Do you want to discuss your thoughts on death and dying in a safe and welcoming space?
MindOut, LGBT Switchboard and the Carers Centre are holding a Death Cafe at Dorset Gardens Methodist Church on Saturday, November 1 from 11am-12.30pm followed by an information and advice session from 12.30pm-2pm.
Refreshments will be provided and all ages are welcome.
To book a place telephone: 01273 234009
Comedy of Errors
The Globe Theatre
Midnight Matinée’s
Experience the magical atmosphere of the Globe at midnight
If you’re bored of the same old bars, and clubs, why not check out The Globe for its midnight matinee. Yes, the crazy reconstructed Tudorbethen Shakespeare theatre on the South Bank, the one you’ve walked past a hundred times staggering on your way to XXL or Vauxhall. It’s a cool alternative to another packed bar and the views from its own riverside bar terrace are unbeatable. One side the reconstructed Tudor glory of the polygonised Globe packed with eager faces from all over the world and the other side all of London laid out like a sparkling jewel with the silent dark river Thames in-between, it’s a beguiling and romantic night-time venue.
After a few pints in my favourite secret swinging London gay bar ‘ The Retro Bar’ down a little alleyway just next to Charing Cross, a quick affordable bite to eat in the glourious cafe in the undercroft and crypt of St Martins in the Fields followed by a beaker of sweet white port at Gordon’s, off we went to check out the Midnight Matinee shows at the Globe. This was full on authentic Shakespeare at midnight, under the stars in the glorious architectural candy floss of the Globe Theatre. Based on drawings and ideas of what the Original Globe theatre looked like, the one that Shakespeare himself worked and part owned, the Globe has been wowing audiences not only with the building itself but also with its endearing habit of staging the plays of the Bard as realistically as possible, as they might have been performed the first time round. This is not just for tourists, this is quality theatrical entertainment and I was impressed with the acting and music.
We saw ‘Comedy of Errors’ which was wonderful fun, in equal parts silly, genuinely funny, sometimes moving and with wonderful flourishs of chaotic fun which delighted everyone and all on the open stage above the pit full of standing couples. The quality of the acting is superb, but then it’s the Royal Shakespeare Company doping the acting so you kind of want them to be good, although sometimes in the funfair atmosphere of the Theatre itself it’s hard to remember that you’re watching proper theatre done by proper thespians as it can feel a little make-believe, this may have had something to do with the wooden beam work all around, the full moon over head and few pints of mead that we’d had. None-the-less it was a great evening out and a fantastic way to finished off (or start) a Saturday night in London.
They also have a programme of music concerts by candlelight performed in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse throughout the year. The Playhouse is located on the Globe site, see here for more information of the up and coming season.
All in all The Globe at Midnight ( or at any point of an evening) is a great place to visit and start your night time adventures in London and being smack in the middle of the South Bank, you can always go clubbing afterwards if you really, really have to. If you’re not ready to go home, then head to Brick Lane for a bagel or two then off for an early morning pint at The Hope before jumping the first train home for breakfast on the seafront!
Great fun, don’t forget to dress up warm as the Globe has an open thatched roof! and in the interval smile at the ushers and politely ask to take a look at the other parts of the Theatre.
For more info on the Globe and all of their up and coming shows, check out their website here:
The publication is the only online guide showing how gay-friendly the UK’s 158 universities are and is an invaluable tool for lesbian, gay and bisexual students and prospective students.
Gay By Degree 2015 measures each university against ten criteria to show how well they support their gay students. The checklist includes whether the university has a policy to tackle homophobic bullying, whether there are societies and events for LGBT students, and what steps they take to support lesbian, gay and bisexual staff.
The six UK universities scoring full marks are:
• Cardiff University
• Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)
• Sheffield Hallam University
• University of Essex
• University of Glasgow and
• York St John University.
In 2014 only Cardiff University and LJMU scored full marks. A further eleven universities met nine out of the ten criteria. Universities were assessed against the availability of information on their main or student websites so that prospective students can make an informed decision.
Ruth Hunt, Chief Executive said: “There are a record number of university places available this year and prospective students who are lesbian, gay or bisexual will want to study where they will be supported and developed. Particular congratulations are due to Cardiff University, University of Essex, University of Glasgow, Liverpool John Moores University, Sheffield Hallam University and York St John University for being the only universities in Britain to score full marks.
“It’s particularly concerning that only 35 universities are monitoring student’s sexual orientation leaving them no way of telling if they’re providing a positive experience for gay students. We hope that this year’s guide prompts universities to do more to make campuses a welcoming place for all students.”
Brighton two universities failed to meet the criteria in three categories each.
Brighton University:
• No student sexual orientation monitoring
• No explicit welfare support and info for LGB students
• No LGBT Staff Network
Sussex University:
• No Anti-homophobic bullying policy and mandatory training
• No Student sexual orientation monitoring
• No Stonewall Diversity Champion
For more information about your university options, CLICK HERE:
The concert raised over £19,000, which KOKO has donated to Gendered Intelligence (GI), a Community Interest Company (CIC) that looks to engage people in debates about gender.
In July of 2014, GI received an email from Daveid Phillips, head of music at KOKO, explaining that a good friend of his – sound technician Julia Brightly – had recently lost her battle with liver and kidney cancer.
Julia was the front-of-house sound person to many bands such as Mogwai, and Fuck Buttons and was transgender.
Daveid wrote: “Julia was a very close and dear friend to me. We shared a deep love of all sorts of music. Julia was an amazing person.”
In honour of Julia’s life and work, Daveid said he was arranging a memorial concert at KOKO, the proceeds of which would go to a good cause; GI would be the recipient. Described as a “music world legend”, Julia was much loved by friends and colleagues in the industry, who wrote a number of heartfelt obituaries in her remembrance.
Robert Leaver, former bandmate in Crash & Burn, wrote on the website Crawling Home, “We played dozens of shows and made many songs together. Her journey was not always easy. She was a sonic wizard, and a brilliant musician. She was brave, she loved to laugh and she was my friend.”
Julia’s funeral was held in July at KOKO in Camden.
On the Quietus website, Daveid wrote a description of the extraordinary ceremony: “We had her coffin in the middle of the dance floor and people recounted stories and sang songs, we also played some of her recorded work at full volume through the PA. At the end we all carried her coffin together as if she was crowd surfing up on to the stage and fittingly out through the artists’ exit stage left into blinding sunshine.”
The sum raised is the single biggest donation that GI has ever received. With it, GI plans to fund four youth groups for a entire year and it will make a lasting difference to the lives of trans youth.
GI now will hold three separate trans youth groups in London, one for 11-15s, another for 16-25s, and a specific group for BAME identified 13-25 year olds. In addition, GI is hosting 13-25 year old groups in Leeds and Bristol.
Jay Stewart, co-founder of GI, said: “This is the most amazing gift to Gendered Intelligence. I did not know Julia personally but she was clearly an amazing person, loved by many. We are currently working very hard to support young trans and non-binary people from across England. We support schools, key workers, parents and carers too. There is so much work to be done as life for the young people in our community can at times be incredibly difficult and frustrating. This donation will make an enormous difference. Thank you.”
Gendered Intelligence is a community interest company that looks to engage people in debates about gender. They work predominantly within young people’s settings and have educative aims.
For more information, CLICK HERE:
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