Arts REVIEW: Justin Utley Live Justin Utley was welcomed to Brighton’s newly refurbished Rialto Theatre by a packed and enthusiastic mainly gay audience. This highly talented musician – singer, guitarist, pianist, activist and lovely gay guy- enthralled his audience as his life unfolded through his music. His act took a brilliant By Contributor • 3 min read
Arts ALBUM REVIEW: Madonna ‘Rebel Heart’ THE arrival of a new Madonna album still excites editors in charge of column inches even if commercial success is a fraction of the heady days of True Blue and Like A Virgin. The preamble to this latest offering is unlikely to have been what Team Madonna had planned; 20+ leaked demos from a hacked c By Besi • 3 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: The Indian Queen In this vibrant production, devised by acclaimed director Peter Sellars, the rich and transcendent score of Purcell’s final unfinished opera is reworked around a new text and the inclusion of a number of Purcell’s most ravishing religious anthems. This new retelling of The Indian Queen recounts the By Eric Page • 5 min read
Arts THEATRE REVIEW: David Hoyle Ends LGBT History (Month) David Hoyle is a unique performer: compassionate, angry and not a little crazy. It’s a pleasure to spend an hour and a half in his company as he’s always an engaging, even charismatic, presence. His latest show doesn’t exactly break any new ground for Hoyle – its structure is pretty much the same as By Michael Hootman • 2 min read
Arts THEATRE REVIEW: Calamity Jane: Congress Theatre Calamity Jane opened at the Congress Theatre Eastbourne last night to a standing ovation from a very enthusiastic audience. Starring Jodie Prenger alongside a cast of multi-talented actor/musicians, this stylish production gets to the heart and soul of the musical, each and every actor on the stage By Eric Page • 3 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: La traviata I was totally absorbed by its headlong rush into tragedy and the singing and music was of astonishing quality. Overall a music triumph, but with a confusing narrative, but a rich lush evening none the less. By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: The Mastersingers of Nuremberg A great opening volley for the new season. As spectacular as it sounds, this triumphant display of wondrous Wagner is a treat worth sitting through. By Eric Page • 5 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: Spirit of Gin A stirring miscellany of the new gin revival from the delightful Mr. Teacher brings us bang up to date with Hogarth’s favorite tipple, Great Britain’s secret shame and the most modern and chic way to ruin one’s Mother in Shoreditch, Swansea or Seville. By Eric Page • 1 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: Bare Strength Stokes is one of the most successful newcomers in recent years. His first book, Masculinity, was an overwhelming success, and now comes Bare Strength, the hotly-anticipated second volume by this master photographer. By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts BOOK REVIEW: The Love God Brighton-based author Martin must have spent the last 10 years researching his new book as the level of detail and accurate historical, geographical and political detail is impressive. This gives a firm foundation for the extraordinary story of one of the ancient world’s greatest love affairs, more By Eric Page • 2 min read
Arts DVD FILM REVIEW: The Other The Other (Eureka blu-ray). Robert Mulligan’s psychological thriller is a rather bloodless horror about a pair of twin boys, one of whom is – as Hollywood tradition dictates – evil. It has a twist which is officially revealed at the one-hour mark (though if you haven’t spotted it within the first te By Michael Hootman • 1 min read
Arts DVD FILM REVIEW: SHOAH (AND 4 FILMS AFTER SHOAH) This four-disc set starts with Claude Lanzmann’s nine-and-a-half-hour ‘documentary’ about the Holocaust. The word is in inverted commas as it’s a description the director himself rejects. It’s a collage comprising interviews with victims, perpetrators and innocent, and not so innocent, bystanders of By Michael Hootman • 1 min read
