More Gay Theatre Announced for Brighton Pride Week

Although there is no official Pride Arts Festival this year, simply due to the lack of time that the new management team have had to organise everything, some gay arts events will still be taking place, including, on 30 August, a fantastic presentation by Brighton Dome and Pink Fringe.

Altered Egos promises to be a special evening of confessional queer theatre and stars some of the genre’s most trail-blazing performers including Bette Bourne, Paul Shaw, Fancy Chance, Le Gateu Chocolat and Julie McNamara.

Compered by Timberlina – Tim Redfern’s shambolic comedy creation – the evening promises titillating tall-tales told and juicy secrets shared as the five acts explore the concept of keeping secret lives and identities… whether for fun or as a necessity. Part cabaret, part theatre, part knees up with a chance to let it all hang out, each act will tackle the theme in their own inimitable style.

One of the highlights of Brighton Fringe 2012 is revisited as Bourne and Shaw present their latest work A Right Pair – a whistle stop tour of their life together – to discover some obscure gems, favourite scenes and brand new content. From creating and performing in gay theatre company BLOOLIPS to touring the world, they have been partners, both off stage and on, since the late 70s and have experienced more than their fair share of glittering high heel moments alongside down-at-heel moments. This intimate peek behind the curtain at their relationship offers a unique glimpse into true love and its many forms.

Bringing a side-splitting, glamorous and exuberantly irreverent take on personal identity, Fancy Chance – the current Alternative Miss World and London’s Top Tranny 2010 – is set to dispense sass by the bucketful via a variety of comic characters and satire.  As current art director of BurlyQ, the famed queer cabaret in Sheffield, she’s been hailed as the undisputed comic spectacle of the UK burlesque and vaudeville circuit.

Body-hugging lyrca, confectionery and opera collide with outrageous – and often moving – results as Spiegeltent star Le Gateau Chocolat performs a very special repertoire of songs. Having appeared everywhere from the Royal Opera House, BBC Radio 1 and The Paul O’Grady Show, the killer baritone has garnered acclaim around the globe thanks to his show-stopping routines.

Completing the evening’s line-up is pioneering playwright, poet, performer and singer Julie McNamara. Awarded the South Bank Show Diversity award in 2010, McNamara is creative leader of dynamic new production company Vital Xposure, which sets out to promote hidden voices with extraordinary stories to tell.

Altered Egos can be seen on 30 August at the Pavilion Theatre, Brighton Dome at 7.30pm