www.1ist.co.uk/LGBT

Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to gay@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black.

:1: Indicates Listpicks entry

Thursday 22

Glasgow

I'll! Feminist Fashion-Codes: And What has Armpit Hair Got to Do With It? (‘ioethe lnstitut. 3 Park (‘ircus. 332 2555. 6.30pm. Wally Salner looks at the importance of fashion in the history of feminism. covering the suffragettes. women's lib. post-feminism and. in particular. 1968.

Edinburgh I Robopop GHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550 1780. l().3()pm—3am. Free before 1 1pm; £4 (£3). Trendy Wendy and friends mix classic pop tunes and electric beats for those who can‘t wait another day to start their weekend. FRI! CC’s Karaoke (‘(‘ Blooms. 23—-24 (ireenside Place. 556 9331. Freddie hosts weekly caterwauling sessions upstairs. while Shana keeps the tunes going downstairs for those who prefer not to be their own entertainment. Dance to the beat of an array of DJs. every night from 1 1pm. LadyFest Various venues. 466 2009. Until Sat 3| May. Times vary. Prices vary. A whole festival celebrate women‘s achievements in and contribution to arts. culture and society. The month-long festival encompasses music. dance. workshops. film. exhibitions. comedy and seminars.

Edinburgh

I Beat Cast (iHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550 1780. l().3()pm-3am. Free before

1 1pm; £5 (£4) after. Lucky Luciano and 1)] JT bring the mainstream house. electro house. bootlegs. dance and chart.

Saturday 24

Edinburgh

I More 1' Vicar ()ut ()f The Blue Drill Hall. 30—36 Dalmeny Street. Leith. 466 2009. 2-6pm. Donations. A queer drag tea dance. with cake and punch provided if it all gets too energetic. Part of [Adv/ins! Edinburgh.

I Boutique GHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550 1780. l().3()pm—3am. Free before

1 1pm; £7 (£6) after. F.1ectro and house from Lucky Luciano plus ‘orchestrated cheese‘ from DJ Dow/.er.

Edinburgh

I Hifi (iHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550 1780. l().3()pm—3am. Free before 1 1pm; £4 (£3) after. Finish the weekend in stylish debauchery. with DJ Michelle providing a mix of anthems and future classics.

I BumFunk (‘abaret Voltaire. 36»- 38 Blair Street. 220 6176. 11pm---3am. £5 (£4 members). A new Sunday nighter for the (‘ab which features the best funky house and electro.

Monday 26

Glasgow

I Passionality Byblos. Unit Q. Merchant Square. 7| Albion Street. 552 3895. 11.30pm—3am. £3 (£2). The weekend launches a last-minute comeback at Byblos with DJ Roberts playing chart hits for the mixed crowd.

Tuesday 27

Edinburgh

I Vibe ligo. l4 Picardy Place. 478 7434. l()pm—3am. £4. Boasting a solid mix of danceable tunes and cheap drinks until the early hours of Wednesday

morning. Vibe is the midweek clubbing experience that you can rely on.

I Shoot (iHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550 1780. l().3()pm -3am. Free before 1 1pm: £4 (£3) after. Chart. R&B. classics and kitsch from Dale Lush and friends.

Wednesday 28

Glasgow

I Allure The Tunnel. 84 Mitchell Street. 204 1000. 1 1.30pm—3am. £3 (students two for one). (‘heesy pop sounds from D] Darren and the guys behind Passionality.

Edinburgh

"In Relections on Ladytest

Harlequin Cafe. 30 Buccleuch Street. 466 2009. 7pm. The festival may be nearly over but lidinburgh Feminist Network is keen to build on the community generated during the past month. I’art oflxulv/i's! Edinburgh. nu: Icebreakers (‘(‘ Blooms. 23. -24 (ireenside Place. 556 9331. 7.30pm. Social group for people who want to make new friends in LGBT company. I Wink (iHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550 1780. l().3()pm 3am. Free before 1 1pm; £4 (£3) after. Midweek clubbing with alternative sounds along the lines of indie. electro. rock'n‘roll and pop.

Thursday 29

Glasgow

I Reality Tron Theatre. 63 Trongate. 552 4267. 7.30pm. £8 (£6). (ilasgow artist and performer Martin ()'(‘onnor examines modern masculinity through a variety of characters in this comment on what he sees as a male generation in crisis. A shorter version was originally commissioned as part of (ilasgayl 2007. btit ()’(‘onnor has expanded his one-man show into an acerbic swipe at the abscnsc of positive male role models in our society. See Theatre. page 87.

Edinburgh Painted Eggs St Bride‘s ('entre. |0 ()rwell Terrace. (17951 042087. 7.30pm. £10 (£7.50). The first two parts of a trilogy. Painted Iiggs follows the transition of John into Joan surrounded by a cast of colourful transsexual characters. Written by Nicole Dolder. it was originally conceived as a progressive rock musical and now features music by Night Noise Team. See panel. I Robopop (iHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550 1780. l().3()pm—3am. Free before 1 1pm: £4 (£3). See Thu 22. nu CC’s Karaoke (‘(‘ Blooms. 23~-24 (ireenside Place. 556 9331. See Thu 22.

Glasgow I Reality Tron Theatre. 63 Trongate. 552 4267. 7.30pm. £8 (£6). See Thu 29.

Edinburgh

I Painted Eggs St Bride‘s Centre. 10 ()rwcll Terrace. ()7951 042087. 7.30pm. £10(£7.50). See Thu 29.

I DVB Spider's Web ('ellar Bar. 258 Morrison Street. 228 1949. 8pm lam. £l0 (£5 members). Fetish club with Footman John. The dress code asks for a minimum of smart black dresswear and a general fetish-wear door policy. First- time visitors should contact the organisers beforehand.

I Beat Cast (iHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550 I780. l().3()pm -3am. Free before

1 1pm; £5 (£4) after. See Fri 23.

Glasgow I Reality Tron Theatre. 63 'l'rongate. 552 4267. 7.30pm. £8 (£6). See Thu 29.

Edinburgh

I Painted Eggs St Bride‘s (‘entre. 10 ()rwell Terrace. ()7951 042087. 7.30pm. £10(£7.50). See Thu 29.

I Boutique (iHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550

PREVIEW THEATRE PAINTED EGGS

St Bride's Centre, Edinburgh, Thu 29—Sat 31 May

Gay-themed theatre is a rare beast, but drama based around the experience

of transsexuals is even more exceptional. This fortnight, The Luvvies, Scotland’s LGBT community theatre company, are set to bring a play about the early years of a male-to-female transsexual to the Edinburgh stage.

Painted Eggs, written by and starring Nicole Dolder, originally started life as a musical about a transsexual (John/Joan) and the effect she has on the peOpIe around her. Shortly after joining The Luvvies (to play the part of Mrs Madrigal in Tales of the City), Dolder realised the various set pieces she had planned would work well as an original and powerful play.

‘Most of Painted Eggs is drawn from personal experience,’ says Dolder, herself a male-to-female transsexual. ‘Most of the events occur in the mid- 70s when society was not tolerant of transsexuals. I’ve kept some of that atmosphere because 1 think it still resonates today. The majority of transsexuals in the world remain persecuted, live in fear or find employment

in the sex industry to survive.’

While the play has its basis in real-life events, Dolder stresses its fictional nature. Indeed, when writing the piece, she didn’t envisage herself in the lead role. ‘As the play developed it became apparent that the John/Joan character should be played by a true transsexual person. It wasn’t until audition time that I actually decided to take on the role - transsexual actors are extremely

hard to find.’

Dolder believes the dearth of similar stories in theatre is due to a desire on the part of transsexuals to disappear within society, taking their stories with them. ‘I have been post-operative for ten years now, and am proud and open about who I am,’ she says. ‘1’ve had some strong experiences, travelled the world and spoken to many transsexuals in various cultures, which I hope has

1780. l().3()pm-r-3am. Free before 1 1pm; £7 (£6) after. See Sat 24.

Edinburgh I Hifi (iHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550 1780. 10.30pm~3am. Free before 1 1pm; £4 (£3)

after. See Sun 25. I BumFunk (‘abaret Voltaire. 36~-38

Blair Street. 220 6176. 11pm -3ain. £5 (£4

members). See Sun 25.

Glasgow

I Passionality Byblos. Unit Q.

Merchant Square. 71 Albion Street. 552

3895. l 1.30pms3am. £3 (£2). See Mon 26.

Edinburgh

I Eurobeat: Almost Eurovision Festival Theatre. 13 29 Nicolson Street. 529 6000. 8pm. £16.50 £26.50. Kitschtastic liurovision spoof that cleverly realises the event is already almost a spoof

of itself anyway.

: Tuesday 3

Edinburgh

I Eurobeat: Almost Eurovision Festival Theatre. 13— 29 Nicolson Street.

3 529 6000. 8pm. £16.50-£26.50. See Mon

resulted in a unique piece of drama.’ (Allan Radcliffe)

I Vibe ligo. l4 Picardy Place. 478 7434. 10pm—3am. £4. See Tue 27.

I Shoot GHQ. 4 Picardy Place. 550 I780. l().3()pm-3am. Free before 11pm; £4 (£3) after. See Tue 27.

Wednesday 4

Glasgow

I Allure The Tunnel. 84 Mitchell Street. 204 1000. l I.30pm--—3am. £3 (students two for one). See Wed 28.

Edinburgh

I Eurobeat: Almost Eurovision Festival Theatre. 13—29 Nicolson Street. 529 6000. 8pm. £16.50—£26.50. See Mon

E Wink (mo. 4 Picardy Place. 550 1780. 10.30pm-«3am. Free before 1 1pm; £4 (£3) after. See Wed 28.

Thursday 5

Edinburgh

I Eurobeat: Almost Eurovision Festival Theatre. 13—29 Nicolson Street. 529 6000. 8pm. £16.50-£26.50. See Mon

I Robopop (1110. 4 Picardy Place. 550 I780. l().3()pm—3am. Free before 1 1pm; £4 (£3) after. See Thu 22.

III! 06’: Karaoke (‘C Blooms. 23—24 Greenside Place. 556 9331. See Thu 22.

22 May—5 Jun 2008 THE LIST 65