Arts REVIEW: Hugh Panaro – ‘Man Without a Mask’ at Crazy Coqs Broadway star Hugh Panaro has an accolade no-one else will achieve for sure: he played the Phantom more than 2,300 times – a staggering achievement. So this huge voice and matching personality could feel constrained in the intimacy of London’s Crazy Coqs cabaret room. Not a bit of it. From the momen By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Arts Simply Divine: We speak to Jonny Woo ahead of his new show, ‘Antony and Cleopatra: A Dream Of Passion’ If a film is made of the life of Jonny Woo – and it should be – the only person who could play this dancer, drag artist, poet, actor, writer, DJ and night club owner is: Jonny Woo. If he is a diamond of a performer, it’s because all the rough edges have been polished […] By Brian Butler • 4 min read
Theatre Queer theatre round-up: From a gender swapping Cleopatra to Chuck Sweeney as Peggy Lee and a tiny queer bar in Canary Wharf My latest show round up includes a gender swapping Cleopatra, recreations of Barbra, Liza, and Peggy, and a record-breaking Phantom unmasked. Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss – creators of the phenomenal SIX: The Musical – are sure to make history again with their new musical, Why Am I So Single?, which ra By Brian Butler • 4 min read
Theatre FUTUREQUEER: Alexis Gregory leads us by way of Donna Summer to a 2070s gay ‘utopia’ Theatre maker Alexis Gregory takes us by the hand and joyfully and intelligently leads us by way of Donna Summer to a 2070s gay utopia, that may not be as idyllic as it sounds. By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Arts “Like most little gay boys, making people laugh was an escape.” Danny Beard to bring ‘Straight Expectations’ to Brighton Komedia in September Drag performer Danny Beard can trace their stage persona back to the outrageous, flamboyant Leigh Bowery, friend of Boy George, who delighted and shocked audiences in Soho and New York in the 1980s. And now they’re bringing their UK touring show Straight Expectations to Brighton’s Komedia in Septemb By Brian Butler • 2 min read
LGBTQ Choirs REVIEW: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus shine with show to celebrate 10 years of same-sex marriage Talk about overcoming adversity – Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) not only had to cope with no stage lights at their first outing for their two summer concerts – but also no sound system. As the sun set and the choir started to disappear into the gloom before the high altar at St George’s Kemptown, By Brian Butler • 2 min read
1. QUEEN TUT_Still_Key_Malibu posing_Credit Lauren Newman_DSC8971.jpeg Film FILM REVIEW: QUEEN TUT gets under the skin of the world of queer performers and gay activism Reem Morsi’s marvellous film Queen Tut has at its heart two struggles, which intermingle to give the movie its dramatic and emotional journey. Drag performer and activist Malibu, played impeccably by trans actress Alexandra Billings, is fighting to save a Toronto LGBTQ+ historic bar and club – Mandy By Brian Butler • 2 min read
(C)ChrisJepson Arts New play to launch a prize in honour of drag star and community champion, Jason Sutton (Miss Jason) Pic by Chris Jepson Photography Latest TV’s Andrew Kay has created a new play, John and Thomas, to launch a prize in honour of drag star Jason Sutton aka Miss Jason, whose untimely death shocked the Brighton and London gay scene. Andrew wrote a previous play, Morning Glory, specifically for Jason an By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Theatre Queer Theatre: A round-up of the hottest LGBTQ+ theatre My latest round-up of shows with queer themes or queer performers runs the gamut from Donna Summer to a drag queen becoming the evil child catcher. Mark Farrelly has a wonderful series of shows, many of them depicting some great gay icons – Derek Jarman and Frankie Howerd to name just two, and he’s By Brian Butler • 4 min read
Film “A cinematic marvel.” Trans activist Paul B Preciado’s ‘Orlando – A Political Biography’ is a bold and joyous celebration of trans and non-binary identity, told through the lens of Virginia Woolf’s iconic novel Trans activist Paul B Preciado has taken Virginia Woolf’s 1928 gender-fluid classic novel Orlando and made a powerful film essay that combines the life stories of over 20 trans and divergent people with many elements and direct quotes from the novel. The effect is a stunning cinematic marvel, as the By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Cabaret Queens, Kings and in betweens assemble! The Next Drag Superstar to kick off in Brighton this week After nine successful seasons in London, the Next Drag Superstar competition starts this week in Brighton for the first time. Brighton-based Felix Le Freak, co-producer and head judge, told me: “The London event has grown into a community of LGBTQ+ performers, working together in cabaret, panto and By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: Resound Male Voices @ Chapel Royal Resound Male Voices are not a ‘belt it out, blood and guts’ choir, so the 18th century intimacy of Brighton’s Chapel Royal was a perfect sounding board for their summer concert of delights and surprises. Under the direction of Sam Barton, the 11-strong group were just that – strong – with lots of so By Brian Butler • 2 min read
