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Tag: UK

  • Ariana Grande fans plead for London dates to be cancelled

    Fans who are due to attend a concert at London’s o2 have pleaded with the venue to cancel the show.

    Fans have called upon o2 to cancel a forthcoming Ariana Grande show following the horrific bombing of Manchester Arena, where she was performing on Monday evening. A suicide bomber entered the Manchester Arena at the end of her concert and detonated his explosives in one of the foyers of the venue. The explosion killed 22 and injured a further 59 people.

    The 02 have issued a statement saying that they are “in contact with the tour promoters” regarding a final decision on whether Ariana’s tour, Dangerous Woman, will continue with its two London dates at the 02.

    She is due to perform at the world-famous London venue on the 25th and 26th of May.

    In response to their statement, fans have urged the venue to cancel the show, saying that “no way will Ari be able to perform” whilst another added, “She needs f**king time, people are so selfish honestly. It’s important for her to rest and try to calm down after all this happened.”

    Some fans were concerned that Ariana would feel obliged to perform for her fans but were quick to point out that they would rather the 23-year-old singer take “time off to heal” and they “wouldn’t expect anyone to perform after that shock”.

     

     

     

     

  • Come Dine With Me star, Martyn Hett confirmed as one of the dead in Manchester bombing

    A man who starred and won an episode of Come Dine With Me with his boyfriend has been confirmed as one of the fatalities of the Manchester Bombing on Monday evening.

    Martyn Hett has been confirmed, by his brother as being one of the victims of the Manchester bombing, which left 22 dead and 59 injured at the end of an Ariana Grande concert. Family and friends were desperately seeking for more information about Martyn’s whereabouts after he failed to check in with them after the concert.

    His brother, Dan Hett, left a simple message on Twitter saying, “they found my brother last night. we are heartbroken”.

    https://twitter.com/danhett/status/867312853098909696

    Martyn was due to embark on the holiday of a lifetime, having booked a two-month trip to USA. He was due to leave this week.

    Martyn had also starred in an episode of Tatoo Fixers – and was well-known for having an incredibly realistic tattoo of Deirdre Barlow on his calf.

    The last tweet sent from his Twitter came from within the Manchester Arena.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | 5 Guys Chillin’, Kings Head Theatre, London

    ★★★ | 5 Guys Chillin’, Kings Head Theatre, London

    5 guys chilling kings head theatre review

    There’s a chemsex party taking place at the King’s Head Theatre. No, it’s not an actual party – It’s the returning show 5 Guys Chillin’.

    In the comforts of the living room of J (David Palmstrom) and M (George Fletcher), them and three other guys (actually men) are enjoying each other as well as the drugs on the table in order to experience the highs, and in some cases, the lows, of what gay men (not all gay men) are getting into nowadays; drugs and sex and more drugs and in some cases unsafe sex in private house parties.

    B (Gareth Watkins) and R (Tom Ratcliffe) are a bit of an unmatched couple; R is very young but not so innocent, while muscular big daddy B is experienced and likes it any which way and loose. And the last one to arrive at the party is Pakistani PJ (George Bull). He’s a bit unsure as to why he’s there, but slowly gets into the action. But he’s got a story to tell the other guys; he’s actually married with a young child because it’s what is expected in his culture. Besides him, all the guys have stories to tell; B’s story is particularly vivid as he recounts the time he was spit roasted in Berlin where sexual diseases were not discussed. It’s all a lot to take in; the play’s honesty and brutal nature is scary because know all know these types of gay men, and parties, do actually exist.

    And all the actors should be admired for performing such an in your face play shedding emotions as well as bravely shedding their clothes. Writer and Director Peter Darney seems to have gotten the tone and characters right, but luckily I wouldn’t know because I’ve never been and don’t plan to go to one of these parties.

    5 Guys Chillin’ plays at Kings Head Theatre  until June 3rd 

     

  • MANCHESTER BOMBING | There’s going to be a vigil in Manchester this evening

    MANCHESTER BOMBING | There’s going to be a vigil in Manchester this evening

    Manchester will stand united this evening as plans are forged to stage a vigil for the victims and survivors of a terrorist bombing during a concert.

    Vigil to take place at Manchester's Albert Square
    musaraja92 / Pixabay

    A vigil will take place this evening in Albert Square from 6 PM to pay tribute to the twenty-two killed at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. Manchester’s newly elected mayor, Andy Burnham confirmed the vigil when he spoke to the press earlier outside Manchester’s town hall.

    Manchester Police confirmed that a bomb exploded at Manchester Arena. Twenty-two people were killed after a blast ripped through Manchester Arena foyer the end of the concert. Up to 21,000 fans were in attendance of the concert.

    At around 10:3o/33 PM as Ariana Grande had finished her concert, thousands of people were streaming out of the concert venue when the bomb was detonated. Police confirm the bomber was killed by his own explosion.

    Witnesses say that the bomb went off outside the auditorium.

     

     

     

  • MANCHESTER BOMBING | Friends in desperate bid to find Come Dine With Me star

    Friends are desperately looking for their friend, Martyn Hett following the suicide bombing in Manchester.

     

    Friends of TV star and PR manager Martyn Hett have launched a desperate bid to find him after he apparently attended the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. The concert was targetted by a suicide bomber and twenty-two people have been confirmed killed. There are 59 people who have also suffered injuries. Around 8 hospitals in and around the Manchester area are dealing with the injured.

    https://twitter.com/martynhett/status/866720383793332224/photo/1

    Mr Hett has not been heard of since he apparently tweeted from the venue, a few hours before the bomb exploded.

    Friends of Mr Hett took to Twitter to ask if anyone had seen or spotted him in a desperate bid to find out whether he is safe.

    His brother, Dan Hett, tweeted that he had not heard from Martyn and that he had failed to check in. He asked if anyone had seen or her from Martyn to contact him.

    https://twitter.com/danhett/status/866891655986728960

    Mr Hett, starred and won an episode of Come Dine With Me, in which he appeared with his boyfriend. The pair suffered trolling on their appearance from some viewers on social media.

     

  • MANCHESTER BOMBING | Manchester’s former first openly gay Lord Mayor “sick and heartbroken”

    Manchester’s first openly gay Lord Mayor Carl Austin-Behan has taken to Twitter to share his dismay at the terrorist incident unfolding in Manchester.

    DURING HAPPIER TIMES: Carl Austin-Behan celebrating at Manchester Airport with his consort Simon Austin-Behan

    The former Lord Mayor of Manchester said that he was “heartbroken, sick and numb” following on from the news that 22 people are dead and 59 injured following a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena.

     

     

    Manchester Police have confirmed that a bomb has exploded at Manchester Arena, killing 22 people and injuring 59. They have been treating the incident as a “terrorist event”.

    Twenty-two people have been killed after a blast ripped through Manchester Arena during the end of an Ariana Grande concert. Up to 21,000 fans were in attendance of the concert.

    At around 10:3o/33 PM as Ariana Grande had finished her concert, thousands of people were streaming out of the concert venue went a bomb was detonated.

    Witnesses say that the bomb went off outside the auditorium.

  • MANCHESTER BOMBING | Trans GE2017 candidate Sophie Cook tweets her support for Manchester victims

    Sophie Cook has tweeted her support for the people of Manchester following a suicide bombing at Manchester Arena.

    Sophie Cook, who is standing for Labour in East Worthing in the GE2017 has tweeted her support for the victims and survivors of the Manchester bombing. Taking to Twitter she said, that she was “heartbroken” on hearing the news. The candidate also mentioned that her 13-year-old daughter was a fan of Ariana Grande.

     

    https://twitter.com/sophiecooktalks/status/866890210042408960

    https://twitter.com/sophiecooktalks/status/866789540119416833

     

    The politician also said that campaigning for the Ge2017 had also been suspended following the incident.

     

    https://twitter.com/sophiecooktalks/status/866897748578238465

    https://twitter.com/sophiecooktalks/status/866923635361099777

     

    Manchester Police have confirmed that a bomb has exploded at Manchester Arena, killing 22 people and injuring 59. They have been treating the incident as a “terrorist event”.

    Twenty-two people have been killed after a blast ripped through Manchester Arena during the end of an Ariana Grande concert. Up to 21,000 fans were in attendance of the concert.

    At around 10:3o/33 PM as Ariana Grande had finished her concert, thousands of people were streaming out of the concert venue went a bomb was detonated.

    Witnesses say that the bomb went off outside the auditorium.

  • PHOTOS | Manchester Bombing in pictures

    A bomb has ripped through Manchester Arena, killing over 20 people and injuring dozens more.

     

    Embed from Getty Images

    Embed from Getty Images

    Embed from Getty Images

    Embed from Getty Images

    Embed from Getty Images

    Embed from Getty Images

    Embed from Getty Images

    Embed from Getty Images

     

  • Police ask Manchester bombing concert goers to upload footage to help in investigation

    Police in Manchester are urging concert goers to upload footage from their phones and cameras to help them investigate the bomb that killed and injured dozens of people at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester.

    Speaking at a press conference, Chief Constable of Manchester Police, Ian Hopkins urged concert goers to upload their footage to a special website to help in the investigation into the terrorist event that killed at least 22 people and injured a further 59.

    He said,

    “It is important that we all continue to remain vigilant, but also to go about our daily lives. We would ask people to be alert and report any suspicious activity to police on the Anti-Terrorist Hotline 0800 789321 or dial 999.

    If you have any images or footage from last night that you believe can assist us then upload them to Ukpoliceimageappeal.co.uk or Ukpoliceimageappeal.com

     

     

  • Ariana Grande speaks out after Manchester bomb attack

    “Broken”.

    Superstar Ariana Grande has spoken out after a bomb ripped through Manchester Arena where she had just performed to 21,000 fans.

    Taking to Twitter Ariana said that she was “broken” and that she didn’t have any words.

    https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/866849021519966208

    Fans have rallied around the singer with thousands leaving positive messages of support. Nearly 500,000 have retweeted the message.

    A publicist for the singer that Ariana was OK. She was unhurt by the explosion that rips through the foyer.

    Manchester Police have confirmed that a bomb has exploded at Manchester Arena, killing 22 people and injuring 59. They have been treating the incident as a “terrorist event”. Amongst the victims there were children.

    Ariana Grande is an advocate of the LGBT+ community has countless fans who identify as LGBT. Her brother, Frankie Grande, who is openly gay, has spoken about how his sister was incredibly supportive when he came out to her.

     

  • THEATRE REVIEW | La Strada – Sheffield Theatres and London’s West End

    ★★★ |  La Strada – Sheffield Theatres and London’s West End

    Based on the film by Frederico Felini, La Strada is set in the heart of the Italian Countryside, and tells the story of the Gelsomina, who becomes the assistant to a travelling showman, Zampano, as they move from town to town trying to earn their keep. But things change when they join a travelling circus and they meet Il Matto, a clown, who teaches Gelsomina that there is more to life than her current existence and encourages her to find herself.

    La Strada is a show with a very European flavour and a real feel for the source material, being Fellini’s classic 1950’s Italian film. The music is a broadly uplifting fusion of gypsy, jazz and folk, providing a jaunty soundtrack which melts into the story rather than providing standalone moments, and whilst the show is billed as a musical, it would perhaps be better pitched as a drama with musical interludes.

    Overall, the show carried with it an impressive presentation. Sally Cookson’s direction is distinctive and stylish, with a slew of innovative theatrical techniques, carefully choreographed movement and almost constant activity on and around the stage. The set has a feeling of 1950’s European cinema, with its muted colour pallet and its use of shadows and silhouettes, and the provision of the on-stage musicians added a nice touch. Feeling almost cinematic in its staging, the show does has a certain magic about the way in which it presents itself.

    La Strada boasts a large international cast, led by Audrey Brisson and whilst the performances were functional, they never really excelled. The story is filled with pathos and it is bold in its attempt to portray what is effectively a road movie on a single, static set. The pacing of the show is very slow and the narrative is thin, almost only allowing the audience to glimpse snapshots of the character’s lives, rather than allow them to join them on their journey;  which is where the production struggled overall and where the emotional punch of Fellini’s film was somewhat lost

    La Strada is a show which is a luxurious, visual feast, but one which has a low-key narrative, and a steady pace; and is a more high-brow musical  for people seeking an alternative to the saccharine-coated West End extravaganzas or the traditional staples of musical theatre. It is very much style over substance, but may well reward the patient audience member.

    La Strada is currently at Sheffield Lyceum Theatres (www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk) until 27th May 2017, before transferring to the West End, playing at The Other Palace in London from the 30th May to the 8th July 2017. Visit www.theotherpalace.co.uk/whats-on/la-strada for details.