THEGAYUK

Tag: UK

  • RESTAURANT REVIEW | VIVI, London

    RESTAURANT REVIEW | VIVI, London

    ★★★★★ | VIVI, London

    (C) PR SUPPLIED

    For those who remember Centrepoint 101 – the bar and restaurant on top of Centrepoint – 33 stories above ground – you’ll remember how great it was, more so the views and the cocktails and less so the food. Well, that space is now someone’s flat (boo hoo), so now we have the new Vivi.

    Vivi, located in the wing that connects the original Centre Point building to Centrepoint House – the 1970’s tenement building – is a throwback to the 1960s when the Centre Point building went up – presenting food that is both traditional, safe but not very sexy. The venue itself is sexy, one flight up, overlooking New Oxford Street and the new piazza next to the now fully residential Centre Point.

    It has a streamlined look with beautiful floor to ceiling windows that are used to great effect to maximize the space. There are gorgeous tables smack dab in the middle of the room as well as along the sides of the restaurant. It’s such a beautiful space, with an art deco chandelier that holds centre attention, it’s just absolute perfection architecturally.

    So how’s the food you might ask? As mentioned before, it’s safe and traditional but you will struggle to find anything on the menu that is different. I’ve been twice now (the first time was during its soft opening – on its first night) and I have to say the food on my second visit was much much better. On their All Day Dining menu, the starter choices are fine but nothing really sticks out. They were out of the Quiche Lorraine on that Tuesday night of my second visit, so I settled for Grilled Leeks – four leeks served with a dollop of egg mayonnaise with mimosa dressing. It was good, as was the Waldorf Salad that I had on my first visit (both priced at £8.50). My dining companion on my second visit had the Prawn Cocktail – it was a massive glass stuffed with prawns with thousand island dressing over a bed of lettuce. For £12.50 – it was more than worth the price, and he said it was ‘great!’ But you might struggle to find anything better (Steak Tartare, Coarse Farmhouse Pate, and Cornish Crab, among others, add nothing unique to the menu).

    It’s a bit of the same with the Signatures and Mains. Sure there is the standard steak dish – Rib Eye Steak (£34), but Rataouille (£14.50), Truffled Mushroom (£19.50), and Madras Monkfish (£24.50) are not dishes that particularly stand out. These are among the better choices (Beef Burger or Roasted Guinea Fowl Breast might good second choices). Chicken Kiev, one of their Signature dishes I had on my first visit, was just ok. Served with mash – it really wasn’t worth its £17.50 price tag. However, I had the Berkshire Pork Chop on my second visit – and it was superb! A large pork chop, perfectly cooked – nice and brown and meaty – served over a bed of hispi cabbage, with prunes and a prune sauce that was just superb and tasty. A surprise dollop of mash was also on the dish, though this is not mentioned on the menu – I had ordered a side of mash – which I am glad I did because both mashes were perfectly whipped – the way mash really should be!  (The pork chop was worth every cent of its £20.50 price). My dining companion ordered the Salmon Hollandaise, and he said it was moist and very good. Served with spinach, it was a nice size portion (at £22.50), and the potatoes on the dish were just about perfect, very buttery with a nice sprinkle of dill – melt in your mouth tasty!

    And the best was yet to come – the Sweets. On my first visit, I had the Apple & Rhubarb Crumble – it was a very large portion (almost like a mini pie!), but it was served cold. This time I had the Rum Baba – and it was unique and superb! Sponge cake soaked in rum with chantilly cream and caramelised orange sprinkled on top, with vanilla ice cream which was literally the icing on the cake. Absolutely delicious! And my dining companion loved his Millionaire’s Chocolate Bar – pure Cocao chocolate ice cream, chocolate bar and a chocolate crisp too boot! Just yummy!

    Vivi has a few other menus on offer. Their Breakfast menu looks very good, and reasonably priced, and includes Waffles or Pancakes (£8.50), Full English (£15.00 – very full!), and Eggs Benedict, Royale and Florentine (£10.50 – £12.50), among other excellent choices. The Brunch Menu is a mix of the Breakfast and Main menu, while the Lunch Set and Theatre (5-7pm and 10-11pm) is great value – two courses £21.50 and three courses £24.50, and includes a complimentary glass of prosecco. Traditional Afternoon Tea is proving quite popular – Classic at £29.50 and Champagne at £39.

    Of course, Vivi has a full-on bar, wine and beer menu. There are Back to Classics Cocktails – including the Pink Floyd Rhubarb, which was sweet and punchy with the rhubarb giving it a nice flavour. There are also non-alcoholic cocktails – I had the Refresh Your Berries shake that was berrylicious! Gins, rums, vodkas, tequila, cognacs and brandy are also on the list – pretty much anything you fancy Vivi has it!

    Vivi is not just a name but it’s also an identity.

    As roman numerals, Vivi gives a nod to 1966, the year Centre Point was born. And while most of us were not around at this time, we can still celebrate the old Centre Point by visiting Vivi. I just wish there were sexier choices on the menu, but everything else is flawless, from the service to the decor, to the ambience, and to the location – right next to Tottenham Court Road – you can’t get more central than that. Vivi has retro food in a very stylish setting – which alone makes it unique and stands out. Long live Vivi!

    Address
    Centre Point, 11 St. Giles Square, London, WC2H 8AP
    Tel: 0300 500 0958
    Book a table and find opening times here

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Betrayal, Harold Pinter Theatre, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | Betrayal, Harold Pinter Theatre, London

    ★★★★★| Betrayal, London

    Heartthrob Tom Hiddleston shines in Jamie Lloyd’s new production of Betrayal, now playing at the Pinter Theatre in London’s West End.
    Betrayal is one of the late Harold Pinter’s more well-known works (from 1978), and it also clocks in at a snip 90 minutes, but it’s 90 minutes that’s full of drama, tension, and in this new stage version, very well acted.
    In a play that goes backwards and forward in time but is never confusing, Hiddleston plays Robert, a successful book publisher who is married to the beautiful Emma (Zawe Ashton, from television’s Fresh Meat and who more than holds her own on stage). Emma, you see, has been having, for several years, an affair with Jerry (a very good and very good looking and sexy Charlie Cox – best known for television’s ‘Boardwalk Empire’ and ‘Daredevil’), who also happens to be Roberts’ best friend. But there is more to it than this. Jerry and Emma have had a flat for their not so secret trysts for years, and Robert has known, because Emma told him, about the affair.
    Meanwhile, Jerry also has a wife and child. But as the plot goes back three years, to a time when Emma and Robert were very happy, to the beginning of the play when Emma announces to Jerry that she and Robert are splitting up, its one betrayal after another in a show that cleverly uses a chronology to tell the story in reverse. ‘Betrayal’ is also about a clandestine love affair, and lies told, in a show portrayed on stage by actors who are at the top of their game. And the three main cast members are always on stage, with one hovering in the background creating an eavesdropping like mood. 
    Hiddleston displays a very vulnerable side of him as the spurned husband who seems to be the innocent one amongst all the betrayal. And as Robert Hiddleston, near the end of the show which is actually near the end of the middle of the show, breaks down as he learns from Emma about the affair. It’s powerful stuff by a master of the stage (Hiddleston was also very superb in 2013’s ‘Coriolanus’). Ashton is good as the woman at the centre of two men who really really want her, while Cox brings a lure of sex appeal and confidence where we can see why Robert keeps him as his best friend and why Emma is having an affair with him even though she has her own family. All in all, Betrayal, with a set that is stripped to the bone, is very dramatic, and theatre at its best.
    Betrayal must end on June 1st, 2019
    For tickets, please go to:
    https://www.pinteratthepinter.com

  • Theatre Review | Northern Ballet’s Victoria – Leeds Grand Theatre and National Tour

    ✭✭✭ | Northern Ballet’s Victoria

    Photo Emma Kauldhar

    Following on from the award-winning historical piece, Casanova, Northern Ballet return to the history books for a brand new ballet. Victoria tells the story of the monarch and matriarch through the eyes of her daughter, Beatrice, as she edits her mother’s diaries shortly after Victoria’s death. The ballet looks at the relationship between Victoria and a number of the key figures in her life, including her husband, Albert, her daughter, Beatrice and her companion, John Brown.

    Cathy Marston’s choreography sparkles, switching between flowing movements and sprawling floor work to angular, precise and mechanical movements; and brims with symmetry and metaphor. In particular, the pas de deux between Victoria and John Brown in the first act was beautifully put together, aided by a stunning performance by Pippa Moore as Victoria and Mlindi Kulashe as John Brown, which conveyed a real moment of intimacy, vulnerability and emotion.  As always, the whole company’s performances were outstanding, the set was simple but effective and the costumes were impressive.

    Despite the strength of the performances, the movement and the technical aspects of the ballet, where the piece stumbles slightly is in the narrative, which at times lacks clarity; as it tries to cram in so much of Victoria’s life that it sometimes overreaches, glossing over key points which could have been really interesting. The thrust of the first act features heavily on the backstory of Beatrice and her relationship with her mother, whilst the slightly overlong second act focuses primarily on Victoria’s family life and her relationship with Albert. The complexity of the narrative, the flitting between past and present and the brevity of some aspects of the story mean that it is well worth purchasing a programme to enable you to keep an eye on the synopsis.

    Victoria is a visually sumptuous ballet, which can be enjoyed on two levels, either as a beautifully crafted piece of dance, or, with a careful focus and concentration, an interesting glimpse into the life of a historically influential figure.

    Victoria is at Leeds Grand Theatre until 16.03.19 before undertaking a national tour. It is also being filmed for a forthcoming cinema release.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The Twilight Zone, Ambassadors Theatre, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | The Twilight Zone, Ambassadors Theatre, London

    ★★★☆☆ | The Twilight Zone, London

    You will travel through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That’s the signpost up ahead – your next stop, the Twilight Zone!

    Yes, the Twilight Zone is where you landed, also known as the Ambassadors Theatre in Central London, where you will be taken into the unknown, places and situations that could or could not be real, people who may or may not seem who they are, it’s a show with lots of questions and very little answers.

    Were there 6 passengers on the bus? Then why are there 7 stranded in the diner? Were there three astronauts in the ship, or just one? Why does the jukebox keep turning on and off? Where do those cigarettes mysteriously come from? Who is that little girl who supposedly lives in the building, and why is she so quiet? Is that actually a black hole to another dimension in the daughter’s bedroom, and is this where she has disappeared into? All these questions and more make up for a night of very little suspense, drama and not a whole lot of terror.

    The series of eight episodes, selected by the writer Anne Washburn from 156 episodes from the 1960’s television show does not transfer well to the West End stage. Turning eight 30-minute television programs into a two-hour show, all interweaved with each other, makes for a bit of confusement.

    The first half of the Twilight Zone, the television show which was created and hosted by Rod Serling, is a bit messy and lacks suspense because of the multiple storylines, but it’s the second half where the tension keeps you on the edge of your seat. Nuclear missiles are heading towards America, and neighbours are pitted against each other in order to survive, and where one already had a nuclear shelter.

    Everyone wants to survive so they try to break their way into the shelter, to no avail, but their true colours are revealed in their quest for survival. Intense Stuff! We are also treated to the ventriloquism of Adriana Bertola and her whisky drinking dummy, she is a genius as her dummy comes to life on stage. How does this all relate to the Twilight Zone? You will just have to buy a ticket and see for yourself.

    The Twilight Zones plays at the Ambassadors Theatre until June 2019. Book tickets here.

  • COMMENT | Parents, protests and the LGBT Programme, Inside Parkfield Primary School

    COMMENT | Parents, protests and the LGBT Programme, Inside Parkfield Primary School

    It almost seems defunct now the No Outsiders programme has been pulled from the school but here’s how my informal meeting went with Andy Moffat, Deputy Headteacher at the centre of the storm in which parents protested about having their children being taught “gay lessons”.

    On the approach to Parkfield, I noted the sign announcing the school name. What will it bring? I thought.

    There were no signs of Protestors at the gates or media pressing through. It was a quiet, subdued afternoon. I supposed all the school children had gone home. I walked through the gates and through the entrance.

    What struck me most was the colour, the warm welcoming signs and the creativity of images plastered on the wall.

    This was a school which was proud of its heritage, innovations and unique ways to celebrate diversity.

    All the messages/images on the walls were created by children welcoming diversity and difference, embracing all the strands of the Equality Act 2010.

    Andy welcomed me, smiling, with a warm handshake. I could see he was holding it together. We walked through the corridors and upstairs. I was looking for signs of this “gay agenda”.

    All I could see was a celebration of diversity, questions, facts, images, statements, pinned on the walls.

    It was incredibly inspiring. It was the type of school I would’ve liked to have attended when I was a child.

    Andy introduced me to the Headteacher, who was complimentary about my appearance on The Big Questions.

    I made several enquiries about the parents/protestors. Where was Fatima Shah now? And who is the man with the megaphone?

    Fatima has kept a low profile since this furore broke out. The man spewing homophobic rhetoric isn’t even a parent and has no connection to the school at all.

    Andy showed me the assembly hall. Again, the boards were covered with positive words and images about diversity and differences.

    We talked for about an hour. I can’t share all that we spoke about, but it provided me with good insight about the No Outsiders programme, how he had created it with very good intentions, and how the school had supported him with his ethos.

    “No Outsiders has run for four years without complaints until now”

    The programme has been running in the school for four years without any complaints until now. Parents HAD been consulted and they were all on board with the idea and attended workshops.

    Andy showed me the books in question. They are remarkable little books for kids, covering various aspects of family, race, religion, difference. In one book, it mentions there are families with 2 mummies or 2 daddies. That’s all. On one page. In a book. For little children. To highlight reality. And representation.

    In another book, once again, it mentions in one line, LGBT. That is all.

    I realised then, how passionate, committed and almost at breaking point Andy Moffat is. He’s really striving to make positive changes. As a white, middle-class teacher, he could’ve easily gone to ANY school in the UK. But no. He chose an inner-city school, knowing it was in a predominately Muslim location. His plan of action – to break the taboo or barriers and slowly encourage children and parents to learn and accept difference in relation to British values and law. As a gay man, why shouldn’t he introduce LGBTQ issues, discuss discrimination and LGBT- phobia? It exists and is part of life. Andy is working hard in his inner-city school to reduce or eliminate it.

    However, those who are protesting have taken the step to not only try and damage his career, the education the children receive, the reputation of the school, they also damage what it means to be Muslim.

    I heard about the vile death threats, the rumours, the intimidation, saw the images and videos…

    The ironic thing is, the protestors are saying Andy is indoctrinating the children. But in talking so negatively about the lessons, taking the kids out of school, sharing negative petitions, and spouting homophobic comments, is placing them in that very same position. Are they not brainwashing, conditioning and indoctrinating the children?

    It also reminds me of two things:

    1. The controversy and furore surrounding The Satanic Verses 30 years ago. Many who protested hadn’t even read the book.
    2. The interpretation of the Story of Lot and how it is declared by many who state it’s a sin to be homosexual when they haven’t even read it.

    “Protesters are misrepresenting the wider Muslim community”

    As Muslims protesting, I would say they need to take a step back, re-evaluate what they are doing, how they are misrepresenting the wider Muslim community and understand in not adhering to educational policies, standards, ethics and ethos, they are alienating themselves even more.

    Why perpetuate the negative stereotypes in the media especially?

    The protestors also need to stop braying like a lynch mob for the removal of the “gay lessons” and resignation of Andy and look to their own actions.

    I’m sure this isn’t the way of Allah or the majority of Muslims.

    I’m sure Allah said, seek knowledge before making a decision which might have a detrimental effect on oneself and others.

    I’m sure Allah said, defend your faith but with good reason and irrational decisions are made out of fear.

    I’m sure good Muslims take time out to reflect, review and reason before they judge others?

    I’m sure Allah is watching and on the Day of Judgement ask the Protestors: What did YOU do to bring unity to the community?

    As I’m part of the LGBT+ community and a person of faith, I really believe we need to be standing up together. We may have fought for our rights, but we really need to embrace our brothers and sisters who are similar to me.

    We really need to strive for more action and positive changes to educate and include.

    I thought the battle scars were healing, but this protest at Parkfield has opened old wounds.

    Please don’t allow it to become another Section 28.

     

  • Parkfield School caves into the demands of protesting parents over LGBT+ lessons

    Parkfield School caves into the demands of protesting parents over LGBT+ lessons

    “Until a resolution can be reached No Outsiders will no longer be taught at Parkfield”

    The school at the centre of a row over teaching children about LGBT+ relationships has cancelled its lessons, THEGAYUK has learned. Parents of children at Parkfield Primary School in Birmingham, had been planning another protest outside the school this morning, but have called off the demonstration after the school said it would no longer offer the lessons, which taught primary school-aged children about same-sex relationships and gender expressions.

    The parents claim that the lessons infringe on their religious beliefs and that the lessons amounted to indoctrination of their children.  Around 98 percent of the school’s population are Muslim.

    A statement on the School’s website stated,

    “Nothing is more important than ensuring our children’s education continues uninterrupted.

    “Yesterday, both parents and the trust held constructive discussions with the Regional Schools Commissioner, and as a result of these discussions we are eager to continue to work together with parents, over the coming days and weeks to find a solution that will support the children in our school to continue their education in a harmonious environment.

    “Until a resolution has been reached, No Outsiders lessons will not be taught at Parkfield and we hope that children will not be removed from school to take part in protests.”

    “No evidence” that lessons weren’t age-appropriate

    In a report released earlier this week, Ofsted said there was no evidence the curriculum overly focused on LGBT issues and that it is taught in an age-appropriate way. In reality, the lessons focus on race, religion, gender identity, age and disabilities. Despite this, the No Outsiders programme has caused many parents of children at the school to demonstrate and around 600 children were removed from classes by their guardians at the beginning of March 2019.

    Parents “Welcome” the move

    In a statement on the Alumrock Community group, parents wrote that they welcomed the move and demanded that a new programme needed to be “negotiated”, writing

    We, the representatives of Parkfield Parents Group have had a positive meeting with the Department of Education to discuss serious concerns we have with the ‘No Outsiders’ programme and its implentation at Parkfield School.

    We made our position clear, that the No Outsiders programme cannot continue to be taught at Parkfield School and that a new programme needs be negotiated, with which parents are happy and meets the legal requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

    The school have agreed that “Until a resolution has been reached , No Outsiders lessons will not be taught at Parkfield”.

    In view of this development, we have decided to postpone the protest for Thursday 14th March 2019. We will await further developments early next week when we expect detailed proposals to be tabled. We will then review our actions with respect to protests and schoolwide withdrawal of children.

    We have advised and notified parents that the protest scheduled for Thursday 14th March 2019 is not taking place and that we are keeping future protests under review inview of developments.

    We welcome these developments and reiterate that the school needs to work with parents in a spirit of partnership and cooperation and not against them in educating their children.

     

     

     

  • Parkfield parents in Birmingham plan to protest LGBT+ equality lessons again

    Parkfield parents in Birmingham plan to protest LGBT+ equality lessons again

    Parents of children at Parkfield Primary School are planning another protest outside the school over LGBT+ equality lessons.

    It’s a sad state of affairs as parents of children who attend the Parkfield Community School in Birmingham are set to demonstrate outside the school on Thursday morning from 8:20 AM till 9:20 AM, despite an Ofsted report that states that the lessons are age appropriate.

    Parents from the school who are apparently 98 per cent Muslim have questioned the age appropriateness of the lessons and argue that they had not been consulted with over the lessons, which have been labelled as “toxic”.

    Parents of children at the Parkfield Primary School in Birmingham have said that they will protest outside the school grounds every Thursday until the equality lessons, called No Outsiders, dealing with social issues, including LGBT+ relationships are cancelled permanently.  In reality, the lessons focus on race, religion, gender identity, age and disabilities.

    The school is due to provide just five of its No Outsiders lessons for its students over the course of the year.

    A poster, which is advertising’s the protest outside the school is being shared on Facebook.

    At the beginning of March around 600 children were removed by their parents in protest to the planned lessons. The school has said that it will continue with the lessons next term.

  • Ofsted says “No evidence” that Birmingham School’s No Outsiders lessons are age-inappropriate

    Ofsted says “No evidence” that Birmingham School’s No Outsiders lessons are age-inappropriate

    Ofsted has said there was no evidence the curriculum overly focused on LGBT issues and that it is taught in an age-appropriate way.

    Parents at the Parkfield Primary school in Birmingham had criticised the school’s No Outsiders lessons as age-inappropriate over some of its focus on LGBT+ relationships and gender expressions, but a report today from Ofsted has now said that the lessons are not taught in an age-inappropriate manner and do not overtly focus on LGBT+ issues.

    In reality, the lessons focus on race, religion, gender identity, age and disabilities. Despite this, the lessons have caused many parents of children at the school to demonstrate outside the school and around 600 children were removed from classes by their guardians at the beginning of March 2019.

    Headteacher David Williams described the report as “great news”, according to the BBC.

    The inspection by Ofsted was arranged after parents said that they were concerned over the leadership at the school.

    In his report, Ofsted’s senior inspector Peter Humphries said, “A very small, but vocal, minority of parents are not clear about the school’s vision, policies and practice.

    “This group of parents feel that staff do not sufficiently listen to their concerns.

    “Their view is that PSHE education and equalities curriculum focuses disproportionately on LGBT issues and that this work is not taught in an age-appropriate manner.

    “Inspectors found no evidence this was the case.”

     

  • 100 Copies of Scottish LGBT Poetry Book Donated to Schools

    100 Copies of Scottish LGBT Poetry Book Donated to Schools

    One hundred copies of Wain, a poetry book by Rachel Plummer, have been donated to schools across Scotland ahead of its publication this Thursday.

    Wain is a new collection of LGBT poems aimed at teenage readers, themed around retellings of Scottish folktales. In the wake of abusive messages received on social media, publisher the Emma Press created the option in their webshop for people to buy copies at a discount, to be donated directly to schools. The Emma Press are working with LGBT Youth Scotland to ensure each copy finds a good home.

    One customer included this message with their donation: ‘Thank you for adding the option to donate a copy to schools – it’s so important for everyone of every age to have the opportunity of representation in every area. This stand against the anti-trans hatred that is sadly gaining traction in Britain currently is much appreciated.’

    Wain is based on Scottish folklore; the collection contains many magical and mythological beings, such as selkies, kelpies, and the Loch Ness Monster. These characters all fit within the LGBT spectrum. Wain was commissioned by LGBT Youth Scotland, the largest youth and community-based organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland. The cultural commission was funded by Creative Scotland.

    The book features enchanting full-colour watercolour illustrations by Helene Boppert, bringing the mythical creatures in the poems to life.

    The Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh is hosting a launch event for Wain on the 15th March. All ages are welcome, and tickets are free. The launch starts at 6 pm, and will feature a reading from Rachel Plummer, along with a Q&A.

  • Petition supporting Andrew Moffat’s No Outsiders programme surges

    Petition supporting Andrew Moffat’s No Outsiders programme surges

    A brand new petition in support of the No Outsiders campaign for Primary School ages gains thousands of signatures in just a few hours.

    Andrew Moffat’s No Outsiders campaign is getting a lot of love after a petition was created in support of the lessons which aim to teach primary school-aged children about LGBT+ acceptance, relationships and equality.

    Parkfield Primary school has become somewhat of a battleground as parents removed 600 pupils from the school in February, and then proceeded to demonstrate outside the school in protest at the lessons. The parents say that the lessons are not age appropriate and that they weren’t consulted with about the lessons.

    Critics of No Outsiders have called it “toxic” and parents and their children at the protest, last Thursday, shouted “shame, shame, shame” at the idea of teaching children that it is okay to be gay and Muslim.

    The No Outsider lessons include reading children, as young as five-year-old, story such as Mummy, Mamma and Me, which can be heard here:

    https://twitter.com/salxerribrooks/status/1103940178941374464

    The petition, which was created by Lacey McFadyen wll be delievered to Parkfield Primary School and reads,

    Andrew Moffatt is the deputy headteacher at Parkfield Community School near the deprived Bordesley Green area of Birmingham. Birmingham is home to a diverse range of people from different backgrounds and beliefs, which is what makes our city inclusive for everyone.

    Andrew’s “No Outsiders” programme reflects this and teaches children about inclusiveness and diversity. This ethos has been extended to parents too through parent/child workshops, where the message can be continued at home. The programme has also been extended to other schools in cities across the UK.

    Andrew also runs a “Parkfield Ambassadors” after-school club that creates opportunities for children at his school where 99% of students are Muslim to meet others of different races, religions and cultures around Birmingham.

    In May 2016 Ofsted awarded the Parkfield School ‘Outstanding’ status, recognizing Andrew’s project as a strength, saying: “The provision for pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is a strength and permeates the school’s work. This is an inclusive school that celebrates diversity.”

    In November 2017 Andrew was awarded an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen for services to equality and diversity in education.

    Programmes like “No Outsiders” are more than ever needed to ensure future younger generations learn about acceptance and respect of others.

    In recent media there has been a backlash of the project with concerns that inappropriate material is being taught to the children. This includes a concern over topics such as LGBT+ being included in the programme. Concerns raised have included the stereotype that LGBT+ is ‘inappropriate’ and ‘sexualised’. This project does not include topics of this nature and instead teaches children about different family dynamics in general.

    Please show your support for Andrew’s “No Outsiders” programme by signing this petition and to support the inclusion of LGBT+ topics in this programme.

    You can add your support by click here.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Waitress, Adelphi Theatre, London

    THEATRE REVIEW | Waitress, Adelphi Theatre, London

    ★★★★☆ | Waitress, Adelphi Theatre

    (C) Alistair Muir

    An American musical about a waitress who bakes amazing pies to cope with life sounds too whimsical for words. You’d expect to come out of the theatre feeling more nauseated than if you’d eaten an oven full of apple pies with whipped cream. This belter of a show is a surprising gem, though. Yes, it’s feel-good and frothy with sections that play out like a sex comedy but it’s also poignant and achingly sad, at times.

    Based on the 2007 indie flick, it’s the story of Jenna (Katherine McPhee), a small town diner waitress who’s unintentionally become pregnant by her abusive loser husband who she dreams of leaving. To complicate things further, she’s smitten with her obstetrician (David Hunter). It’s also a story of the power of female friendship, with her colleagues, ditzy virgin Dawn (Laura Baldwin) and fierce Becky (Marisha Wallace) supporting her in her dilemma.

    Katherine McPhee is staggering with a voice that could shatter the hardest of heart as she belts out the repertoire of rock/folk songs by singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles. She’s amply paired with David Hunter as the likeable and unlikely heartthrob doctor. It’s a sweet rom-com with cracking music and a versatile set that sweeps you off to small-town America.

    There’s nothing not to like here. The songs are great, if occasionally forgettable, the cast nail it and the story is watchable. It’s fun and occasionally thought-provoking. Well worth seeing.

     

    Waitress plays at the Adelphi Theatre, until October 2019, Book Tickets Here