Arts Toupie Lowther: Her life by Val Brown: Book Launch Local author Val Brown launched her new book last night. This book is an insightful new biography of Toupie Lowther who appears as a walk-on character in many biographies of Radclyffe Hall and Una Troubridg but is a most fascinating woman in her own right. By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: The Barber of Seville @English National Opera Two centuries after its premiere and thirty years after its first outing in 1987, Jonathan Miller’s Tiepolo-inspired staging brilliantly intercuts the traditions of the Italian commedia dell’arte and the Whitehall farce to create a charming evening of musical and comedy enjoyment. Rossini’s prequel By Eric Page • 3 min read
Health PRODUCT REVIEW: ‘ONE’: Condoms and Personal Lubricant These fun circular new condoms, called ‘One’ are easy to use, can be opened with ease and there’s a selection of different options, ultra-thin, sensitive, larger etc, then some slightly daft glow in the dark ones, and lively flavours and various forms of ribbing. This is a fun brand, with the emph By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: Aida @ENO Welsh tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones gave us a real heroic Radamès, full and resounding and committed to the very end, he was wonderful although trapped behind his Gilbert and Sullivan epaulettes and wooed Latonia Moore’s Aida in the most convincing way, Morre was excellent, pure, fine and focused her humi By Eric Page • 5 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: He’s Always Been My Son by Janna Barkin He’s Always Been My Son A Mother’s Story about Raising Her Transgender Son Janna Barkin This inspiring and moving story, told with great passion and gentle humour gives us the inside story of an extraordinary family. Barkin’s engaging and entertaining prose allows us to gather first-hand experience, By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts THEATRE REVIEW: Driving Miss Daisy @Theatre Royal This is a perfectly balanced cast, Sian Phillips as Miss Daisy captures the fierce but fragile nature of this woman whose humble beginnings and comfortable retirement dictate her relationship with the outside world. Derek Griffiths as her driver Hoke Colburn who ages and changes along with her is t By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: Carnivore by Jonathan Lyon This book follows Leander, Queer, druggie, manipulator, friend, lover, fighter, liar. Gifted with synaesthesia; a condition where the senses confuse and enhance information and also in constant chronic pain he seeks to rent himself out to literally feel something different, or does he? We jump ri By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts THEATRE REVIEW: Flights of Fancy by Veronica Thompson ‘Flights of Fancy’ is utter celebration of the possibility of being truly, wonderfully yourself, where and whoever you happen to be, it’s a reverie rooted in reality. By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: We’re queer and we should be here by Darryl Telles. We’re queer and we should be here By Darryl Telles. Darryl Telles’s lifelong passion for his beloved Tottenham Hotspur is a real passion, yet like other gay football supporters, he has had to endure decades of abuse and threats from homophobic fellow fans in a sport where discussing being gay or tal By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: Manhood: The Bare Reality by Laura Dodsworth WARNING: This review does contain pictures of penises. It may not be work safe. Be warned. There are no knob puns though. These days we are all less bound by gender and traditional roles, but is there more discussion about what being a man means. From veteran to vicar, from porn addict to prostate By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: Straight Expectations by Peggy Cryden An excellent book and most useful to any parent/s experiencing gender diversity matters with their children or who yearn to learn from lived and loving experience in how to equip their children to live without labels and grow up in a world apparently obsessed with them By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: The Merry Millionaire Duology by John Wells This is a story of privilege and indulgence, of luxury and secrets of seeming to be one thing, but being another and it’s also a story of white privilege in last days of imperial exploitation and indulgence of the European (and particular British) elites of the time and a story of gay love and sex l By Eric Page • 3 min read
