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DUSTY LIMITS – POST MORTEM: Emporium Theatre: Review

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Dusty’s show, which clocks in at just over an hour, is a short and (bitter)sweet look at life’s big full stop. An obit junkie – Mr Limits claims to have them beamed directly to his Kindle – he begins the evening fretting about how the newsprint summation of his life will read. His rumination on death, and the bit leading up to it we call ‘life‘, takes in some great songs, some comedy, a bit of politics and an update of Roger Hargreaves’ Mr Greedy.

Dusty Limits has an impressive vocal range, whether performing Weimar Republic songs (a condition of his arts funding, we’re told), American early 20th century spirituals, Joni Mitchell, Bowie or his own satirical confections. A man who has clearly lived a suitably bohemian life, he movingly sings his favourite love song, Sondheim’s Losing My Mind, to a bottle of vodka.

It’s an amiable, always entertaining, sixty minutes. As Dusty Limits admits he’s occasionally preaching to the converted – though targets like the Catholic church, Bono and Michael McIntyre can feel a little easy. And his version of Nina Simone’s Sinnerman is so powerful that it’s a shame half way through he injects some not particularly successful humour into it (God speaking in the stock ‘accountant‘ voice).

On the whole the show is a successful example of the New Cabaret. Though in future hopefully his jaundiced look will take in aspects of modern-day homosexuality as well as religion, and maybe he’ll make good on his promise to be less stand-up comedy and more ‘sit down misery‘.

Continues at the Emporium Theatre, London Road, until Thursday, July 25.

For more tickets and information click here.

Brighton Pride launches new Android App!

Brighton Pride

Whether you are watching or taking part in the Pride parade, traveling to the park, enjoying the city and it’s bars, taking in the entertainment and the Pride Arts & Film Festival or simply want to be ahead of the rest with Brighton Pride news, Prides new App is essential for you to find out what is on in the city.

Imagine a constantly updated Pride guide in your pocket that not only lets you know EXCLUSIVELY the all important schedule of legendary performers on the main stage which will help you plan your day, but also features:

Park Schedule:
* Parade Map
• Park Map
• Bus Timetable
* Buy Tickets for the park and pride arts festival events
* Updates and alerts via push notifications from the official Brighton Pride Event Team
* Listen to SauceFM Radio on the go
* Arts Festival Events Calendar
* Official Pride Party Listings
* Submit your photos
* Guide you where to Eat, Drink, Party, Sleep, Shop
* Buy Pride Merchandise
* Show you’re proud and write something positive on the Brighton Pride Wall
• Social Media Integration
• Our Sponsors – See who stepped up to the plate and showed their support

Plus you’ll receive real time alerts and notifications of what is happening, essential party listings and be able to upload your Pride photos too!

The App costs just 69p, probably the best value 69 you’ll ever have, grab yours now!

The app was developed for free by our friends at Organic Apps and all profits go to Brighton Pride & local good causes.

Because of the nature of the event you need to be internet connected to get the most from the app as the content is dynamic and being constantly updated leading up to and during the event.

To download the app CLICK HERE: 

New calendar launched for Manchester Pride

Gays of Manchester

George House Trust (GHT) the charity who support people living with or affected by HIV in the North West has teamed up with photographer Lee Baxter to create an exhibition and calendar that shows the diversity of the Gays of Manchester to raise money for the charity.

Lee Baxter
Lee Baxter

The portraits, will launch at the Pride Fringe on August 19 and run until the Big Pride Weekend at event space 2022NQ .

The 12 portraits highlight the different backgrounds, such as musicians, gay couples, owner of retail shops, and a bread maker to bring to life stories of Manchester and gay life.

The portraits will be turned into a 2014 Calendar, which will be available to buy within the exhibition and in various bars in the Manchester’s Gay Village and online at www.ght.org.uk

Calendars will also be available to buy throughout Manchester Pride weekend and also on the lead up to Christmas. Through sales of the calendar GHT is hoping to raise over £10,000 for their Welfare Fund, which helps HIV Positive People who are facing financial hardship.”

GHT supports people living with or affected by HIV and was founded in 1985 by six gay men in Manchester. 28 years later, the LGBT community still firmly continues to support GHT’s work through activism, fundraising, awareness raising and volunteering.

For more information about GHT, CLICK HERE:

 

 

Ticket outlets for Pride not charging booking fees

Norman Cook in the Wild Fruit Tent in 2012
Norman Cook in the Wild Fruit Tent in 2012

With just ten days to go to this years Brighton Pride event there are only seven venues in town left selling tickets at £17.50 each with NO BOOKING FEES being charged.

They are:
• BAR REVENGE: 7 Marine Parade, Brighton
• LEGENDS: 31-34 Marine Parade, Brighton
• NICE N NAUGHTY: 32 St James Street, Brighton
• PROWLER: 112 St James Street, Brighton
• DOCTOR BRIGHTONS: 16 Kings Road, Brighton
• DUKES AT THE KOMEDIA: 44-47 Gardner Street, Brighton
• DUKE OF YORKS CINEMA: Preston Road, Brighton

You can still buy tickets online and pay a booking fee.To purchase, CLICK HERE:

Tickets on the days will be £20 on the gate at Pride. To avoid the long queues people experienced last year buy your ticket in advance.

Gay twins launch Proud2Be Project to national press

Proud2Be

Gay twin brothers Jon and Mat Price have officially launched the Proud2Be Project to the national press.

Proud2Be, a not-for-profit organisation set up to encourage and support all LGBT people to be proud of who they are, was set up in June 2011 when the brothers sat in front of their web cam and told the world they are ‘proud to be gay’.

Since then the project has been put forward for a Prince’s Trust Award, a National Diversity Award and has been supported by a number of high profile figures who have told the world they are proud to be LGBT, including Stephen Fry, Human Rights Activist Peter Tatchell, Michael Cashman MEP and Christine Burns MBE.

Proud2Be Project

Jon and Mat said:

“Over the last year we have seen how the Proud2Be message can transform the way LGBT people feel about themselves.

“We felt it was really important to launch the project to the national press in order to keep on reaching those LGBT people who feel like who they are is something to be ashamed of.

“We also wanted to celebrate how far Proud2Be has come and to be surrounded by family, friends and some of our heroes was a dream come true for both of us. We want to thank all who attended the event and all who continue to show us such amazing support”.

Through the project, Mat and Jon not only run the campaign but also facilitate rural social groups and residential weekends, host yearly rural Pride events and are planning on opening LGBT community hubs in rural parts of the country.

The twins host their own LGBT radio show every Monday at 6pm.

To listen, CLICK HERE:

For more information and details on how to join the Proud2Be campaign, CLICK HERE:

Or email:

The Albert Kennedy Trust launches initiative for LGBT young people

Albert Kennedy trustLesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) youth homeless charity the Albert Kennedy Trust (AKT) has announce the launch of its ‘Purple Door’ housing project for LGBT young people facing homelessness.

The project consists of two housing initiatives, one in London and one in Greater Manchester, and is being supported by actors and AKT patrons Sir Ian McKellen and Charlie Condou.

In London, AKT has worked in partnership with Circle 33 to open the UK’s first LGBT specific safe house which is designed for the 76 per cent of the young people coming to AKT in London to escape domestic violence or hate crime as a result of coming out.

Purple Door London will take LGBT young people out of danger and off the streets. They will stay in the safe house for approximately 21 days whilst specialist workers provide a bespoke intervention which covers longer-term accommodation, support, mentoring, advocacy and therapeutic care. With six bedrooms, plus shared space and facilities, the house will work with an estimated 100+ vulnerable young people per year, providing a safe, positive space for them to regain their self-esteem and autonomy.

In Greater Manchester, AKT has worked in partnership with Threshold and the New Charter Housing Group to open a four-bedroom 6-12 month supported housing project – the first in the northwest exclusively for LGBT young people.

The project will support young people into education, employment and training, and equip them with the skills they need to live independently through a structured tenancy training program. AKT will work to address issues directly related to their sexual and/or gender identity and reduce the impact of the disadvantage they face. Young people will be provided with training on issues that affect them, such as coming out in the workplace and improving self-esteem, as well as standard independent living skills such as budgeting. In addition young people will have access to AKT’s portfolio of support such as mentoring and befriending.

AKT Chief Executive Tim Sigsworth, says:

“This is an historic day for AKT as we open our Purple Door project in London and Manchester. Despite ten years of progressive legislation which has enabled young LGBT people to feel more confident to come out at an early age –we are still seeing several hundred young people each year coming to us facing issues such as homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, domestic violence, forced marriage and bullying. Mainstream housing services do not provide the focussed, comprehensive and tailored support that these young people need, and demand for our services has risen by 30 per cent in recent years.  With the launch of Purple Door, we can now help more of these young people and we are immensely grateful to our partners, donors and supporters for making this day happen.”

AKT Patron, Coronation Street star and journalist Charlie Condou, says:

“The AKT already does such incredible work with LGBT youth but the opening of the Purple Door House marks the start of a new and exciting era for us. We are now able to offer young homeless LGBT people immediate refuge, and this is largely down to fundraising and donations. Please continue to support the AKT wherever possible so we see more of these invaluable houses in the future”.

The Purple Door Project has been funded exclusively through individual donations and corporate sponsorship – with no public money involved.

If you would like to be part of helping AKT build and extend the reach of their services to more LGBT young people facing homelessness, CLICK HERE: to donate.

Referrals to AKT’s services and the new Purple Door housing projects can be made via their website at: www.akt.org.uk

 

 

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