27/02/2016 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Polari First Book Prize – call for submissions

Posted on 27/02/2016 by Graham Robson

Submissions have opened for this year’s Polari First Book Prize with a deadline of May 1, 2016 for submission.

The Polari First Book Prize celebrates the best debut book exploring the LGBT experience, whether through poetry, prose, fiction or non-fiction. Deadline for submissions is May 1, 2016.

Entires must have been published in English by a writer born or resident in the UK and must have been published in the 12 months up to February 1, 2016. Self-published works in both print and digital formats are also eligible.

Works should be submitted by the publisher, while self-published works should be submitted together with a letter explaining why the book was self-published.

Now into its sixth year, the long list will be announced at the Southbank Centre on Wednesday, June 1, followed by the shortlist announcement on Thursday, July 28.

Judges for the 2016 prize include author, journalist and host of Polari literary salon, chair Paul Burston; Rachel Holmes, author and former Head of Literature & Spoken Word at the Southbank; literary critic, Suzi Feay; writer, critic and broadcaster, Bidisha; author and comedian, VG Lee; and writer and editor Alex Hopkins.

Last year’s winner was Glasgow-based author Kirsty Logan with her critically acclaimed debut short story collection, The Rental Heart and Other Fairytales

Shortlisted titles including Straight Expectations by Julie Bindel; The Gift of Looking Closely by Al Brookes; Everything Must Go by LaJohn Joseph; Self-portrait with The Happiness by David Tait; and The Informant by Susan Wilkins.

The prize enjoys a strategic partnership with WH Smiths, who support the shortlisted books and winner throughout their stores UK-wide, while award winners are offered headline slots in the Polari Literary Salon event series, which includes an expansive national tour, in addition to events with Huddersfield Literature festival, Bradford Literature Festival and Mayfest Word Festival in Aberdeen.

Chair of the judges Paul Burston, said: “The 2015 shortlist and winner demonstrated the enormous scope of the prize and represented the diverse and unique voices at the heart of the LGBT experience. We couldn’t be more pleased to open submissions for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize; each year the prize goes from strength to strength and we are excited to see where this year’s entries take us.”

For more details of how to submit a book for this year’s prize, email: paulburston@btinternet.com

Coming Polari Literary Salon dates include:

Saturday March 5, 2016 – Polari Up North at Huddersfield Literature Festival. With Kirsty Logan, winner of The Polari First Book Prize 2015

Friday May 27, 2016 – Polari at Bradford Literature Festival

Sunday May 29, 2016 – Polari at Mayfest Aberdeen

Tuesday May 31, 2016 – Polari at WOW Festival, Worthing

Wednesday June 1 2016 – Polari First Book Prize longlist announcement, Southbank Centre

Thursday 28 July 2016 – Polari First Book Prize shortlist announcement, Southbank Centre

Friday 7 October 2016 – Polari First Book Prize winner announcement, London Literature Festival, Southbank Centre

REVIEW: The Women of Troy

Posted on 27/02/2016 by Michael Hydes

Ella Turk-Thompson suggests that Euripides would have been “baffled and probably horrified” by the way Women of Troy had been interpreted for a modern audience. I don’t agree. I think he’d have been proud.

The characters were well defined and accessible. I understood the plot and flow of the story – something that can be very difficult to achieve with a play that is almost 2,500 years old.

Of course Women of Troy is not a fun play. At its heart is the pain and loss suffered by the most disempowered and vulnerable in society during times of war. Joseph Bentley played Talthybius in a khaki uniform, anachronistically helping to define the utter powerlessness of the women. Nikki Dunsford’s mournful singing led a chorus that fully revealed the pain of loss, and the underscore mirrored and fuelled the emotive performance. Claire Lewis truly brought Hecuba to life, and I thought that Shaila Alvarez played Helen’s desperate situation with moving depth.

Thought provoking, this performance had touches of brilliance, and overall a piece of work well done. It was my first visit to the New Venture, but it certainly won’t be my last.

For more information, click here:

To book tickets online, click here:

Labour select candidate for PCC elections

Posted on 27/02/2016 by Gary Hart

Michael Jones a Councillor from Crawley will be Labour’s candidate for the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner elections in May.

At the last all-member meeting, eligible Kemptown, Pavilion and Hove Labour members voted for their preferred Labour candidate for this May’s Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner.

The results have now been collated from across the Sussex Police area and Labour’s candidate will be Councillor Michael Jones from Crawley.

Councillor Jones said: “I’m very proud that Sussex Labour members have chosen me to be their candidate for the forthcoming PCC elections and I thank them for their support.

“The Sussex PCC must be the champion for all the communities of Sussex in tackling crime and upholding public safety against the background of devastating cuts to the Police and other blue light services by the Tory Government.”

He continued: “There are currently falling numbers of arrests as Sussex Police numbers decline, at a time that the county’s crime rate is rising. We can do better. The current Tory PCC for Sussex has chosen to be an “on-message” cheerleader for the cuts inflicted on the force. She has towed the party line and downplayed the severity of the cuts. The role for a new PCC must be to take fair decisions and put Sussex residents first, whilst not ignoring financial realities.

“I will work for the people of Sussex, ensuring that the priorities and concerns of local residents are the priorities and concerns of the Police. On the first day of being elected, I will put a freeze on the current round of cuts to community policing proposed by the Tory PCC and do whatever is necessary to explore alternative ways to save Sussex’s much loved and valued PCSOs and community Police Officers. I will prioritise work by Sussex Police to heighten awareness and give advice to prevent vulnerable and elderly people being targeted by internet and telephone scams, and to put additional resources into pursuing the fraudsters. I will also work to ensure the problems associated with low-level nuisance are given proper attention.”

PREVIEW: Sunday Social Club: Pattens

Posted on 27/02/201627/02/2016 by Eric Page

A new WEEKLY real life hangout for cultural champions and lazy Sunday people…

This sunday sees the launch of the first free Sunday Social Club at new-kid-on-the-block bar/restaurant and club Patterns – (where Audio used to be). It’s a new series of fun events at Patterns. The first of which will be a hosted game of Musical Bingo from 6pm, where you get to throw away the numbers and check off the tunes on your bespoke bingo card. It’s free, interactive fun, engaging and lot’s of prizes from the hosts and performers.

Hosted by Suzanna Gonzo, who’s debuting London’s ultimate interactive club night at Patterns, 18:00 – 20:30, this Sunday.

Musical Bingo, here’s how the game works:

It’s just like regular bingo, but instead of shouting out numbers DJ Rapture and Jonny Unknown spin tunes. Each round takes on a different theme of song choices, these could be based on either a decade, genre or a just a quirky random topic.

Unique cards are handed out whilst one of their fabulously entertaining host’s introduce the rules and the prizes. Then it’s over to the DJ’s again as they spin a quick fire medley of tunes while players simply mark‘em off their bingo cards accordingly. Prizes are won for one, two and three lines, and finally the ‘Grand Prize’ aka The Full House!

This event is free.

For guest list RSVP to: jonny@musicalbingo.com

To view the full Dog’s Hauz menu, click here:

The menu features delicious and slightly barking – mad toppings inspired by tongue-in-cheek themes such as the Acid Haus Dog – in homage to the retired acid house generation of Brighton – BBQ bourbon pulled pork and deep fried potato smileys; and the British seaside inspired Booze Hound – a pork frank drowned in crispy Brighton beer batter and served with mushy peas, pickled red onion and homemade ketchup.

Find more information on Musical Bingo, click here:

Call us now

Day: February 27, 2016

Polari First Book Prize – call for submissions

Submissions have opened for this year’s Polari First Book Prize with a deadline of May 1, 2016 for submission.

REVIEW: The Women of Troy

Ella Turk-Thompson suggests that Euripides would have been “baffled and probably horrified” by the way Women of Troy had been interpreted for a modern audience. I don’t agree. I think he’d have been proud.

Labour select candidate for PCC elections

Michael Jones a Councillor from Crawley will be Labour’s candidate for the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner elections in May.

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Call us now

Submissions have opened for this year’s Polari First Book Prize with a deadline of May 1, 2016 for submission.

Share this:

Ella Turk-Thompson suggests that Euripides would have been “baffled and probably horrified” by the way Women of Troy had been interpreted for a modern audience. I don’t agree. I think he’d have been proud.

Share this:

Michael Jones a Councillor from Crawley will be Labour’s candidate for the Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner elections in May.

Share this:

A new WEEKLY real life hangout for cultural champions and lazy Sunday people…

Share this:

Latest News