Brighton Fringe Queer Brighton Fringe Preview: Paul Diello cruises through the decades of one hit wonders, Crudi Dench needs your help, and Club Revenge opens their ‘Cabaret of Queeriosities’ In my second article on LGBTQ+ shows at this year’s Brighton Fringe, I look at a gay prince, the best short queer films around, and a gay choir’s Eurovision tribute. Laugh Till It Hurts is billed as a BDSM comedy show. It’s one man’s voyage into fetish and kink. Get tied up in its net […] By Brian Butler • 3 min read
Arts INTERVIEW: Frances Ruffelle to head cast in new production of iconic queer musical, Closer to Heaven Broadway and West End star Frances Ruffelle will head the cast in a new production of the iconic queer musical Closer To Heaven, Scene can exclusively reveal. The show, written by gay icons Jonathan Harvey and the Pet Shop Boys, will run at Battersea’s Turbine Theatre from 31 May – 30 June. Frances, By Brian Butler • 3 min read
Cabaret REVIEW: Andrew Pepper stuns with ‘House of Pepper’ at Crazy Coqs Andrew Pepper’s one-man cabaret House Of Pepper is a chaotic, whirlwind of high camp, some low singing notes and just tons and tons of fun. His opening is a mishmash of fast paced dialogue and snatches of songs, and as he tells us in one of many innuendos: “It’s 30 days since I sniffed around […] By Brian Butler • 1 min read
Arts A round-up of queer theatre highlights – from Ty Jeffries’ bon voyage to camp vamps and Eurovision: Your Decision An interview with a camp vamp, a harrowing story of post-war Germany, revelations of being gay in the South African army, and a look back at Eurovision hits tells us just how varied the current queer theatre scene is. But first, after 12 years performing as both himself and his alter ego damaged cab By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: ‘F*cking Men’ at Waterloo East Theatre Joe DiPietro’s F*cking Men ends with an ensemble line: “you’ll meet someone else,” and that’s the theme of this electrifying 90 mins of erotic, thoughtful, challenging theatre. It’s a modern version of the classic 19th century play La Ronde. Four actors play 10 gay men and each scene involves two of By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Arts REVIEW: ‘Punchline’ by Andrew Kay with Brian Capron at Lantern Theatre Comedian Terry has got about as low as he can get in his career. He’s the compère for strippers with a second act spot to tell jokes before the band takes over. And so, over 55 minutes he tells us his back story, cutting in and out of gags from famous comics and revealing bit […] By Brian Butler • 1 min read
Arts Queer East Festival to shine light on queer East and South East Asian film Lead Pic: Lovebound Founded in response to the systemic lack of East and South East Asian representation on stage, screen and behind the scenes, the Queer East Festival was formed in 2020 and has earned its place as a premier LGBTQ+ film festival. Its events this year are across London from 17 – 28 By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Arts On stage: Drag Ballet, a hot cleaner in marigolds, Princess Diana resurrected and two gay sauna visits Drag ballet, a Hollywood legend in the closet, a hot cleaner in marigolds and two gay sauna visits all feature in my latest round-up of queer shows in Brighton and London Mark Gatiss, the brilliant writer of Sherlock and Dr Who, has put together a series of monologues that chart LGBTQ+ history miles By Brian Butler • 4 min read
Arts Corrie killer takes to Brighton stage Brian Butler gets the lowdown on a new play starring an infamous serial killer By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Arts Clowns, a one-way mirror and the Cuban revolution – that’s Brighton Fringe for you Queer clowns who think they’re cats, a man in his pants watching the bin man through a one-way mirror, and the folk music of the Cuban revolution – what a launch party for the 2024 Brighton Fringe. The biggest arts festival in England promises its usual quirky, crazy, annoying mix if its launch is a By Brian Butler • 1 min read
Arts FILM REVIEW: Riley Brian Butler finds a Gay footballer’s journey of angst doesn’t make touchdown By Brian Butler • 2 min read
Arts Spotlight on : the 38th BFI Flare LGBTQ+ London film festival Brian Butler dips into one of the world’s longest running Queer film festivals By Brian Butler • 2 min read
