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Jemima Rooper is set to star as Sharon in new play Breeders, written by Ben Ockrent, directed by Tamara Harvey, from 3 September - 4 October at the St James Theatre. Angela Griffin and Tamsin Outhwaite also star.
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Rooper as Sharon
for 'Breeders'
(Photo: Johan Persson) |
Roopers's career began playing tomboy George in the TV re-make of The Famous Five, and includes several lesbian roles along the way. "It's interesting, I've played a lot of lesbians..." she laughs, however in Breeders she's cast as the straight woman and feels "really jealous" of the fun Outhwaite and Griffin are having in their lesbian couple role.
It's important to Rooper to find those "interesting female roles" and that over the span of her career it's been the case that they have tended not to be "traditional roles" and as such often been lesbian characters, demonstrating that there is still a gap in gender equality within TV, theatre and film.
Rooper joins new play Breeders fresh from a stint as Elvira in the Noel Coward Classic Blithe Spirit, the supernatural comedy that also starred Angela Lansbury, whose "energy and enthusiasm" following a seven-decade career, meant no cast member could rest on their laurels.
The bulk of Rooper's experience, though, is bedded in new writing, where there is a real opportunity to "shape a piece" and "form a character" but brings along the "nerve-wracking" sense of starting from scratch with no reference points for production, particularly when the story is as contemporary as same-sex parenting.
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Rooper with Nicholas Burns in rehearsals
(Photo: Anton Belmonte) |
Breeders, Rooper promises, will offer a "fun evening" for regular theatre-goers, and also offers something for people who don't normally go to the theatre but who may decide to attend due to its universal "issues and themes" that will no doubt draw opinions from a lot of interested people.
It's fundamentally about "family", she says, and having children, but contextualised within a modern situation through the exploration of how a same-sex couple chooses to start a family and make it happen.
Rooper's role is that of the "outsider", who is not involved in starting a family. In fact she provides the counter-point to whether it's responsible to even have children at all, and that it should be "a choice", while her own life and relationship (as the girlfriend of the potential donor) are directly impacted by the couple-in-point's decision.
The theatre is where these issues can be explored, through interesting characters and situations, reacting to the audience's response and Rooper hopes that the rehearsal process will translate well to stage as it has been a fun "hilarious, lovely" experience.
Tickets for Breeders are available from St James Theatre Box Office.
By Katie
Lizzie Bellinger recently won Silver at the FINA World Masters Swimming Championships in Montreal. We get to know the out swimmer as she celebrates her success.
Planet London (PL): What is your first memory of being in the water?
Lizzie Bellinger (LB): It might sound odd, but my earliest memory is when I chipped my tooth at the bottom of a swimming pool!!!
PL: What is a typical day like when you're training for a big competition?
LB: The alarm goes off at 6.15am, and the snooze button is pressed a number of times and then it's up, out and off to work! I get in around 7.30am and then it all depends on the day on what time I leave. Then it's off to training either with one of my clubs or on my own depending on how I am feeling and how tired I am! I find getting into the pool much harder in the winter!
PL: What is a typical day like when you’re not training for a competition?
LB: I try to just keep ticking over ( training 2/3 times a week either swimming or running) but since the world masters championships I have taken 2 weeks off and haven't done any physical exercise which is very odd for me!
PL: How do you like to unwind?
LB: It's odd, most people use exercise to unwind! For me, it's chilling out, spending time with friends and my family or falling asleep!!!!!!
PL: How did you get into competitive swimming?
LB: When I was about 8 years old I developed asthma and the doctor said I should take up swimming to help control my breathing! I have always loved the water so perfect solution. Although in the early days I was the chronic asthmatic who no one really wanted in their lane! But I stuck at it, worked on my technique and I've never looked back.
PL: Where is the most exciting place swimming has taken you and why?
LB: I think to the Olympic pool in Barcelona for the Eurogames in 2008 in the blazing sunshine. But I've also been to Perth in Australia, Slovenia, Italy, Belgium, Germany and of course Canada.
PL: It has been a very successful World Masters Swimming Championships – what is your next challenge?
LB: My next challenge is to run 10 miles for GOSH! I've never run more than 10km in one go before! As for my next swimming challenge! I need some time to think about what I want to do next as have achieved all my goals this year so far and more! I will not be going to the worlds next year as they are to be held in Russia but will be focusing on the Eurogames (European gay games) in Stockholm, Sweden in August.
PL: You’ve recently completed 2 triathlons, and numerous other competitions, what spurs you on?
LB: I think for me I like to do well, and yes this season I have embraced open water swimming as well as being in my second season of triathlons along side training for the FINA World Masters Championships! It's about personal challenges but also about being the best I can. Also in my job, as a PE teacher being a good role model to the students is important too and hopefully spurs them on too to achieve.
PL: Is it difficult to be out in your sport and do you think athletes who are out perform better than they would do otherwise?
LB: I think it all depends on the sport. From personal experience swimming is a very straight sport and I remember many years ago over hearing a group of swim miners and their coach talking about a swimmer who was gay and the response was appalling but as a teenager you don't say anything you just think oh god ok I need to keep quiet. I changed swimming clubs and started swimming under the banner 'Out To Swim' about 6 years ago and some people who would talk to me on pool side completely blanked me! Coming out can be hard and can make you feel vulnerable, putting yourself on the line in sport you need to feel confident and strong and for some that is hard if you are openly gay. For me now, I am confident in who I am, in fact I love being gay and think its important to share and express that.
PL: What does success mean to you personally?
LB: I cannot express how I felt when I saw the score board to see I had won Silver in the 50m butterfly at the worlds behind a 3 time Olympian! I will be honest I did cry! And then kept welling up every time someone congratulated me! It makes all the training and dedication worth while. But likewise in the Pruhealth world triathlon London back in June I went into the event hoping to finish in the top 50 in my age group out over 100 entrants. I finished 6th in 35-39 yrs age group And 24th out of 440 women.
LGBT BALBOA SWING DANCE CLASS
Venue: Sunday 31 August, 2-5pm at She Soho, 23a Old Compton Street, London, W1D 5LB.
Love the elegance of the 1930s? Come and learn Balboa, the beautiful vintage partner dance of the swing era, from the ballrooms of the Balboa Peninsular in Southern California.
Suitable for beginners. Come alone or with a partner.
LGBT friendly. Straight friends welcome too.
Limited places available; book yours at http://pinkswing.co.uk or at
She Soho. Price £20, including free vintage cocktail*.
Free dancing to vintage swing music after 5pm, all welcome.
ABOUT PINK SWING
Pink Swing, London’s LGBT Swing Dance club, started from the idea that people should be able to enjoy swing dancing regardless of their gender type or sexuality and should feel free to dance with anyone else, whether Female, Male, Gender-queer, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Questioning, Straight, Transgender, Cisgender, Intersex or whatever.
The founder of Pink Swing, Eleanor has been swing dancing since 1999 and teaching since 2004. Her repertoire includes Balboa, Lindy Hop, and Blues. She is also learning Argentine Tango, Tap, and Ballroom and Latin dances. When she has time, she plays the piano (badly) and sings (hopefully not so badly). She lives with her cat, Jasper.
The latest regular event at SHE, The BackSeat (2nd and last Wednesday of the month) is bringing soul, electro, rhythm and blues, "make out music" to the girls.
We asked promoters Maxie and Bridget a few little questions...
Planet London (PL):How long have you been running LGBT events and events generally?
Maxie: I am part of a musical collective called Gravy, with whom I have been putting on gigs (mainly in Norwich) for around 7 years.
I organised the First Ladyfest in Norwich, and have been involved in various festivals and nights there.. Gravy is about to embark on a LDN campaign so watch out!
I met Bridget when she was DJing soul records at our friends party so it's always been a big part of our relationship - getting drunk and playing records all night.
We had a DJ night in Norwich called 'Get Ravey' which was a similar concept to The Backseat - perhaps a bit more commercial - but the gay scene in Norwich isn't that solid, we were keen to get involved in SHE Soho as soon as we moved here.
PL: What was your first event?
Maxie: The first Backseat was in March I think - the first event we were involved in together was Ladyfest Norwich. I made a zine and Bridget wrote a brilliant piece about Gertrude Stein as the main feature.
PL: How do you see that the Lesbian/Bi/Queer scene in London has changed?
Bridget: I think it's perhaps more alternative. We really love the Twat Boutique and Saturday Night Fish Fry nights, and obviously Chick Habit. It's great that there's these nights that play brilliant music and they're queer because they're comfortable and positive.
PL: How have you adapted to these changes?
Maxie: We want to offer something that you can't get anywhere else! Everyone loves Motown, and some of the old soul tracks that Bridget plays are so fun to dance to, and so sexy. So we're taking the new eclecticism or alternative scene in a new direction - trying to offer something that encourages grinding and making out, maybe a few slow numbers, but still lots of music with integrity...
PL: What regular events do you currently run & how long have it/they been running? What makes it/them different from other events on the scene?
Bridget: LGBT-wise? Just The Backseat at the moment as we have both been completing academic projects. Maxie always does Gravy which is heavy guitar based stuff, and both of our jobs involve events co-ordination so it's something that we're always working on.
We're suckers for concepts, so although we're both crazy busy all of the time, if we like an idea, we have to run with it! We only do nights that are different. In Norwich Get Ravey was the only alternative queer dance party. The Backseat is the only queer motown / soul / sexy night that I know of... The Nitty Gritty is brilliant, but we probably stray away from soul more than them. Our musical rules are just 'sexy all the time'.
PL: Do your various events attract a similar profile of Lesbians or a range?
Maxie - A range - all ages too.. I think because you just have to have a slight taste for vintage music to dig The Backseat, that includes a lot of people. Motown, soul, sexy pop music - you've just got to like music generally to like those genres.
PL: What are your current challenges?
To spread the word - we both have full time jobs and are completing academic projects, so although The Backseat is growing, we don't have the time we'd like to put into it.
PL: How much does the increased use of Social Media (Facebook/Twitter) affect you (i.e. instant access to customers, public feedback)?
Maxie: We've tried hard not to rely on social media too much (because of the style of the night - pretty vintage), we want it to grow quite organically. But I think that will change soon - these days it's stupid not to take full advantage of these communication opportunities. We've got a Facebook and Twitter, so we're building them (slowly!).
PL: What has been the highlight of your ‘event career’ so far?
There's nothing better than making people dance! But it's nice to get involved with everyone at SHE - collaborate and start to feel part of a gang..
We love intimate, sweaty, cavernous spaces, so it's always that moment when everyone's in there all close and having an awesome time - there's not one particular event.
PL: What other events on the LBQ scene to you like to attend?
Chick Habit, we love Kaff in Brixton, Saturday Night Fish Fry, Queere, Supervixen,
PL: Do you have any exciting future plans you would like to share with us?
Maxie: Gravy is going to launch in London. Look out for that! And we'd like to do some more collaborative stuff with Amy Chick Habit.
To go along:
Venue: SHE Soho, 23a Old Compton Street
Tickets: £2 on the door
For more info...
@BackseatLDN
By Katie
We were very lucky to catch up with Saffron Sprackling, lead singer of legendary band Republica,
and Mel Sanson, Q Alternative Stage organiser and front person, as well as lead singer for Brighton rock band Kenelis right before they rocked the stage at Brighton Pride.
Planet London (PL): What's been the vibe for you at Brighton Pride today and what have you enjoyed so far?
Saffron Sprackling (SS): Well it's been such an amazing day. To be here with Mel Sanson and Vicky from Kenelis who are co-ordinating the Q Stage, and seeing their dream realised... with the crowd being amazing, going crazy for all the bands, especially Lucy Spraggan earlier in the day, it's going to be fantastic to see Kenelis perform and then go on stage oursevles.
Mel Sanson (MS): Joan of Arc played a Guns N Roses cover ealier, that I managed to catch in between working, and that was amazing as well.
PL: Will you be partying after the Park?
Both: Hell yeah!
PL: What's been your favourite performance today then?
MS: I can't really pick a favourite, it wouldn't be fair!
SS: Lucy Spraggan!
PL: Why did you introduce the Q Stage and why is it important for Brighton Pride?
MS: I just think it's important to have alternative music in the park, not just the main stage, main stream singers with backing vocals. Brighton Pride want to make the event more like a festival... I was previously involved with the women's live performance stage but this year I thought, "Why limit it to women?"
So the Q Stage is about live music, it doesn't matter what your gender or sexuality is, it's about playing live music at Pride.
PL: If you could be in a girl band of your choice who would you choose to join you?
SS: I'd be in TLC because that's my favourite girl band of all time. If I could make my own... then Courtney Love, Mel Sanson, PJ Harvey, Shirley Manson, Gwen Stefani...
PL: Can we join?
PL: What music is your guilty pleasure?
MS: Example. I like it. Not cool for a rocker but I like it.
SS: Supertramp and the BeeGees.
PL: Tell us a secret about yourself...
Both: There really aren't any. Everything's out there already.
PL: Is there any song out there you wish you had written?
SS: Waterfall by TLC. But there's so many really, like Read my Mind by Gordon Lightfoot. Beatles songs.
MS: Drop Dead Gorgeous.
PL: Who would be your ultimate person to cover your songs?
SS: Kenelis!
MS: Republica!
By Naomi & Katie
Amna Khwaja is currently directing a gay themed theatre piece, The Wodehouse Principle, for Camden Fringe.
How did you get into theatre directing? What is your background?
I knew I had an interest in Directing early in life. I would sit in my father’s office typing out scripts and then putting on a play with family members much to their dismay!
After I graduated from university I headed straight to drama school where I participated in acting classes as well, I think it helps if you understand the mechanics of acting to be able to direct even if it is an awareness.
I started working in the theatre from box office, to stage managing, to operating the lighting, producing my own show on an almost non existant budget! I trained at The Kings Head theatre which gave a thorough insight to a working theatre which also gave me the opportunity to assist on several shows. Most recently I completed a MA in Theatre Studies at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. I have directed and produced several shows on the fringe, the Etcetera Theatre, Soho Theatre, Soho Theatre, The Cockpit.
What project(s) are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a new production which I am quite excited about and cannot wait to get things going. The piece is called Raconteur and is LGBT themed, I cannot say too much at this stage but I will say that Quentin Crisp features!
This will be opening during the Summer of 2015 in a London venue. I have directed and co produced The Wodehouse Principle which is currently showing from the 12th-15th August part of the Camden Fringe showing at Upstairs at the Gatehouse. (For tickets visit the Camden Fringe website)
What does theatre mean to you?
Theatre should be able to inform people to give the opportunity to question and to think differently about what they have seen. It is necessary for theatre to be accessible to all and to bring people who would not normally visit.
There probably needs to be more education in schools and to organise more trips so children who may not necessarily go due to various social conditions or family financial restrictions are not devoid of the opportunity. The doors need to be open not limited to a select few.
Why is LGBT representation important in theatre?
LGBT theatre is important so we can break down the usual stereotypes of perception of gay people and that they function just as well as their heterosexual counterparts! Themes can be explored about what the LGBT community has to face on a daily bases and how those are dealt with, however not all is doom and gloom! It gives a community a safe void to express themselves and to be heard and what better a medium to do that in then theatre, it is there live and happening in front of you.
What would be your ideal production to work on?
Richard Brinsley Sheriden’s A School for Scandal, without a doubt, comedy, drama, intrigue , perfect!
Where can we find out more information?
About Amna: www.intraverseproductions.com
About Camden Fringe: http://www.camdenfringe.com/
Tickets for the Wodehouse Principle: http://www.camdenfringe.com/detailact.php?acts_id=542
We caught up on the latest with Brighton local and Brighton Pride Q Alternative Stage performer Lucy Spraggan backstage...
Planet London (PL): What's been the vibe for Brighton Pride for you today? What have you enjoyed? Will you be after-partying?
Lucy Spraggan (LS): I really like that it's a local event...I will definitely be partying later, not sure where yet, but I'll be out.
PL: Who's your favourite lesbian artist
LS: I'm a big believer in not defining singers by their sexuality, whether they are gay or straight... I am proud to be gay but I don't want to single ourselves out. My favourite artist is Dolly Parton. A big ol' gay icon!
PL: What's been your best moment of the summer so far?
LS: I think it's going to happen this week. [Editor's note - we'll let you know if we find out].
PL: How many tattoos have you got?
LS: I've got one that's 2 days old - I went and sat for four and a half hours for that... I don't know now many there are... a lot!
PL: What's your favourite one?
LS: Probably this one of Steve [points to a very close resembling portrait of her beloved French Bull Terrier Steve, on her right arm]. Or this one which I got the day after I wrote Tea and Toast [it's tiny a mug of tea on her heel. Olly Murs is still tattoed on her foot alongside a few Lucy did herself. Rock and Roll.]
PL: What song that someone else wrote do you wish you could have written?
LS: I always think Fields of Gold by Sting.
PL: Who would you like to cover one of your songs
LS: Dolly Parton [we're spotting a theme here] but anyone really, it's always a compliment when people cover my songs.
PL: Imagine her doing Tea and Toast - that would be pretty fantastic
LS: It really would.
PL: If you could be in any girlband for the day, who would be the other members?
LS: Liza Tarbuck, The Vicar of Dibley and... Rylan!
PL: every girl band should have a Rylan.
PL: How do you take your tea?
LS: I used to take it black no sugar. I drank so much I can't drink it any more.
PL: What do you eat on your toast?
LS: Everything! Bananas are good. Everything goes on toast.
PL: What music is your guilty pleasure?
LS: Really shameless EDM - European Dance Music. And dancing to it.
PL: and finally... tell us a secret about yourself
LS: I'm pretty open, it's all out there already. I've got a stranger's name tattooed on my bum.
PL: I think you may have shared that secret with a few million TV viewers already.
LS: See it's all out there.
By Katie & Naomi
