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Author: Mitchell Orriss

World’s first World Ballet Day to be hosted online.

Posted on by Mitchell Orriss

October 1 marks a first as five of the world’s leading ballet companies host World Ballet Day.

World Ballet Day

Australian Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada and San Francisco Ballet will each stream a live behind the scenes performance from their rehearsal studios online.

Starting at the beginning of the dancers’ day, each of the five ballet companies will take the lead for a four hour period streaming live from their headquarters starting with the Australian Ballet in Melbourne. The live link then passes across time zones and cultures from Melbourne to Moscow to London to Toronto to San Francisco.

The day will give viewers a glimpse into the rarely seen backstage lives of performers, throwing a spotlight upon the differing styles amongst the five companies as they practise a very similar routine with differing approaches in cheography and performance.

Starting with morning class to warm up the body with different exercises, moving on to rehearsals for their upcoming performances the day will be a celebration of dance; the athleticism and unparalleled dedication of all those involved in creating a world-class ballet company.

Viewers will be able to engage and interact with dancers, choreographers and coaches who live and breathe ballet every day of their working lives, asking questions throughout the day as well as having the opportunity to contribute by submitting a film of themselves doing a pirouette wherever they are in the world. These will be edited into a film celebrating the worldwide appeal of dance.

THE WINTER’S TALE: choreography - Christopher Wheeldon, music - Joby Talbot, designs - Bob Crowley, The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera House, 2014, Photo: Johan Persson/www.perssonphotography.com
THE WINTER’S TALE: The Royal Ballet, Photo: Johan Persson

The day’s streaming will be repeatedin full on YouTube so that viewers around the world can catch up on any parts of the day they missed. Edited highlights will then be made available for further viewing.

World Ballet Day is a development from Royal Ballet Live which was a nine-hour live streaming via YouTube and The Guardian website in March 2012. This unique event achieved 200,000 views of the live stream and repeat broadcast and a total of 2.5 million views of YouTube Royal Ballet Live material to date.

It is, however, the first time that four of the five ballet companies are taking the cameras backstage to reveal the sweat and determination of these talented dancers.

Highlights from The Royal Ballet will include Principals Marianela Nuñez andFederico Bonelli rehearsing for their performances of Kenneth MacMillan’s masterpiece ballet Manon which opens at Covent Garden on Friday, September 26 and is screened live into cinemas across the world on Thursday, October 16.

PREVIEW: Brighton Early Music Festival 2014

Posted on by Mitchell Orriss

Firmly established as part of Brighton’s autumn cultural calender, Brighton Early Music Festival 2014 extends across three weekends from October 24 to November 9.

WEB.600

This year’s theme is of cities, musical centres and the journeys between them, looking to transport attendees to Rome, Paris, Warsaw or Santiago.

Opening with Venetian festivities from La Sererissima, highlights of the first weekend include medieval music from The Telling, and the festival’s resident choirs with music from Rome BREMF Consort of Voices, and a pilgrimage to Santiago with BREMF Community Choir teaming up with Spanish ensemble Resonet.

The second weekend of events will feature a new programme – October 31 – from The Sixteen, an English Choral group concentrating on the heritage of early English polyphony.

The final weekend is a dance spectacular! Opening with The Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments’ homage to a morris dancing publicity stunt by a member of Shakespeare’s company, and continuing with French baroque dance in a new music-drama Powerplay with Le Jardin Street.

Contrasting this will be music from CPE Bach in his 300th anniversary year and titans of the London music scene – Handel and Purcell. Concluding the event, BREMF Players and singers and a stellar line up of young soloists.

Alongside the music, audiences can get involved with a number of workshops for singers and instrumentalists starting September 20.

The Festival is committed to accessibility, and this year there are more low-price tickets than ever, with £5 Prom tickets available for almost all festival concerts. You can also buy a season ticket for all festival events for £167 for the best tickets (£148 concessions) or £50 for a bargain prom pass – offering standing or restricted view tickets.

Tickets (£5 – £30) go on general sale on September 3, 2014 – via the Festival website.

To book tickets, CLICK HERE:  www.bremf.org.uk (no booking fee for e-tickets),

OR by telephone OR in person from Brighton Dome Ticket Office on 01273 790709

Event: Brighton Early Music Festival 2014

When: October 24 – November 9

Tickets: £5 – £30 available September 3

Booking: www.bremf.org.uk Brighton Dome Ticket Office 01273 790709

 

Gay Barn Dance at Wagner Hall

Posted on by Mitchell Orriss

Barn DanceFollowing the success of their two previous barn dances, GEL2DAY have moved this year’s event to the heart of Brighton, at the Wagner Hall on October 4.

Caron Morton, GEL2DAY Co-Director, said: “Last year the Barn Dance was out in Lancing. It was on a farm which was very fitting for the event, however this year we felt it would be great to make it more accessible, especially to those folks without a car, and so this year it will be right in the centre of Brighton.” 

Barn Dance band regulars Moves Afoot will be back this year providing the live music and the caller to get the barn dance in full swing.

Previously GEL2DAY events have been attended predominately by gay women, but the organisers would like to see more gay men turning up as well.

Jo Davies, GEL2DAY’s Co-Director, said: “It’s great to have a mixture of men and women and while we’ll continue to market to the LGBTQ community inclusion is important to us, so straight friends are definitely welcome too.”

Founded in 2010, GEL2DAY has built a reputation for hosting events for LGBTQ folk looking for something different in their social lives.

As in previous years, GEL2DAY is supporting The Starr Trust Charity at the event.

Event: GEL2DAY Barn Dance

When: October 4

Where: Wagner Hall, Brighton.

Time: 7.30 p.m. – late

Tickets: from £22 (Early-bird booking + booking fees)

To book a ticket, CLICK HERE: 

 

PREVIEW: Pighog plus poetry night night at Red Roaster Cafe

Posted on by Mitchell Orriss

Pighog Plus Poetry on May 29 will feature its biggest line up to date with performances from four published poets.

Rachel Rooney
Rachel Rooney

The evening event, takes place at Brighton’s Red Roaster Cafe, St James’ Street, starting at 7:45pm and will include readings from Rachel Rooney – whose published work The Language of Cat won the 2012 CLPE award, and received notable praise from Carol Ann Duffy.

Joining Rooney will be: Sonya Smith, Janet Sutherland – founder of NeedleWriters Cooperative, and Jackie Wills – 2014 Wenlock Poetry Festival Prize winner.

Pighog Plus Poetry is held on the final Thursday of each month (excluding July, and August) and features set performers and Open Mic pieces. Due to extended performances, this month will not feature its Open Mic section.

Pighog is an independent publisher that produces fiction, poetry and non-fiction. The group runs competitions, events and festivals to promote and attract new literary talent.

For more information, CLICK HERE:

FACEBOOK:

What: Pighog Poetry Plus Night

When: Thursday, May 29

Where: RedRoaster Cafe’, St James’ Street, Brighton

Time: 7:45pm

Tickets: On the door, £5 or £3 concession

 

PREVIEW: The Blue Camel Club at Brighton Corn Exchange

Posted on by Mitchell Orriss

Blue Camel Club – a Carousel project – will be hosting a club night on Monday, June 23 at Brighton Corn Exchange.

Blue Camel Club

Picture the scene. A massive dance floor in a beautiful old building in central Brighton. On stage the brilliant dance tunes of The Dancing Rock Queens, TV sensation Daniel Wakeford, melodic vocalist Catherine O’Rorke or the bouncing Unified Rhythm.

On the big screen, Oska Bright films and live VJ’s. Add a pay bar, radio chill-out room and plenty of space to talk to your friends, meet new ones and dance your socks off. That’s the Blue Camel Club, where learning disabled people come to have the best night out.

Tickets are £5 per person, carers £1. Buy on the door or in advance from The Dome Box Office on 01273 709709 or CLICK HERE:

The Blue Camel Club is a Carousel Project, the arts charity that supports learning disabled people to achieve their creative ambitions.

The Carousel organisation was founded in 1982, and promotes active involvement of people with learning disabilities in the arts through various projects such as the Blue Camel Club.

For more details about the Carousel organisation CLICK HERE:

What: The Blue Camel Club

When: Monday, June 23.

Time: 7 – 10pm

Where: Brighton Corn Exchange

Price: £5 per person, carers £1

PREVIEW: Arundel Gallery Trail 2014.

Posted on by Mitchell Orriss

Arundel Gallery Trail is to take place from August 19 – 25.

Arundel Gallery Trail 2014 PR 1.docx

This year’s trail is being organised by local artists Mark and Rebecca Ford, who will be presenting a ww1 soldier sculpture surrounded by poppies made by Local School Children on the Causeway roundabout at the annual event.

Other work to be presented will be provided from emerging artists, sculptors, photographers, jewellers, furniture makers, textile artists, illustators, weavers and more. Presented across more than 60 venues featuring over 100 local, national, and international artists.

Further works to be included are “river pods” a temporary installation at the River Arun by the Queen Street Bridge. A fundraising art auction, and a series of photos from Arundel’s history collated by Mark Phillips at the Arundel Museum.

All venues are open from 2.00pm to 5.30 pm weekdays and midday to 5.30pm on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, for the whole ten days of the Festival.

For more details, CLICK HERE:   

What: The Arundel Gallery Trail 2014

When: August 19 – 25

Where: 60 venues across Arundel

Entry: Free

 

Proud2Be: Devon weekend Social

Posted on by Mitchell Orriss

Proud2Be the national campaign group that seeks to support LGBTQI people from social and rural isolation is to host a social weekend in the heart of Devon countryside.

Proud 2Be

The event will take place from May 30 to June 1 and include a number of optional activities for attendees including skill shares, a disco night, a river walk, LGBTQI films, books and shared meals.

The Proud2Be Campaign is a pro-active media campaign that aims to offer a positive message and showcase a diverse mix of proud role models to help inspire all lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, questioning & intersex (LGBTQI) people to be proud of who they are.

Since its inception in June 2011 various high profile figures, groups and organisations have contributed to the campaign including Stephen Fry, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, Andrew Solomon, Elly Barnes, openly-gay deputy headteacher Shaun Dellenty, Christine Burns MBE, Michael Cashman MEP and London Gay Men’s Chorus.

What: Proud2Be Social Weekend

Where: Sandwell Barns, Eden Rise, Totnes, South Devon

Prices: £80/70 concessions

When: May 30 – June 1

To make a booking EMAIL:

Or to book online, CLICK HERE:

 

 

PREVIEW: LGBT themed events during Brighton Fringe 2014

Posted on by Mitchell Orriss

Brighton Fringe 2014 are hosting 38 LGBT themed events during this years festival.

 
Brighton Fringe

Below is a roundup of all the events on offer, starting from the first scheduled event, and cascading in date order:

Speaking Volumes: HIV+ Life Stories
When: May 4,11,18, 25 June 1, 8: 11-5pm. 
April 30 May 2- 3, 7, 9-10, 14, 16-17, 21, 22, 23-24, 28, 30-31 June 4, 6-7 10-5pm
April 28-29 May 1, 5-6, 8, 12-13, 15, 19-20, 22, 26-27, 29 June 2-3, 5 10-7pm   
Where: Jubilee Library
Price: Free, non-ticketed.
About: 15 stories in spoken volumes of people living with HIV, and their experiences of life with the condition.
 
Crimplene Millionaire
When: May 1 8-9pm
May 2-3 10:15-11:15pm
Where: Marlborough Theatre
Price: £9 (£7)
About: Bogaloo Stu presents the Crimplene Millionaire board game with Derek Daniels. A trip back to a 70s world of glitz and razzmatazz
 
Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus: Nautical but Nice
When: May 2-3 7:30-10pm 
Where: St George’s Church
Price: £ 12 (£10)
About: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus explores the past of Brighton’s unsung gay pirates.
 
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
When: May 2-3, 6-10 13-17 7:45-10pm

May: 4, 11 2:30-4:45pm

Where: New Venture Theatre
Price: £10
About: Hedwig tells her story as a East German Rock ‘n’ roll star victim of a botched sex change operation in this adaptation of the off-broadway smash.
 
Piers and Queers
When: May 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 31 June 1 noon-1:20pm 
Where: Regency square
Price: £8 (£6)
About: Tour of Brighton looking at the personalities of queer interest, their achievements and tales.
 
The Marlborough Fringe Street Party
When: May 3 noon-10pm 
Where: The Marlborough Theatre
Price: Free, Non-ticketed.
About: Alternative music and off-beat theatre on the outdoor stage.
 
Auld Acquaintance
When: May 3, 10, 17 5-6:10pm May 11,18 8-9:10pm         
Where: The Dukebox Theatre
Price: £8 (£6)
About: Black comedy about two brothers returning home with their wives for their festive season, when an old romance comes back to taunt.
 
Sarah Campbell: Is Everything Okay?
When: May 3, 10, 17 May 5:15-6:15 pm   
Where: Laughing Horse at Caroline of Brunswick
Price: £5
About: The Russell Howard’s Good News writer and Radio 4 stand questions the way the world is going.
 
Xara Vaughan
When: May 3 5:10-6:10pm May 24 6:45-7:45pm (Komedia Studio) May 16 5:30-6:30pm          
Where: Komedia Studio
Price: £7 (£5)
About: Cabaret singer Xara Vaughan performing a selection of favourite standards and original numbers.
 
Bent Double
When: May 4 7:30-10:15pm    
Where: Komedia – Main space
Price: £12 (£9, £6 NUS / under 25s)
About: A night of comedy hosted by Zoe Lyons
 
The Classics Connection
When: May 4 8:15-10:00pm May 17, 23 June 1 8-9:45pm       
Where: The Dukebox Theatre
Price: £6 (£4)
About: A tribute play homage to dramatic scenes from Anton Chekhov, Tennessee Williams, and an extract from Harold Pinter’s nobel prize lecture.
 
Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho
When: May 5-7 10:00-11:00pm May 21-22 9:30-10:30pm
Where: Upstairs at Three and Ten
Price: £9.50 (£8)
About: Drag comedy starring Britain’s first female Prime Minister.
 
Is He a Bit Simon Jay?
When: May 6-8, 12-14, 19-21, 26-29 May 6:30- 7:30pm    
Where: Laughing Horse at Caroline of Brunswick
Price: Free, ticketed
About: Experience of the surreal life of Simon Reuben Jay (1931 – 2014)
 
Abigoliah Schamaun is working on it
When: May 6-7 7:45-8:45pm  
Where: Laughing horse at Caroline of Brunswick
Price: £5 (£4)
About: An evening of jokes and stories with New York’s Abigoliah Schamaun
 
Sister
When: May 7-8 7:30-8:30pm
Where: Marlborough Theatre
Price: £8.50 (£6.50)
About: Two sisters, a sex industry worker and a lesbian come together to understand each others’ sexual identities.
 
Phone Whore
When: May 7-10 9:00-10:00pm 
Where: Marlborough theatre
Price: £10 (£9)
About: An intimate visit with a phone sex operator.
 
Ma Beth
When: May 8-11 6:00-7:20pm 
Where: The Old Courtroom
Price: £8 (£7)
About: London 1961, Macbeth parody, Duncan a landlord appoints his wife Beth to takeover following a local gang attack with interesting results.
 
Normal Heights
When: May 8-10, 12-13, 8:00-8:50pm  
Where: The Dukebox Theatre
Price: £8 (£6) £10 on the door
About: Musical exploration of sexuality and the cost of silence based on the journals of Edward Walker
 
Walking : Holding
When: May 10-11 12:00, 12:15, 12:30, 12:45, 13:00, 13:15, 13:30, 13:45, 15:30, 15:45, 16:00, 16:15, 16:30, 16:45, 17:00 (30mins per slot) 
Where: Marlborough Theatre
Price: £5
About: A walk through the city in the hands of various strangers
 
Woman on the Verge
When: May 10 22:15-12:00 midnight 
Where: Marlborough theatre
Price: £6 (£5)
About: Cabaret comedy featuring the women of Brighton Fringe.
 
Twins
When: May 12 7:00-8:00pm May 18-19 9:00-10:00pm ( Latest Music Bar) May 13 7:00-8:00pm (All Saints Centre)
Where: Latest Music Bar, All Saints Centre
Price: £9 (£7.50)
About: A play about twins born two weeks apart.
 
Thief
When: May 13-18 7:30-8:20pm  
Where: Marlborough Theatre
Price: £ 10 (£8)
About: Dark and challenging theatre piece inspired by the life and works of playwright and poet Jean Genet.
 
Slut ®evolution
When: May 14-17 7:00-8:00pm 
Where: Marlborough theatre
Price: £10 (£9)
About: Exploration of Phone Whore Cameryn Moore’s sex life.
 
EastEnd Cabaret: Dirty Talk
When: May 16 9:00-10:00pm
Where: Komedia Studio
Price: £10
About: Original risqué cabaret songs and music.
 
Rainbow Chorus Sings
When: May 19 8:00-9:00pm  
Where: St George’s Church
Price: Free, non-ticketed
About: Rainbow chorus showcase their repertoire at the Kemp Town church
 
Betty Bourne: It Goes with the Shoes
When: May 22 6:30-8:30pm  
Where: Sallis Benney Theatre
Price: £5 (£3)
About: Mark Ravenhill guides an audience through a portrait of Bette Bourne, and life in a gay drag commune.
 
Away from Home
When: May 22-26 7:30-8:30pm 
Where:Marlborough theatre
Price: £12 (£10 before April 14)
About: A male escort falls in love with a closeted pro footballer.
 
Brydie Lee-Kennedy Repeats on you
When: May 22-23 9:00-10:00pm  
Where: Marlborough theatre
Price: £8 (£6)
About: Live comedy from Brydie Lee-Kennedy.
 
Dusty Limits: Psycho
When: May 22-25 9:00-10:00pm 
Where: Komedia Studio
Price: £10
About: Cabaret from award-winning performer Dusty Limits.
 
Sex With Animals
When: May 22-25 10:15-11:15pm 
Where: Marlborough Theatre
Price: £8 (£6)
About: Ryan Good takes us through an expedition of the sexual habits of animals as Ryan the Bisexual Lion
 
Myra Dubois: Lady Thatcher
When: May 22-23, 30 11:00-Midnight  
Where: Komedia Studio
Price: £10
About: Actress and cabaret star Myra Dubois as the Iron Lady back from beyond the grave.
 
Aunty Ben
When: May 24-26 4:30-5:30pm 
Where: Marlborough theatre
Price: £7 (£5, £20 family ticket comprising of 2 adults + 2 children)
About: Exploration of the family relationship between nine year old Tracey and her drag queen Aunty, Ben.
 
Twenty To Something
When: May 25-27 8:00-9:15pm 
Where: The Dukebox Theatre
Price: £8 (£6)
About: Coming of age narrative about a female binge drinking, promiscuous student.
 
La Bouche in Watch My Lips and Baby Lame
When: May 30-31 10:15-11:45pm 
Where: Marlborough Theatre
Price: £10 (£8)
About: Costumed dance, song and animation with La Bouche, and Baby Lame
 
King of the Fringe
When: May 31 8:00-2:00am
Where: St James’s Street Pop Up
Price: £5 (£3)
About: Drag King competition to find the first ever King of Fringe.
 
Funny Woman Awards Heat
When: May 31 8:30-10:30pm 
Where: Komedia Studio
Price: £10 (£8)
About: Female comics compete for a place in the Funny Women Awards Final 2014.
 
Guilt and Shame: Going Straight
When: May 31 June 1 10:00-11:00pm 
Where: Upstairs at Three and Ten
Price: £8.50 (£7) £6 Student
About: A Gay virgin and a womaniser look to change their hedonistic ways by joining a strange religious cult. Sketch Comedy.

 

Brighton Festival 2014 programme announced

Posted on by Mitchell Orriss

Guest Director Hofesh Schechter has launched the programme of events for the Brighton Festival 2014.

Guest Director Hofesh Schechter
Guest Director Hofesh Schechter

Hofesh Schechter has been responsible for shaping this years programme of events for the three week event beginning May 3 until May 25.

This years Festival is to include a diverse genre of events and arts over the 3 weeks with the UK premiere of Opus No.7 from Russian theatre director Dmitry Krymov, William Forsythe’s hypnotic Nowhere and Everywhere at the Same Time No.2, and a new co-commission by Yinka Shonibare MBE called The British Library.

2014 heralds the return of international theatre companies Berlin and Vanishing Point to Brighton as well as an eclectic mix of names across contemporary music from Peaches to Emmylou Harris.

Hofesh Shechter said: “Brighton has a magic to it that no one can explain. Finding a place where one can develop and grow artistically is a delicate thing, an important thing. Brighton Dome and Brighton Festival have been an inspiring, energising and encouraging place for my company and me in the last 5 years. We’ve enjoyed the buzz, the lightness, energy, and the unexplainable essence of Brighton. We have resided in its cultural heart – Brighton Dome, and the pulsating artistic heart of Brighton Dome is the annual Brighton Festival. It’s been a privilege to have been part of the planning for this inspiring event and I feel a rush of excitement about sharing our programme with audiences in Brighton and beyond.”

This year’s Brighton Festival will stage 448 performances and 147 events in 34 venues across the city. In total there will be 37 premieres, exclusives and co-commissions and 26 free events.

For a full programme, and booking information, CLICK HERE: 

What: Brighton Festival 2014.

Where: 34 venues across Brighton and Hove

Dates: May 3 – 25

Booking opening: March 6

Istanball Pride Festival

Posted on by Mitchell Orriss

Istanbul is to stage the first Pride Festival of its kind in a European Muslim country in June.

Istanball Pride 2014

Istanball Pride Festival follows on from the success of last years Istanbul Pride March that saw 50,000 people gather in Taksim Square in the centre of Istanbul for the festival that brings the Orient and the Occident together!

Istanbull

Organisers promise 4 nights and 4 days of non stop partying which will take place from June 26 to June 30.

The 4 day festival will feature a number of well-known party brands such as: Circuit Beyond, Gigolo UK, and Forever TelAviv with music provided by DJ’s: Micky Friedmann, Steven Redant, Pagano and Fabio Luigi plus many more.

Not only will the festival feature club nights, a sunset cruise dinner boat and the chance to experience the Turkish Hammam experience of public baths and saunas, but visitors will be able to take in the sights of one of the most exciting capitols in Europe where east meets west creating in my view the city with the most exciting vibe in Europe at the moment.

Istanbul Pride Parade 2013

For more information CLICK HERE:  

What: Istanball Pride Festival.

Where: Istanbul, Turkey

When: June 20 – June 30

 

 

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