01/08/2016 – Scene Magazine – From the heart of LGBTQ+ Life

Nature and Science: Brighton Early Music Festival 2016, October 28-November 13.

Brighton Early Music Festival has launched its fifteenth annual programme. The Festival is riding high after one of its 2015 productions, Francesca Caccini’s opera La liberazione di Ruggiero, was listed as one of The Guardian’s Top 10 Classical and Opera performances of 2015.

The theme for this year’s festival is Nature and Science, with flagship events including:

Galileo (October 20 and 30) – a new play with music about the life and work of Galileo. Set during his final days, the play relives key moments in Galileo’s life including his trial, excommunication and house arrest. The play is illustrated by music that Galileo would have known, including pieces written by his father, and will be performed by vocal ensemble the Marian Consort and the Monteverdi String Band.
Gaia (2 performances November 12) – a modern take on the intermedi spectaculars of the 16th century. Gaia brings together music and drama from the 16th and 17th centuries with 21st century effects such as film, projection, lighting effects, mime, yoga and dance. The work tells the story of the Earth and how humans have perceived it through the ages, with music ranging from Antoine Brumel’s earth-shattering ‘Earthquake’ Mass, to beautiful pastoral madrigals and motets celebrating the Queen of Heaven. Performers include the English Sackbut and Cornett Ensemble, Lacock Scholars, BREMF Consort of Voices, and the BREMF Community Choir which is an integral part of the festival’s grass-roots connection.
Music, Science and Natural Magic (October 28) – performed by L’Avventura London, and showcasing the work of 17th century musician, alchemist and polymath Athanasius Kircher.
Dr Dee’s Daughter and the Philosopher’s Stone (November 12) – a brand new family show with recorder consort Palisander and puppets from Rust and Stardust Productions.

Festival Co-artistic Director Clare Norburn said: “We’re really excited about this year’s festival programme which gives us so many creative opportunities to explore the worlds of nature and science – two interconnected subjects which run closely alongside the history of music.”

Tickets for the full list of festival events (£5-£25) are on sale to Friends of the Festival from Monday, August 22, and on general sale from Monday, September 5.

To book online, click here:

Or telephone: 01273 709709.

The Adventures of a Happy Homosexual: Memoirs of an Unlikely Activist

Terry Sanderson

With Pride almost upon us, what coud be better than a stiff reminder of what it all means, where it comes from and why we parade when we perhaps ought to still be marching…..

Terry Sanderson’s new biography takes us on a candid, funny and touching journey through his life and the events and circumstances that lead to him becoming such vibrant, strong campaigner for LGBT equalities over the last 50 years. Many of us will know him from ‘Media Watch’ his long running column in Gay Times and others from his iconic famous book ‘How to be a happy homosexual’. Sanderson’s writing and spotlighting of homophobes, haters, hypocrites and political liars has underscored countless LGBT peoples experiences and shown us how effective, well researched and well written campaigning work can be effective. He has shown us the truth, both ugly and visionary.

As a young Queer man he tooled me and many many others up, gave me the fact and arguments and de-constructive power to take on entrenched privilege and homophobic elected representatives, and others in authority over us he was also an Agony Aunt, speaking his experience, and teaching us how to be happy homo’s, dykes, poofs, queers and lesseies. His writings, exposes and articles were like sitting at the feet of Socrates mixed up with Dolly Parton. He still is a vibrant valid voice of reason.

More info on Terry here, his Pink Paper writing in the Guardian, Huffinton Post etc etc

Giving his strong Queer clarion voice to our legitimate concerns and allowing less talented people ( like me) to carry arguments forward with conviction. Terry’s eye witness accounts of just about every LGBT event of importance from the last 40 odd years is as funny as it is poignant and his trademark ruthlessness and honesty shines through this book and is testament to his belief in the importance of recording our own LGBT history on our own terms and to arm ourselves with well researched facts and call our oppressors out!.