The deadline is coming up soon for submissions to GFEST – Gaywise FESTival, the premier annual lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) arts festival in London.

The deadline for submissions is Friday 29 June 2012.
The festival accepts submissions in three categories:
· films
· visual arts
· performance

Submissions are accepted on their website www.gaywisefestival.org.uk

The theme of this year’s festival, which takes place in November in venues across London, is ‘Queer Art queries…’
Niranjan Kamatkar, artistic director of GFEST said ‘Since we put out the open call for artists this year we have had great interest from all over the arts community. There is still time to submit ideas to us. We are looking for submissions from artists and organisations, with a particular focus on collaboration across art form, age and cultural backgrounds.We want to encourage artists to work together on exciting, thought provoking and innovative work. We want to query what happens in the queer arts world.’
About GFEST
Now in its 6th year GFEST enjoys showcasing an exciting selection of work from LGBTQ artists around the world as well as hosting emerging and established artists from London. Past works shown have come from Iran, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand as well as Europe, the United States and Canada.

Past performers have included cabaret artist Marcus Reeves, performance poet Dean Atta, accomplished multi-disciplinary performer Janice Perry, Resonance FM DJ Rosie Wilby, The London Gay Symphonic Winds as well as many other artists from across the world. Subject matter in the festival has ranged from gay marriage, civil partnerships, political satire and sexual awakening to male rape, homophobia across the world and a tribute to Tom of Finland by a drag king.

Niranjan says: ‘In these challenging times it is vital that there is still a space for LGBT and queer arts. GFEST continues to support these and looks forward to putting on a truly diverse selection and celebration of LGBT and queer themed art.’

For more information please contact:
Subodh Rathod
Wise Thoughts
Tel: 0208 889 9555
Email: info@wisethoughts.org
www.gaywisefestival.org.uk

Listen up all you dog-loving, puppy-crazy, canine devotees out there! It’s time for the fashion event of the year as The Nelson’s Head hosts its Doggy Fancy Dress Party.

On Saturday the 19th of May our favourite East London den invites you to join us, as we help host the fashion event of the summer!

Dress up those Greyhounds in Gucci, those Dachshunds in Donna Karen, those Whippets in Westwood or whatever outfit your imagination desires and parade them down the catwalk for the chance to win some amazing prizes; including a pet portrait by artist Tim Perkins and a years pet insurance! More prizes to be announced on the day.

Date: Saturday 19th May 2012

Time: 3pm

Address: The Nelson’s Head, 32 Horatio Street, London, E2 7EH

www.nelsonshead.com

The Meltdown Festival, now in its 20th year, returns once again to the Southbank Centre for a week long series of shows that will be curated this year by none other than musician/visual artist Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons fame.

Since its inaugural event in 1993 ‘Meltdown’ has had some of the most distinguished figures of contemporary music curate the event; David Bowie, Elvis Costello, Pattie Smith, Morrisey and many more have produced the event creating a mix of music, art, performance and film. The festival previously gave Jeff Bucley’s last UK performance, Grace Jones, Nick Cave and Pete Doherty singing Disney songs and even reformed the New York Dolls for a one-off performance.

This year Antony will be bringing us a series of events starting on the 1st until the 12th of August and includes such highlights as ‘Marc And The Mambas’ reforming to perform ‘Torment and Toreros’ and ‘The Voluptuous Horror’ of Karen Black.

Tickets go on sale 10th May  and are going to go fast so we advise that you become a South Bank member to get advance bookings on 8th May!

For full listings of events and ticket sales:

meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk

When did you last attend a Tupperware party? Have you ever attended one? Well if you are yearning for a top up of the ol’ plastic-fantastic or have never experienced one of these soirees for yourself, then fear not because Dixie’s Tupperware Party (the hilarious show which turned Off-Broadway into a Tupperware-mania celebration and garnered the prestigious 2008 Drama Desk award nomination) is London-bound for a limited run at Soho Theatre.

“Dixie Longate, the fast-talking Tupperware Lady, packed up her catalogues, left her children in an Alabama trailer park and is taking the world by storm! Now Dixie is throwing her good ol’fashioned Tupperware Party at Soho Theatre and brings her outrageously funny tales, heartfelt accounts, FREE giveaways, audience participation and the most fabulous assortment of Tupperware ever sold. Loaded with the most up-to-date products available for purchase, see for yourself how Ms. Longate became the #1 Tupperware seller in the U.S. & Canada as she educates her guests on the many alternative uses she has discovered for her plastic products!”

Produced by Down South LLC, written by Kris Anderson directed by Patrick Richwood, Dixie’s Tupperware Party will feature costumes designed by Miss Longate and lighting designed by Richard Winkler. Dixie comes to Soho Theatre following a critically acclaimed Off-Broadway run, national tour across the USA and is currently performing in Melbourne, Australia.

Soho Theatre, Soho Downstairs

Dates: Monday 07 – Saturday 19 May

Tickets: £10 – £20

Bookings  020 7478 0100 / www.sohotheatre.com

The award winning Royal Vauxhall Tavern, vanguard of the avant-garde, will again be playing host to a series of shows by the ubiquitous David Hoyle.

In the year of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, David Hoyle presents Pandregina – a programme of ‘entertainment’ for the post-political, pre-apocalyptic age. 

Pandrogyne means never being tied to the text book definitions of masculine and feminine, breaking the norms and taking the concept of gender beyond all previous definitions. Pandregina will present a smorgasbord of guest artistes, combining trans consciousness awareness with a cheap camp laugh.

Featuring a fully-licensed bar and toilet activities.

SPECIAL GUESTS:

The Frantastics
Natalie Geographic

DATES & TIMES:

24th May 2012 – 21st June 2012

Doors 7pm / Show 8.30pm

TICKETS:

£10 available from  www.rvt.org.uk

Julian Clary will be travelling the length and breadth of the country in search of a new beau and is not going to leave any straight unturned!

After his hugely successful ‘Lord of the Dance’ tour that took him around the UK and to the other side of the world (Australia and New Zealand),  Julian is returning to the stage. The star of ‘Trick and Treat’, ‘Sticky Moments’ and ‘The Joan Collins Fan Club’ will embark on a 43 night UK tour this Autumn and now we find ourselves wishing the summer away (we use this term lightly) as we are just too excited and childishly impatient to wait.

To quote Miss Mae West ‘Get your resumes out boys”!

For tour dates and other info:

www.julianclary.co.uk/positionvacantapplywithin.html

The DVD of ‘Lord Of The Mince’ is available from www.amazon.co.uk

Beige favourite Amy Lamé kicks of her new one woman show at the Camden Peoples Theatre tomorrow for a 12 day run before taking it on tour and ending at the prestigous Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

In this, the latest offering from the multi-talented Amy, we are all invited to the birthday celebrations. She has even invited Morrissey, but will he arrive clutching a bunch of flowers and a gift? Will he turn up at all?  Cake, quiffs and craziness collide in a flurry of balloons and beer, against a soundtrack of nostalgic teenage obsession.

Unhappy Birthday cracks open the cult of celebrity and fandom; flays fat, faith and sexual identity; probes the pains of growing up; and cross examines a curious nostalgia for a time that may never have existed except in the bedroom of our imagination.

Amy Lamé; co-founder and hostess of the infamous club/collective Duckie, writer, presenter, producer and performer creates a culture clash of party, performance and poncing about in her new show.

By/Starring: Amy Lamé

Directed by: Scottee

Dates:

1-12 May        Camden Peoples Theatre, London

18 & 19 May          Contact, Manchester

31 May & 1 June   Nightingale, Brighton

8 June                    MAC, Birmingham

22 June                  Colchester Arts Centre

29 June                  Norwich Arts Centre

1-26 August           Assembly, Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Tickets: http://www.unhappybirthday.net/

Cabaret artist, singer, actor, comedian, film director and Beige columnist David Hoyle has just finished shooting on his latest film ‘The Psychiatrist’.

 The Psychiatrist is a psychological thriller in which David Hoyle plays ‘Dr Rosenburg’, a nefarious health practitioner who uses his position of persuasion to cause misery and suffering to those most in need of his help…..

Directed by Richard L Davies and Robert Kemp, the film sees the return of David Hoyle to a lead role after his award winning ‘Uncle David’ was released in Christmas 2011.

Release details will be posted here as soon as more information is available.

You can read our interview with David Hoyle on ‘Uncle David’ here in our November issue www.beigeuk.com/magazine/3dissue/november2011/

Uncle David is available from Peccadillo Pictures www.peccapics.com/View/id,240

For more info on The Psychiatrist and behind the scenes photos and interviews go to www.eromenosmedia.com

 Trailer:

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

“One day I would like to marry my partner of almost 5 years,” said Director Mike Buonaiuto. “And the celebration of our commitment should mean no more or less than any other straight couple. I made the film to promote change and also inspire others to use their creativity to support equality.”

The Coalition For Equal Marriage is a grassroots campaign established by partners Conor Marron and James Lattimore. It has since grown into a strong group of individuals and organisations coming together to support the government’s plans for greater equality.

The short film stars James Knight, from London’s West End (Mamma Mia,) and rising screen-star Lew Smart. Please support the project by sharing it with your friends, hashtag #equalmarriage and sign the Coalition For Equal Marriage petition at www.C4EM.org.uk