It’s a bold move to schedule nearly 7 hours of theatre about the lives of gay men, by a writer who’s largely unknown in the UK and hope that people take a punt on it without fear of boredom or backache. It’s paid off here though, as the run is almost sold out. Maybe the draw is ‘The Crown’ (the director of the plays is Stephen Daldry) or the recent epidemic of boasting about having sat through a day of ‘Angels in America’ at The National. Whatever the reasons, they’ve scored a winner with this two-parter. It’s a magnificently acted and tightly scripted piece of theatre which is both thought-provoking and incredibly moving.
The plays look at the lives of a group of sometimes self-satisfied/dissatisfied and hedonistic/troubled gay men in New York a generation after the AIDS crisis was at its height. Although there’s lots of issues raised it’s also a very entertaining and human piece of character-driven storytelling with moments of wry comedy.
Based directly on E.M. Forster’s ‘Howard’s End’, but with gays, it’s like a fat and occasionally filthy novel and it’s definitely a page-turner. The action is played out on a sparse set by barefoot and occasionally bare bottomed actors and one actress (Vanessa Redgrave pops in for 20 minutes). The concept is that the men are part of a writing group looking at writing their experiences, mentored by the Edwardian author. Bizarrely, this works really well and acts as a perfect backdrop for the action. You can binge watch it like it’s on Netflix or take the DVT free option and see it over two nights. Whichever, it’s worth grabbing one of the few remaining tickets.
Set in the 1960’s, hard-working Yorkshire farmer, George, is volunteered for a part in the York Mystery Plays by his busy-body (and somewhat devoted) neighbour; where he meets and falls in love with John, the London based and rather cosmopolitan assistant director. But despite their feelings for each other, the difference in their two very different worlds soon becomes apparent.
Director Robert Hastie shepherds the cast with skill, never shying away from the intensity and emotional impact of silence and pause in the midst of the drama; and eliciting quality performances from the cast with an unassuming ease. Jonathan Bailey (Broadchurch) and Ben Blatt (Spooks) excel in their respective performances as John and George, having a terrific on-stage chemistry and engaging in performances which were wholly absorbing, touching and brimming with genuine emotion. Brian Fletcher’s monosyllabic character of Jack brought some of the lighter moments within the piece, whilst Lesley Nicol (Downtown Abbey) brings a warm and instantly recognisable charm to her portrayal as the down to earth matriarch of the family, which is as homely as the cottage kitchen that makes up the stage.
Peter Gill’s script vacillates from fast-paced, northern-humour filled dialogue to long silent pauses of emotional drama with ease; and is reflective of the changes in society at the time, both in terms of the progress of modern life and the beginning of a change in attitudes. There is an underlying reticence of some of the characters to move on into the modern world, which mirrors the cautious approach of John and George to their relationship; and, in particular, whether George lives his life for himself or for others, despite his family’s unspoken acceptance of his sexuality. There is a real tension between the old-fashioned values and the familiar feel of a comfortable, established life and the progression into a time of social and economic change; which sits alongside a head-on clash of city and country life and a disparity between the social class of the protagonists.
Running at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre until 7th April 2018, The York Realist is a touching, tender and tear inducing piece of heartfelt and beautifully understated theatre; with solid central performances from two actors with a genuine on-stage chemistry, and enough Yorkshire humour to satisfy the home crowd.
LGBT Number3, North Devon Sunrise and Drink Wise, Age Well Devon have joined forces to relaunch the ‘ComeOut’ group to provide members of the LGBT+ community across North Devon with the opportunity to get together to enjoy events, activities, workshops, talks and counselling in Barnstaple on the first Saturday of every month.
The initiative from North Devon’s ‘Arm in Arm’ partnership has been a long time in the planning, and if last month’s launch event at the Sunrise Centre in Barnstaple is anything to go by will be much in demand.
Ahead of the group’s first get-together on Saturday, 7th April, Darren Walker of Drink Wise, Age Well said, “Our programme was set up in Devon to help people aged 50 plus make healthier choices about alcohol, and one of the findings of an initial study we did was that people with fulfilling hobbies and interests are far more likely to be able to cut back than those who don’t. We are delighted therefore to be joining with LGBT Number3 and Sunrise to offer a wide range of fun, fulfilling and inspirational activities to LGBT+ people of all ages from across North Devon.”
Ken Cornish of LGBT Number3 commented, “We are really excited about taking the ComeOut group to new heights, providing counselling, workshops, wellbeing, coffee and chat, plus guest speakers and day trips – really embracing the community and getting everyone involved. Bring your friends along – you don’t have to be LGBT+ to become a part of something special!”
Naomi Chunilal, Manager of North Devon Sunrise added, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Arm in Arm to relaunch the ComeOut group in Barnstaple for the LGBT+ community across the South West. We are very aware that there are very few other social activities and networks in Northern Devon for the LGBT+ community. We hope the ComeOut group becomes a vibrant LGBT+ social hub where everyone is welcome of all ages, backgrounds and identities from the LGBT+ community across the region.”
A survey of almost 17,000 people aged 50 plus about their drinking habits, carried out for Drink Wise, Age Well in 2015, found that older adults who are LGBT; not married, partnered, or cohabiting; live alone, or who have a longstanding illness or disability are more likely to be higher risk drinkers than those who are not. It also found that people who say they don’t engage in activities they find fulfilling are more than four times more likely to be higher risk drinkers.
The ComeOut group will meet in the Sunrise Centre on Castle Street in Barnstaple from 11 am to 1 pm on the first Saturday of every month. Entry is free and you should keep an eye on the group’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/ndcomeout for details of scheduled activities.
Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Menier Chocolate Factory Review
Manuel Puig’s story of two men incarcerated in a brutal Argentinian prison is a funny and moving take on masculinity and oppression. Molina is a campy window dresser with a love of old B movies who’s inside for ‘gross indecency’ whilst Valentin is a gruff political activist, bristling with macho ego. It’s a claustrophobic piece and at 1 hour 40 minutes with no interval, you’re pretty much imprisoned with them, watching their relationship develop in a grim cell.
Kiss of the Spiderwoman has had many adaptations since it was written as a novel in 1976 including stage plays, the Oscar-winning 1985 film and a Kander and Ebb musical. This new version is beautifully scripted but somehow the play as a whole doesn’t feel quite there. Samuel Barnett almost captures the endearing feyness of Molina but there’s something slightly undercooked about the portrayal. Declan Bennett seems to struggle a little and the lines occasionally feel stilted. It’s more hit than miss but the piece doesn’t quite feel as tight as it should and the chemistry between the two isn’t always present.
The set is grimily evocative and the back projections of Molina’s flights of celluloid fancy work well. Overall it’s an endearing piece and worth seeing for the glimpses of what it could have been. There are achingly poignant moments which are something to embrace.
Runs at the Menier Chocolate Factory until 5th of May 2018
New stats gathered by THEGAYUK, show that outside of London, Birmingham is the randiest place in the UK.
Birmingham’s gay scene is thriving
It seems as though gay and bisexual men in Birmingham can’t get enough of online hookups and chat sites. So much so, it is only second to London for online searches for gay hookups, gay chat and dating sites. Of course, Birmingham has one of the largest gay scenes in the UK, alongside Brighton, Manchester and of course, London.
Analytics show that the Birmingham chat page is one of the most popular entry points to THEGAYUK.com for English cities, whilst Glasgow tops the list for Scottish cities. Cardiff is the number one for Wales, but 13th overall for the UK and Belfast is number one for Northern Ireland, but number 24 overall for the UK.
The top ten list looks like this:
London
Birmingham
Manchester
Leeds
Glasgow
Bristol
Liverpool
Sheffield
Nottingham
Edinburgh
Previously Essex had topped the list, but now doesn’t even register in the top 100 of visitor locations. Instead, Grimsby brings up the bottom of the league table at number 100 randiest place in Britain.
Overall visitors from England make up 77% percent of all searches, Scottish visitors make up six percent of searches, the Welsh make up three percent and guys from Northern Ireland make up 1 percent.
Step into a place where the decor is sumptuous, the staff very nice and attentive, and the food very good. The place is a restaurant called Baluchi.
Baluchi is a restaurant so unlike any other south of the river (literally right next to the road that becomes Tower Bridge). Inside the gorgeous hotel called The LaLit, Baluchi the restaurant is a one-room affair, with stunning chandeliers and plenty of space in between tables so as not to feel overcrowded and busy. And it’s Indian-style menu has all sorts of food for just about anyone, even those who are not quite familiar with Pan Indian food.
We were delighted to choose two very good, and refreshing, drinks to start out with. My dining companion had the Mad Honey while I had the Mango Mai Tai, which was very sweet, which is the way I like my drinks, as well as beautifully coloured, with a dried lime on top for a nice touch!
Amazing food in an amazing location
These two drinks were just a small sampling of what was on offer in their drinks menu – a stunning multi-page book of every type of cocktail you want. While they don’t come cheap (£10 to £15 each), they are worth every penny!
As for the food, you are really and truly spoiled for choice. Dishes from the menu include all sorts, from seafood (Sea Bass, Peterhead Cod, Tandoori Prawns), to the fantastic Vegetarian dishes (Dal Baluchi – Black Lentils, Grilled Tofu) to an amazing array of meat dishes (Butter Chicken, Murg Adraki – Free-range corn-fed chicken, and venison) to lamb, which is what we ordered. I had the splendid and meaty Lamb Chops. At £21.50, I received three very large and perfectly cooked chops, with smoked aubergine and yummy potato mash and an avocado dollop, in a lovely coriander, mint and garlic chutney. I highly recommend this dish. My dining companion ordered the Lamb Shan K Gush Taba (gluten free), and as expected it was tender, moist and extra good in its not too spicy sauce. She and I loved our lamb – superb!!! Mango and coconut-flavoured naan bread was served with our main course – absolutely delicious, along with the mandatory rice.
We had also ordered starters which were presented very beautifully. We wanted the Kamal Kakdi, but unfortunately, they were out, so we ordered the fantastic Subz Kl Thal, which was an amazing array of edibles that included corn tikki, papad and paneer – and suitable for sharing which is what we did. It was a wow dish, and at £14.50, a good bargain. We also ordered the Bharwan Zucchini – a courgette with various sauces. It was a bit small, but nice taste and flavour nonetheless. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the papadums served with berry and tomato chutney – great starters!
Of course, for those with a sweet tooth, The Baluchi offers quite a few dessert choices. My companion had the Coconut 3 Ways – jelly and espuma, hazelnut mousse and curry leaf smoke – while I had the Carrom Seed Shortbread – an unusual array of a poached guava, guava sorbet, pistachio and caramel popcorn. Both desserts came in at £8 each – respectable because they are different but they did not have the wow factor that we expected.
I almost never write about the coffee but the decaf coffee I was served after the meal was one of the most delicious I have ever had in recent memory, while my dining companion really enjoyed her tea.
Despite a mix up with the bill (the drinks the table next to us had were on our bill), everything about the evening was impeccable, from the presentation of the food to the way it was served to us by the wait staff, from the amazing decor to the gracious chef who paid a visit to our table, and to the extreme care and attentiveness our server was to us. The whole evening was very memorable, and while our bill came to about £150 for the two of us, sometimes it’s worth this kind of money to make the experience memorable and very enjoyable. Baluchi is definitely a one-of-a-kind restaurant that’s practically in its own world right in the heart of the hustle and bustle of London.
Find out more at https://www.thelalit.com/the-lalit-london/eat-and-drink/baluchi/
As her wedding day approaches, Kelly buys her dream wedding dress, even though it is two sizes too small for her.
When Julia Fleshman, the head of a national slimming club chain, comes to town to judge a slimming contest live on TV, Kelly ends up going viral with her body confident comments; and seizing the opportunity for some publicity, Fleshman offers to pay for Kelly’s wedding if she can slim into the dress in time for the big day. But with the wedding only six weeks away, the pressure is on…
Fat Friends is very much a piece of crowd-pleasing theatre. Pulling together multiple stories of the good folk of Headingly, a town near Leeds, the stage is filled with likeable, if slightly caricatured, characters and is a straightforward evening of undemanding fun.
The show boasts a good cast, with Jodie Prenger taking the lead as Kelly, and doing so with a cocky northern confidence and a belting singing voice. Sam Bailey (The X-Factor) is great as Kelly’s Mum and Natasha Hamilton (from Atomic Kitten) is the scheming Julia Fleshman. Thrown into the mix is an affable turn from Kevin Kennedy (Coronation Street) and ex-cricketer Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff, who takes to the stage and fares better than expected with a slightly stilted, if not tongue in cheek, portrayal of Kevin, Kelly’s nice but dim fiancé.
The songs are amiable enough and used to move the story forward, and whilst they were perfectly pleasant to listen to and shoehorned a few laughs into the lyrics, they served their purpose well enough in terms of keeping up the show upbeat and jolly, but were ultimately fairly forgettable. The live orchestra added to the atmosphere within the theatre and the set design was a colourful cartoonish affair which was well lit and effective in its simplicity.
Written and directed by Kay Mellor, who wrote the original TV series that the show is based on; Fat Friends is a rather loud, boisterous and upbeat show, which really resonates with its target audience. It’s a rather clichéd musical by numbers, with a heavy-handed script, fairly trite lyrics and a rather unsubtle approach to its humour, but what it lacks in sophistication, it makes up for with likeable characters, a few good belly laughs and buckets-full of near the knuckle, northern charm.
Fat Friends is at the Opera House Manchester until the 24th March 2018, book tickets click here
The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, is a sensational book and it made critical acclaim as a film too, so expectations were always going to be high. Adapted by Matthew Spangler, The Rep play version created a new window to look through the melodrama and tragedy surrounding the life of Amir.
The story centralises itself around Amir, a well-to-do Pashtun boy, and Hassan, a Hazara who is the son of Ali, Amir’s father’s servant. Hassan is the fastest kite runner the town has ever seen, and he teaches Amir the art, all so Amir can impress his stone-faced father.
This must have been a hard concept to attempt to translate from a novel page to a main house stage, but Barney George’s design painted a very raw picture. The set moulded itself to suit outside and indoors with little effort. Fluid scene changes via media projections, and a curtain in shape of a kite which was used to shield viewers from hard-to-watch moments. Live percussion, performed by Hanif Khan, brought a mystical layer to the melodrama. The sound effects were also harrowing in parts.
What made this production special was the cast of The Kite Runner. Raj Ghatak, as Amir, really helped us see the character come to life through language, enacting young and older Amir, as well as punchy speeches with sincere conviction. Jo Ben Ayed stole the show, with his portrayal of Hassan, formidable dexterity in playing a young boy while showing mature emotions. Jo’s characterisation contributed to the emotional experience felt in The Rep auditorium. The unrelenting loyalty to Amir was masterfully achieved by Jo. The boys’ fathers Baba and Ali played by Gary Pillai and Rez Kabir respectively, enhanced the sense of tradition and honour. Both actors shone, adding a darker tone to the narrative. Assef was a sickly and revolting character, played expertly by Soroosh Lavisini.
Soroosh’s movement and speech was skin-crawling and made it hard to watch, but this was a true depiction of the nasty and malevolent personality.
This production is close to three hours long, but through gripping action, efficient set, light, sound and everything else involved, The Kite Runner left us with the feeling we could have watched more.
“The lack of visibility of men from black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities in sexual health promotion has been well documented”
The campaign was created, at a “grass-roots” level by BAME men for BAME men.
A poster campaign has been launched by leading sexual health charity GMFA to encourage BAME (black and minority ethnic) gay men to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases more regularly. It is also hoped that the campaign will increase the representation of the LGBT+ black and Asian community.
The first set of posters have been released and they will be displayed in south London specifically: Brixton, Streatham, Kennington and Waterloo.
Increasing Representation
The charity revealed that the campaign was developed by “BAME gay and bisexual men for BAME gay and bisexual men” and it aims to increase testing among BAME gay and bisexual men but also to increase representation of BAME gay and bisexual men in public health campaigns.
Ian Howley, Chief Executive of HERO – Health Equality and Rights Organisation, the parent organisation of GMFA, explains, “Over the last few years, HERO has been working closely with the BAME LGBT+ community. One of the issues that kept on coming up was the lack of representation, especially in mass media health promotion campaigns. At HERO we listened and acted on this feedback. What people see is completely developed by BAME gay and bisexual men for BAME gay and bisexual men. From the concept, to the models, to the design, all parts of this campaign came from a grassroots level.”
Lack of Visibility
Marc Thompson, Co-Editor of BlackoutUK who worked as an advisor on the campaign, explains, “Most health professionals don’t like to admit it, but reflecting diverse audiences can be challenging for them. It’s difficult, especially if you don’t come from those communities or understand how to reach us effectively. The lack of visibility of men from black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities in sexual health promotion has been well documented as having an impact on BAME men’s sexual health and risk-taking, which ultimately plays a role in the disproportionate rates of HIV infection in this population.
“This is why the Me. Him. Us. campaign is so important. It was created by BAME gay and bisexual men for BAME gay and bisexual men. This campaign speaks to us. The imagery is beautiful and it shows black men being loving, caring and compassionate with each other. It reflects the community as it really is. It’s what we need and it’s the work we deserve in our community. The work should represent us.
“Although this campaign will increase testing and awareness around testing which is the aim, it will do something much more important. young men from the diverse range of Black, Asian and other minority ethnic communities and young black gay men in particular, will see themselves represented in a mass media sexual health campaign. We hope the campaign will inspire more young black gay men get tested, take care of themselves and their partner and will engage with the work we do in our communities to improve the health of all of us.”
One of bus stop posters featuring a same-sex couple which will be cropping up in South London.
“I do not feel accurately represented”
Phil Samba, one of the stars of the campaign and key to the development of Me. Him. Us. explains why he wanted to get involved, “As a black gay man, I personally do not feel accurately represented at all in media or the gay community. There is already a small amount of positive black male role models that steer away from stereotypes and there are even less ones that are gay. Black gay men are atrociously misrepresented as either being aggressive and hypersexual. When I was younger I never saw anyone who was like me on TV or heard anyone on the radio who was like me either and I think honest visibility and representation is so important for young black boys to feel comfortable in their sexuality however they see fit.”
Ian Howley adds, “Although this campaign is focused on representation, it also has an important message. Black and minority gay and bisexual men are more likely to be diagnosed with HIV and at a later stage too. It’s important that we increase the need for frequent testing for HIV and STIs for black gay and bisexual men. At HERO we recommend that all sexually active men are tested for HIV every six months. Early diagnosis of HIV infection enables better treatment for you and reduces the risk of transmitting the infection to others.
“I’m proud that HERO is in a position to develop this work in partnership with BAME people. It’s important that BAME people have a platform to create personal and social change in our community. Although this campaign will run for at least three months, this is just the beginning. HERO will continue to work closely with BAME LGBT+ people to build on this work, develop it further and help make a positive change in our community.”
The Me. Him. Us. website will have information on HIV, types of HIV testing and where to get tested, as well as stories from black gay and bisexual voices.
The stall which attracted so much homophobic criticism in Stratford Upon Avon
Conservative MP, Nadhim Zahawi has condemned comments reportedly made at Warwickshire Pride volunteers over the weekend calling the incident “shocking and outrageous”.
In a statement to THEGAYUK.com, Mr Zahawi said, “What happened in Stratford on Saturday was shocking and outrageous and I pay tribute to the volunteers from Warwickshire Pride who are understandably shaken by the incident but remain committed to their good work regardless. The people responsible for this abuse do not represent the town or area in any way and I reiterate my pledge to support Warwickshire Pride as they work with the police to bring the perpetrators to justice”.
Over the weekend, volunteers were reportedly told by members of the public that their sexuality was “disgusting” as well as being told that an LGBT+ market stall “had no place in Stratford”.
The team were there to raised awareness and funds for 2018’s Pride event in August.
The incidents began at 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM when the pride team’s decided to pack up and leave. The incidents have been reported to Warwickshire Police.
Speaking on behalf of Warwickshire Pride, Daniel Browne said, “Although what happened that day has been deeply upsetting and distressing, it has not deterred us from continuing to work for LGBT+ people in Stratford. If anything, we are more determined to ensure that LGBT+ people in Stratford feel safe and able to be who they are. For years, LGBT+ people in Stratford have told us that they do not feel safe there due to hate comments and looks they receive from people. We now fully understand why LGBT+ people in Stratford feel that way and will be doing all we can to ensure this trend does not continue.
“As for our next steps, we will be contacting Stratford’s MP, Nadhim Zahawi, who has pledged his support for Warwickshire Pride via Twitter. We will also be contacting Stratford District Council, Stratford Town Trust and the company that runs the market to discuss the incidents and what can be done to prevent this from happening in future.
“Furthermore, we are also organising an equality rally to take place in Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 21st April. More details will be made available soon, but we encourage all LGBT+ people and allies to join us as we peacefully say no to hate and yes to equality in every way, as indeed these incidents show that while we have almost full equality in law there is still a long way to go until LGBT+ people are fully accepted socially.
Emma Rice’s tribute to Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter is back after 10 years away and in an unusual venue: a cinema in the West End.
Emma Rice’s tribute to Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter is back after 10 years away and in an unusual venue: a cinema in the West End. Sadly it’s not a triumphant return and is a bit of a mixed bag. Part parody, part homage; it just doesn’t quite know what it is and suffers as result.
If you don’t know the classic David Lean film from 1946 (where have you been?) then it’s a story about two married strangers from the suburbs who conduct a very chaste affair in and around a railway station cafe. It’s characterised by tight dialogue, clipped accents and Celia Johnson smoking an unfeasible amount of fags. It’s very much of its time but also contains beautiful and resonant dialogue. The Kneehigh theatre company’s version is one full of trickery. The cast act out the story against clever back projections, sometimes literally bursting out of the cinema screen. There are cheeky little props, the odd Noel Coward song and lots of deft little touches.
Whilst the two main actors play it straight as the po-faced couple headed for heartache, the rest of the cast camp it up as the remaining bit players. This is where the problem lies. It all becomes too much and a bit panto at times. There’s lots of face pulling, whimsy and larking around. Whilst it works part of the time it all feels a bit much at others. Less is sometimes more.
Overall, it’s a fun show but I’m not sure it’s going to rock anyone’s world.
