth in the Shadow Lounge in the wee hours on a school night – we’ve all been there.
The Box had abundant fundamentals, she was an ever-changing art gallery – local and other UK based artists would cake the walls with their creative wares. She was a relaxed café during the day, somewhere you could pop by for a decaf skinny mocha, Bloody Mary or a cold-as-Sarah-Palin’s-love-organ pint of Stella – even a spot luncheon with chums, or indeed on your Jack, and without feeling as though you were sporting last season’s spring/summer.
At around 6pm the after-work-dollies would flock into bitch about their colleagues, moan about their boyf’s or simply lift spirits from a hard day’s vaporising from behind the Lancôme counter at Selfridges, or boast about a successful pick-up at the gym.
During the summer said swarm would spill out on to Monmouth street thus making Seven Dials and its lagoon-life your canvas.
Thursdays to Saturdays at around 9pm the tables in the centre on the bar were whisked away, the tunes were pumped up and The Box became the first anchor-drop of the night for the beefy-singlet donors, disco-bears and glitter-ball-swinging brigade.
The Box didn’t fit the stereotypical gay bar box – she was squares above the rest.
For moi and my compadres from 2000 up until The Box closed in 2009, she was the Rovers Return of our lives.
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MP Chris Bryant: Young People Are Still Terrified To Express Their Sexuality.
MP Chris Bryant Hailed the Diversity Role Model Charity As Unambiguously Brilliant, but warns there is still much to do to stop LGBT acceptance from going in the wrong direction.
Out Labour MP Chris Bryant has, today, championed the Diversity Role Model (DRM) scheme, which sees volunteer LGBT spokespeople go into schools across the UK to talk about their experiences of growing up as gay, lesbian, bi or trans, as “Unambiguously Brilliant” and something to “jump up and shout about.”
Speaking about how necessary the role of the charity plays, Byrant said, that although life in this country had changed towards LGBT people and perceptions surrounding LGBT issues had progressed, much “more work needed to be done” and there was cross party support for the project.
Despite the progress that has been made to be more inclusive in Britain the MP warned,
“There is a phenomenal amount of work still to do to protect the gains we’ve made. After all, the most liberal place in the 20th century in Europe was Germany in the late 20s and then it went in the wrong direction in the 1930s.
“So we have to protect the gains we’ve made, but there are still too many young people who leave school frightened to express their sexuality, terrified to tell their parents or their family or their best friends that they are gay or lesbian.”
https://twitter.com/andy_woodfield/status/694543621740220416/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Diversity Role Models (DRM) was established in 2011 to tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in UK schools with the aim that all children and young people would be able to learn safely at school without fear of bullying.
In its first three years, DRM reached over 13,000 young people in 78 schools and trained 136 volunteer role models.
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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
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Tim Farron: I Joined Liberals Because Of My Gay Friends
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron has revealed that one of the reasons he joined the party was because of the way his gay and lesbian friends were being treated and bullied.
Speaking to GQ, Tim Farron, leader of the Liberal Democrats revealed that one of the reasons he joined the party was because of the way he saw his gay and lesbian friends being treated.
He said,
One of the reasons I joined the liberals was because of lesbian and gay rights. Friends of mine were gay and I saw how they were treated and bullied. I want a society where people are valued for who they are.”
Farron has repeatedly had his stance on gay relationships questioned after abstaining on the UK’s same-sex marriage vote in 2013.
During a Channel 4 interview last year Farron was asked no less than 3 times if gay sex was a sin.
In 2007 Tim Farron voted against the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations in 2007, a law which protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services.
When asked by GQ if gay sex was a sin, Farron answered,
“I’m not a religious leader; I’m a political leader. I think that everybody is utterly equal. People should be free to love who they want and marry who they want. But I don’t go making theological pronouncements…
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THEATRE REVIEW | Wonder.Land at The National Theatre, London
Alice’s Wonderland has had a major upgrade to version 2016 and it’s good. ★★★★
Wonder.Land comes to us via Rufus Norris, Blur’s Damon Albarn, who wrote the score, and playwright Moira Buffini, who have taken Alice and Wonderland and brought it right up to date for 2016. If you liked the original then you will not be disappointed, if you can get past the online element to the new wonderland. The usual characters survive such as the mad hatter, the rabbit, the twins and of course the Cheshire Cat, but as you have never seen them before.
Alice or Aly, played by Lois Chimimba and brilliant, is a teenager growing up in a suburban city dealing with a mother’s attention focused on baby brother Charlie, the feeling of responsibility for her parents’ separation and being bullied at school. Her only means of escaping the life she hates is a new online game ‘Wonder.Land’ where she can be who she wants and find answers to the ‘who are you’ question which is asked throughout.
It’s in this online world where Alice creates her online avatar persona, who is the complete opposite of herself, and follows the white rabbit through various online levels, meets other like minded gamers and battles against the red queen, who happens to be Aly’s head teacher in the real world with a hint of Cruella De Vil thrown in the mix.
The songs, which are easily recognisable as written by Damon Albarn, are great, each character having their own unique song that is the personification of that character. From the sad and desperate songs of Alice and her mother, the hypnotic and soothing song from the caterpillar and the mad and hectic song of the hatter all play their part in this wonderland on stage.
The staging itself is a mix of contemporary theatre, digital displays, weird and wonderful costumes and characters that all fuse seamlessly into one. The real world is grey and dull, even down to the costume which is in complete contrast to the colourful online world, and when they collide on stage, almost creates a hallucinogenic experience for both the stage characters and audience alike (not that I know what such an experience is like of course).
The only downside were the three school girl bullies who, when combined, reminded me a bit too much of Catherine Tate’s “am I bothered” sketches and I wasn’t sure if I should of laughed at their bullying or not.
That aside it was still worth a watch.
The modern musical story creates laughs, wonder, glitter, self driving sofas, and a baby throwing up, yes I did say a baby throwing up. So if you are a fan of Alice in Wonderland then you will not be disappointed by this modern take on the classic if you dare enter Wonder.Land at The National Theatre.
Also, for those who like that bit extra for their money, turn up a bit early for the fully interactive wonder.land things to do from entering the magical garden, creating your very own avatar to a musical tea party.
Wonder.Land plays at The National Theatre, London until 13 March 2016, 020 7452 3000
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Teen Brutally Beaten In Homophobic And Racist Attack In York
A teenager in North Yorkshire is recovering after being brutally attacked in an apparent homophobic and racist beating.
A 19-year-old man is recovering after being beaten in an apparent racist and homophobic attack in Yorkshire on the 28th January. The man was attacked by two men who approached him after he alighted the 1C bus on Knaresborough Road, Harrogate.
As he walked passed the men, the victim was grabbed by one who held his arms behind his back whilst being punched and kicked in the head.
Police in North Yorkshire report that racial and homophobic slurs were hurled at the victim during the assault and police are treating the attack as a hate crime.
According to a statement from North Yorkshire police,
“One of the suspects is described as white and in his mid to late 40s. He had very short, shaved hair, was a chunky or fat build and had neatly-shaven sideburns. He is described as having excess skin on his neck, like a “turkey neck”.
He was dressed in workwear including a navy blue outdoor coat, dirty blue jeans and tan or sand-coloured Timberland-style workers’ boots, with construction-type dirt on them.
He is said to have spoken with a local accent and wore a plain gold wedding band on his wedding ring finger.
The second suspect is described as a chunky or fat white man who is also in his mid to late 40s. He had short, thinning hair and a bit of stubble. He wore a black leather bomber jacket, jeans, brown workers’ boots and had a blue tattoo on one of his wrists.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We’d urge anyone who witnessed this incident, or has any information, to contact police immediately on 101. Please ask for Rebecca Wood and quote incident number NYP-28012016-0193.”
You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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2016 The Year The UK Has Decided It Is Time To Win Eurovision Again
After 6 years of the BBC handpicking a song to represent the UK at Eurovision to ever increasing levels of failure this year it will be chosen by the public vote in a live TV extravaganza.
Later this month on February 26th the BBC are mounting a live 90 minute show entitled ‘You Decide’ where we will be presented with 6 songs to choose from followed by a live phone vote. The show will be hosted by Bake Off’sMel Giedroyc and the winner will be heading into the charts no doubt and off to Stockholm for the finals on May 14th. Mel said: “I am a huge fan of Eurovision and am honoured to be hosting this fantastic event. It’s very exciting that the great British public will get the chance to choose who will be sent to Sweden and I know it’s going to be an amazing night.”
This year, the BBC allowed an open submission for songs to get the best possible entrants. Last year there was a lot of complaint about the song chosen by BBC executives that suddenly just appeared one night in video form just before the lottery result show. That was Electro Velvet with Still In Love With You which was only the second song in history that failed to make the UK Top 100 chart – so not popular with the general public. In the finals it gained little extra love as we came 24th out of 27.
Cassian Harrison, editor of BBC Four, the channel showing the 90 minute live performance from The Kentish Town Forum which will include many special guests from existing chart acts and former Eurovision stars said: “I’m delighted that Eurovision: You Decideand both of the semi-finals are coming to the channel this year. BBC Four is the home of music on TV in the UK and, as any fan will tell you, Eurovision is one of the biggest music events on the planet and is much more than just one night of TV, therefore it is only right that BBC Four is able to showcase Europe’s favourite music TV event right here in the UK.”
Last year the contest was won by Sweden with the songHeroes by Mans Zelmerlow who has been asked to co-host this year’s finals. There is a joint record number of countries this year 43 in total. Australia Is back after its special invite last year and Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, Ukraine and Bulgaria have all come back but Portugal has left as their national broadcaster is not big on music.
Some songs have already been selected and early interest has been drawn to former Westlife studmuffin Nicky Byrne with his song Sunlight representing Ireland. There is also considerable controversy from Germany. Their entrant was replaced just before Christmas. Xavier Naidoo, a well known star in his homeland was dropped two days after being picked due to heavy criticism. Co -ordinator for ARD broadcasters Thomas Schreiber explained: “Xavier Naidoo is a brilliant singer who is, according to my own opinion, neither racist nor a homophobe. It was clear that his nomination would polarise opinions, but we were surprised about the negative response. The Eurovision Song Contest is a fun event, in which music and the understanding between European people should be the focus. This characteristic must be kept at all costs.”
The UK has won the contest 5 times since it’s birth in 1957. Namely Sandie Shaw/Puppet On A String; Lulu/Boom Bang A Bang; Brotherhood Of Man/Save Your Kisses For Me; Bucks Fizz/Making Your Mind Upand Katrina with her Waves with Love Shine A Light.
We are the unluckiest country coming second an incredible 15 times including with Cliff, Michael Ball, Sonia, The Shadows and Mary Hopkin all falling just a point or two short. We have done really badly of late often chalked up to political voting and we have only made the top five once in the last decade and for that Jade Ewen from the Sugababes had to drag Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber onto stage with her to get the vote in. We are trying to forget the Blue, Bonnie Tyler and Englebert entries. As for what happened in 1996 when the superb Ooh Aah Jut A Little Bit by Gina G made it to number one in the UK chart and did great in Euro charts but somehow only came 8th at Eurovision….well we was robbed surely the best Eurovision winner that never was.
So it Is over to you, watch ‘You Decide’ pick wisely amongst the rumoured 80’s megastars and reality stars we have heard have entered and let’s get a real winner and bring the contest home to blighty.
At The Gay UK we love everything Eurovision so check back in regularly and we will bring you all the news and gossip first in the European vote this year we all massively care about.
Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.
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An Insight Into LGBT Parliamentary Life In The UK
The University of Strathclyde in Glasgow is holding an event which it is hoping will offer an insight into parliamentary life and LGBT matters. (more…)
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Peter Tatchell Has Changed His Mind On Gay Cake Ruling
Peter Tatchell has said that he was “wrong” about the gay cake row and that he has changed his mind.
In 2014 a bakery in Northern Ireland refused to make a cake with the inscription “support gay marriage” citing the owner’s religious beliefs. The cake was order by an gay right’s activist called Gareth Lee, who subsequently took Ashers Bakery to court. The court found that the owners acted “unlawfully” in denying service to Lee.
At the time the judge said,
“Whilst defendants have right to religious beliefs they are limited as to how they manifest them.”
Writing in the Guardian today leading human rights advocate Peter Tatchell said that he was “wrong” in supporting Lee’s legal claim and has said that the law “should not require bakers to promote gay marriage”.
Two days before the Asher’s is considered by the Appeal court Tatchell has changed his mind saying that he wants to “defend freedom of conscience, expression and religion” as well as defend the rights of the gay community.
Speaking about his U-turn Tatchell said,
“I profoundly disagree with Asher’s opposition to same-sex love and marriage, and support protests against them. They claim to be Christians and followers of Jesus. Yet he never once condemned homosexuality. Moreover, discrimination is not a Christian value…
“Nevertheless, on reflection, the court was wrong to penalise Ashers and I was wrong to endorse its decision…
“For sure, the law suit against the bakery was well intended. It sought to challenge homophobia. But it was a step too far. ..
“The judge concluded that service providers are required to facilitate any “lawful” message, even if they have a conscientious objection. This raises the question: should Muslim printers be obliged to publish cartoons of Mohammed? Or Jewish ones publish the words of a Holocaust denier? Or gay bakers accept orders for cakes with homophobic slurs? If the Ashers verdict stands it could, for example, encourage far-right extremists to demand that bakeries and other service providers facilitate the promotion of anti-migrant and anti-Muslim opinions. It would leave businesses unable to refuse to decorate cakes or print posters with bigoted messages.
“In my view, it is an infringement of freedom to require businesses to aid the promotion of ideas to which they conscientiously object. Discrimination against people should be unlawful, but not against ideas.”
