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Day: October 24, 2017

PREVIEW: The Sound of Christmas, Rainbow Chorus winter concert

Posted on by Besi

It’s that time of year which beckons in a host of special sights, smells and, of course, sounds which the Rainbow Chorus fresh from their appearance on the BBC One Show, invite you to experience—from the seasonal to the not-so-seasonal!

The Sound of Christmas can mean different things to different people. Perhaps for you it’s the sound of good old Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire as flurrying snowflakes create a White Christmas and Jingle Bells ring in the air?

Or maybe you prefer the Sound of Silence while you enjoy the Twelve Days of Christmas with your special Somebody to Love. Either way, a night with the Rainbow Chorus will feel like a Bridge Over Troubled Water that promises to Fix You—or at least calm the Windmills of Your Mind.

Go along and hear their take on the Sound of Christmas and we hope you’ll leave Feeling Good and even Feeling Groovy!

Event: Rainbow Chorus presents The Sound of Christmas

Where: St George’s Church, St George’s Road, Brighton, BN2 1ED

When: Saturday, December 9

Time: 7.30pm

Cost: Tickets £14/10 concessions – £7 under 12s

To book tickets online, click here:     http://bpt.me/3115934

 

OPERA PREVIEW: The Life to Come @Roedean School Theatre

Posted on by Contributor

Surrey Opera brings its exciting World Premiere production of The Life to Come to the Roedean School Theatre, Brighton on Sunday, October 29.

With music by talented young composer Louis Mander and libretto by renowned actor, presenter and writer Stephen Fry, this new opera is based on the E.M. Forster story of the same name.

Mander’s tuneful and romantic music brings to life Fry’s adaptation of this powerful and tragic story of forbidden love between an Edwardian Christian Missionary and the African Tribal Chief he came to convert.

The Life To Come is one of E. M. Forster’s most beguiling and brilliant short stories.  It is simultaneously romantic, satirical, passionate, comic, tragic and mysterious. It speaks of colonialism, sexuality, love and religion in unique ways.

Stephen Fry, said: “The dramatic structure struck me as ideal for an opera and when the outrageously talented young Louis Mander and I talked about collaborating and he evinced a similar enthusiasm, it all just fell into place.”

Louis Mander, added: “When Stephen and I first set about collaborating on the creative process of the opera I was fired up with passionate musical ideas; arching melodies, rich harmonies and orchestral colours which arose from the highly exotic and erotic subject matter of the immaculately beautiful love story between an African Prince and a British missionary.

Themes of religiosity, heart-splitting homosexual passion and sweltering North African exoticism exploded in my imagination all at once. It was an absolute dream working alongside Stephen Fry, who has written a powerfully emotive libretto which drives the plot of the story with real mastery.” 

The production is directed and conducted by Surrey Opera’s Artistic Director Jonathan Butcher and designed by Jill Wilson, with full orchestra, a cast of established and emerging professional singers and the Surrey Opera Chorus.

For more information about Surrey Opera, click here:       

Event: The Life to Come – An opera with music by Louis Mander and libretto by Stephen Fry

Where: Roedean School Theatre, Roedean School, Roedean Way, Brighton BN2 5RQ

When: Sunday, October 29

Time: 3pm and 7.45pm

Cost: £25/£22

To book tickets online, click here:

LETTER TO EDITOR: Thank you for helping us support people with HIV

Posted on by Contributor
Presenter: David Raven
Presenter: David Raven

We’d like to say a huge thank you to the Rainbow Fund for its donation of £7,500 towards our group work for people living with HIV. The Sussex Beacon’s groups help people manage their health and give them the opportunity to meet others with HIV, share experiences and gain confidence.

For some, they are a real lifeline, especially if they are feeling isolated or lonely.

We’re incredibly grateful to the Rainbow Fund, as support like this ensures we can continue to be there for people living with HIV when they need us.

Best wishes,

Simon Dowe,
CEO, The Sussex Beacon

From fence laying to hedgerow cutting……offenders put to work in Brighton parks

Posted on by Besi

From fence laying to hedgerow cutting, rangers from Brighton & Hove City Council’s countryside team have been working with a team from Kent, Surrey and Sussex Community Rehabilitation Company (KSS CRC) to improve the city’s parks and open spaces.

The work, carried out by KSS CRC Community Payback teams under trained supervision, in Preston Park, Stanmer Park, Withdean Park, Woodvale and Waterhall from June to October, included path clearance, fence laying, hedgerow cutting, weeding, removing old fencing, and installing gates.

KSS CRC came forward following the council’s Big Conversation consultation, which looked at how to manage the city’s parks and open spaces in the future with the resources available. As well as being hugely beneficial to the city’s parks, the skills learnt carrying out this work increases the employability of Community Payback service users, which in turn reduces the likelihood of their reoffending.

Cllr Gill Mitchell
Cllr Gill Mitchell

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the environment committee, said: “I’d like to thank the Rangers and Community Payback Team for undertaking such an impressive amount of work in just five months. 

“I know that this work will be much appreciated by all who use our parks and I hope that all the Community Payback workers have also gained satisfaction from the work and learnt new skills.”

Stage Door with Spice on Radio Reverb

Posted on by Besi

Local performer and gender discombobulator Spice is taking to the airwaves!

Spice has launched a new weekly radio show focusing on Brighton’s cabaret and drag scene.  Stage Door features music from the stage and screen, interviews with local performers, and plenty of laughs!

You will also hear news and reviews of shows and performances happening in Brighton and Hove.

Tune in every Thursday at 4pm on Radio Reverb at 97.2 FM, on DAB digital radio and online at radioreverb.com, where you can also catch up with all previous shows.

Stage Door is sponsored by Bar Broadway.

Soho go slow – council leader demands update on Aquarium Terraces

Posted on by Besi

Council leader issues ultimatum to Terraces developer for news on progress of the development.

Cllr. Warren Morgan: Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council
Cllr. Warren Morgan: Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council

Cllr Warren Morgan, Leader of Brighton & Hove City Council has today (October 24, 2017) written to the leaseholder of the Aquarium Terraces site, Richard Franklin of Brighton Seafront Regeneration (BSR) Ltd asking for an urgent update on the lengthy delay to works on site.

Cllr Morgan also wants to know how time is going to be made up on the project and details of when refurbishment milestones will be reached.

Plans for a major redevelopment of the Aquarium Terraces to include a new branch of the Soho House members club were approved in April 2016.  In September 2016 BSR submitted another planning application needed to finalise various details of the building such as materials and finishes but since then nothing has happened and the poor appearance of the site on the seafront has attracted complaints.

Cllr Morgan said: “There are many positive developments in this hugely important area; the Zip Wire, Sea Lanes, the Madeira Terraces appeal. But the Aquarium Terraces site is a dreadful eyesore and doesn’t provide residents or visitors with a positive impression of Madeira Drive or the city as a whole.

“I’m incredibly frustrated at the slowness of the scheme to progress, especially in light of the undertakings provided at a meeting in June this year when Richard Franklin, along with Nick Jones of Soho House, confirmed construction was due to start last month.

“We know Soho House is committed to the scheme but there still appears to be no activity underway on site.  We simply will not wait indefinitely for BSR – or indeed any developer – to start works once planning permission has been granted.  We have powers to act if necessary and we will make use of those powers.”

In his letter, Cllr Morgan has also made it clear that he expects BSR to comply with the conditions of the lease which set out that the leaseholder is obliged to keep the whole of the premises in good repair, including external redecoration every third year of the term.

In his letter Cllr Morgan writes: “The continuing lack of compliance with these clauses is having an increasingly detrimental effect on the buildings and local environment and these matters must now be attended to and your responsibilities fully met.”

Cllr Morgan has offered BSR support but has said he must hear from them by November 10 with a clear plan of action and timeframes.

 

Gay Men’s Chorus raise over £1,000 for Rainbow Fund

Posted on by Besi

In recent years, during Brighton & Hove Pride, Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus have supported the Rainbow Fund.

This year was no exception! Their Showtime concert raised £1,025.85 for this vital not-for-profit grant giving organisation.

Silvio Grasso, PR coordinator of Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus, said: “We are always delighted to support this grant-giving organisation, knowing that every penny raised will be donated to local deserving LGBT+ and HIV/AIDS groups. Among others, this year the Rainbow Fund has awarded grants to MindOut, Lunch Positive, Allsorts, Sussex Beacon, and GEMS. All charities that the chorus has directly supported in the past too.”

Pictured is Maria Baker a member of the Rainbow Fund independent grants panel presenting the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus with their fundraising certificate.

Maria said: “Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus continue their tradition of entrusting The Rainbow Fund with the results of their community fundraising, and we are so pleased to be able to distribute those funds to a diverse range of local LGBT+ and HIV groups. This money will really make a difference”

Their next production, Dreaming of Christmas, is on Friday, December 15 at All Saints Church in Hove. It promises to be an enchanting evening featuring new and traditional songs, including many festive favourites. Tickets are £15 (£12 concession) available from the chorus website and from Prowler in St James Street.

For more information about the concert, click here:

Pop-Up Pink Season – A creative queer fortnight

Posted on by Graham Robson

Pop-Up Brighton, a community initiative creating free opportunities for up-and-coming local artists, has announced its Pink Season for the LGBT+ community at LAB, a new gallery and maker space near the i360, at the end of November 2017.

Led by Director Ashleigh Ward, the Pink Season, which is part of a larger programme, will comprise two weeks of exhibitions, film screenings, performances, talks and workshops.

Ashleigh says: “What an exciting opportunity to open up a pop-up for three months in such a stunning location! For Pink Season, we are looking for artists that identify in the LGBT+ spectrum to submit 2D / 3D artwork, performances, short films and workshops.”

The deadline for submissions is Thursday, November 2.

For more information, and to get involved, click here:

Brighton Fringe seeks budding artists!

Posted on by Besi

Brighton Fringe announce details of its 2018 Family Guide cover competition.

Children from across Brighton and Hove are being invited to design the cover of the 2018 Brighton Fringe Family Guide.

Children under 11 years of age are being challenged to create a piece of original cover art inspired by the tagline for Brighton Fringe 2018: “Set Yourself Free”. They should use an A4 piece of paper to design what they think ‘setting yourself free’ looks like. The final cover image will be shrunk down to A5 – so they should make sure not to write or draw too small.

The winner will see their work on the front of 80,000 Brighton Fringe Family Guides and receive a gift voucher worth £200 to spend on tickets at Brighton Fringe 2018. They will also receive a Gold Friends membership entitling them to 2 for 1 offers on events and many more benefits. Three runners-up will win two tickets to a Brighton Fringe children’s show of their choice.

Julian Caddy
Julian Caddy

Julian Caddy, Managing Director of Brighton Fringe, said: “Life is full of people always telling you what to do, following rules and traditions. Imagine being free to be who or what you want to be. Brighton Fringe is all about the freedom to create, so have fun with it and you never know where it will lead you!” 

This year’s judging panel includes Child Friendly Brighton, Door22 Creative and The Pebble Trust.

The closing date for entries is Wednesday, December 20.

Include your name, age, school, and your parent or guardian’s email on the back of the picture and send your A4 artwork to:

‘Set Yourself Free’ Competition
Brighton Fringe Ltd
Brighton MET
Pelham Street
Brighton, East Sussex, BN14FA

Brighton Fringe 2018 runs between May 4 and June 3.

Last years winner
Last years winner

PREVIEW: Blanche Street – where all the neighbours are a nightmare!

Posted on by Besi

Blanche Street: where all the neighbours are a nightmare is Gscene columnist, Glenn Stevens new collection of ten urban gothic tales, ranging from the macabre to the downright strange.

This limited edition book (200) has an exhibition at Jubilee Library foyer until Sunday, October 29, 2017, to give a visual insight to these terrifying tales along with ‘police reports’ on the mysterious going ons behind the ten doors of Blanche Street.

Glenn will be on hand at Jubilee Library on Thursday 26 from 10am-12pm/1pm-3pm to talk about the exhibition and the book.

Want to be haunted even further? Then go along to the official book launch on Friday, October 27. at the Nightingale Room, Grand Central Pub (Opposite Brighton Station). Doors open at 7.30pm tales start at 8pm.

Event: Blanche Street Exhibition

Where: In the foyer of Jubilee Library, Jubilee Street, Brighton BN1 1GE

When: Until Sunday, October 29

For more information, click here:

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