Trans Creatives: Luc Raesmith highlights the trans talent in Brighton and Hove.
May 2015: another mixed-weather Spring, mixed-bag Election, mixed-media Festival and Fringe. The Arts scene continues loud and proud (rain or shine) in the People’s Republic of Brighton and Hove – with Trans persons making their mark on the varied and vibrant cultural life of the City.
To name but a few of those persons: actor and stand-up comedian, Ben Pritchard has been appearing regularly at the New Venture Theatre on Hove border; during the Fringe he played his ‘dream role’ taking the lead in Jez Butterworth’s ‘Parlour Song’. Off the boards, Ben creates his own stand-up material and is involved in writing new drama.
When not involved in Trans activism for the Trans Alliance and FTM Brighton, Ed Whelan is managing to find time to write and develop a Trans serial for TV. Also-stand-up, Claire Parker presents her monthly Time for T – Europe’s only Trans-themed FM radio show – on B&H’s own Radio Reverb.
Fox Fisher and Lewis Hancock continue to make My Genderation films for their co-founded Lucky Tooth Productions; not just behind the camera and editing desk, Fox and Lew star in their new diverse comedy series Heartichoke.
Now local resident, Sarah Savage (also of CH4’s ‘My Transsexual Summer’ fame) published – with Fox Fisher’s design and illustration – children’s picture book Are You a Boy or Are You a Girl?
Creative recycling artist, Luc Raesmith showed collaged self-portraits and computer board assemblage works in the Festival’s House exhibition at the Phoenix Gallery – curated in collaboration with the Outside In project of Chichester’s Pallant House Gallery. Luc will bring experience of visual art practice for recovery to the wellbeing workshops now being facilitated by the City’s transgender support organisation, the Clare Project, in conjunction with Mind Out, the LGBT mental health project.
Rowan Louie Reid showed their 2D and sculptural assemblage work in ONE – a collaborative exhibition of Brighton artists and designers – in the café area of Jubilee Library earlier this year.
Jules Bartl and Cass Hoskins both work in the field of graphic arts illustration and animation. Jules’ animation client list includes the BBC, Bookstart and Marmite. Cass, Art Director for Brightwave, releases tasters online of her work-in-progress graphic novel exploring transition and gender identity.
Luc and Cass were co-curators of last summer’s exhibition trail – alongside Heston Darcy and long-term curator at B&H Museum & Art Gallery, E-j Scott. The exhibition, including a cabinet-of-curiosities in the Marlborough Theatre pub, accompanied September’s launch of the highly regarded Brighton Trans*formed – oral history and photographic representation by local Trans persons – published by the City’s QueenSpark Books.
On the wordsmithing scene, Alice Denny is a star-already-risen in poetry performance, appearing at varied political and social events – not least the main stage of Trans* Pride.
In 2013, Andie Davidson published her book of poems Realisations; she gives regular readings at Red Roaster café – and blows her own trumpet for Adur Concert Band.
Other songwriter/musicians recording and gigging in the City include Maeve Devine and Michelle Steele of Daskinsey4 and Slum of Legs renown.
Catch some of these creatives – and others – at Trans* Pride Brighton 2015 and be inspired!
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