list.co.uk/lgbt LGBT

Events are listed by city, then by type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to lgbt@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Kirstyn Smith. LGBT

Menergy Sat 9 Nov, 11pm–3am. £10 in advance; £15 on the door; £30 VIP. Axm, 80 Glassford Street, 552 5761. Menergy’s fourth birthday and the official Glasgay! closing party, with special guest Raja, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season three. EDINBURGH

Activities & Events FREE T-Time Sat 19 Oct, 1–4pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Informal event for transgender people and their partners, family and friends. FREE Prime Time Sun 20 Oct, HEADLINE GOES HERE 2–4.30pm. Gay Men’s Health, 10 Union Street, 556 1309. Relaxed meet-up for gay or bisexual men over 40. FREE Rubyfruits Sun 20 & 27 Oct, 3 & 10 Nov, 2pm. The Regent Bar, 2 Montrose Terrace, 661 8198. Social evenings for lesbian and bisexual ladies, with regular meetings to plan activities and network. FREE LGBT Centre Drop-in Mon 21 & 28 Oct, 4 & 11 Nov, 5.30–8pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Drop-in service to meet new people, get info and catch up on the latest goss. FREE Edinburgh Gay Men’s Book Group Wed 23 Oct, 7–9pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. A book club for gents with a lust for reading. FREE Rubyfruits Wed 23 & 30 Oct, 6 & 13 Nov, 7.30pm. Café Nom de Plume, 60 Broughton Street, 478 1372. See Edinburgh, Activities & Events. FREE Herbs for Health Thu 24 Oct, 6.30–8pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Learn all about herbs the health benefits and, in particular, how they can help you to relax. FREE Women’s Wellbeing Group Fri 25 Oct, 2.30–4pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. This week’s topic: ‘Do you remember the first time?’– group discussion on a range of first times. FREE The Big LGBT Music Jam Sat 2 Nov, 1–4pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. Music- making in a creative and supportive environment. FREE Trans Men Scotland Sat 9 Nov, 7–9pm. LGBT Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street, 523 1100. A social evening for FTM transgender people to meet and talk. Ages 18+.

list.co.uk/lgbt Events are listed by city, then by type. Submit listings at least 14 days before publication to lgbt@list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Kirstyn Smith.

GLASGOW Glasgay! Until Sat 9 Nov, times vary. Prices vary. Various venues: Glasgow, 552 7575. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the massive celebration of queer culture has a ‘legacy’ theme, which is demonstrated in its impressive programme of theatre, comedy, music, clubs and visual art events.

Activities & Events The Worst of Scottee Thu 31 Oct, 7.30pm. £11 (£8). The Arches, 253 Argyle Street, 565 1000. Four snapshots from the very worst moments of Scottee’s life from stealing money from his nan to pretending one of his friends committed suicide. Part of Glasgay!. Arts FREE I Am . . . Until Sat 9 Nov (not Mon & Sun), 11am–5.30pm. The Virginia Gallery, 45 Virginia Street, 552 5699. Exhibition put together by more than 20 young LGBT folks, talking about their experiences of being LGBT in the 21st century. Glasgay!. The Maw Broon Monologues Wed 30 Oct–Sat 9 Nov, 7.30pm (Sat 2.30pm also). £8–£16. Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, 552 4267. Maw Broon’s search for happiness takes in therapy, environmentalism, Tolstoy and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ in these new monologues by Jackie Kay. Glasgay!. Boy George: This Is What I Do Tour Thu 7 Nov, 8.30pm. £25. King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, 272a St Vincent Street, 221 5279. The Boy’s soap opera life continues with a new tour to support his latest album This Is What I Do.

Clubs Ballet Blue Presents . . . Sat 19 Oct, 9pm–3am. £20. The Poetry Club, 100 Eastvale Place, 357 7246. Leading boys and wanton women galore plus burlesque and DJs inspired by queer scenes from 1920s Berlin to London’s Heaven. TYCI Sat 19 Oct, 11pm–3am. Free before midnight; £2 after. Bloc+, 117 Bath Street, 574 6066. A live set from gloom pop four-piece Sharptooth and Birdcage on the decks, plus TYCI zines and a charity raffle. The BOMB Sun 27 Oct, 11pm–4am. £8. FabrIQ, 46a Queen Street, 248 8860. ‘The UK’s most explosive gay club’ playing house, electro and nu disco. Yes! Fri 1 Nov, 11pm–3am. Free before midnight; £5 after (students £3). The Flying Duck, 142 Renfield Street, 564 1450. Gay night that plays indie and guitar bands. Pretty Ugly Sat 9 Nov, 11pm–3am. £6 (£5 before midnight and students). The Admiral, 72a Waterloo Street, 221 7705. The Pretty Ugly girls play sexy, glamorous indie rock’n’roll, electro beats and 60s soul.

Watch out Edinburgh, there’s a new kid on the east coast block. Well, OK, chances are Dundee’s bookish extravaganza might never quite reach the exalted status of the capital’s world-beating literary fiesta but it’s making a very strong case for itself with a series of events that includes the likes of Nick Cave, Jackie Kay, Alan Warner, John Carey and Iain Banks (pictured) plus an all-day comics conference. Various venues, Dundee, until Sun 27 Jun.

MUSICAL THEATRE THE GATES Summerhall, Edinburgh Wed 16−Sat 19 Oct; Classic Grand, Glasgow Wed 23−Sat 26 Oct.

Rachel Jury, artistic director of conFAB and writer/director of The Gates, has a long association with Glasgay! ‘When I first moved to Glasgow, my first job was as a technician at Glasgay!’ she remembers. And in her career as a poet, she organised cabarets for the festival. ‘But this is the first time that conFAB has been part of Glasgay,’ she continues. ‘I am glad that the premiere of the musical is going to be part of the festival.’ It’s inspired by the famous club The Gateway that provided a refuge for lesbian woman during the less than inclusive atmosphere of postwar London. Jury observes: ‘This is everyone’s history. These women risked everything for the right to love and be loved.’

A cross between West Side Story and Cabaret, the musical has

London gangsters, star-crossed lovers and a lively score that takes it cues from blues, gospel and jazz. ‘I have written the show as a mainstream musical,’ says Jury. ‘The Gates is aimed at a wide audience.’ Composer Andrew Cruickshank is a regular conFAB collaborator,

recently providing the music for the company’s study of the Roma community in Glasgow, Music of Strangers: his score shows a healthy influence from Western and Eastern forms. It provides the backdrop for a plot that both pays respect to the women of the club and captures the drama of London underground scenes. Jury’s conFAB has developed a distinctive identity as a performance

company, splitting its work between community-orientated and professional shows. A core cast has been an important part of the process, and The Gates includes community and professional actors. ‘We are now up to 25 people for this show,’ says Jury. ‘It’s quite a handful, but it is important to maintain a community voice.’

As both a slice of social history and an entertaining modern musical,

The Gates promises a celebration of love, theatre, community and liberation. (Gareth K Vile)

Clubs BearScotFest Fri 18–Sun 20 Oct, times vary. £30 for a weekend ticket. Various venues: Edinburgh, bearscots.org.uk Those cuddly fellas at the Bear Scots once again welcome bears, cubs, chasers, otters and admirers for a weekend of parties, club nights, brunches and the crowning of Mr BearScot 2012. Club Noir Fri 1 Nov, 11pm–3am.

£15.50. The Picture House, 31 Lothian Road, 0844 847 1740. The Hallowe’en theme this time is ‘Horrorama’, with themed burlesque acts including Dracula’s Bride, Marilyn Back from the Dead, Rocky Horror Show and more. No jeans and trainers, please, although dressing up is positively encouraged. Hot Mess Fri 1 Nov, 11pm–3am. £5. Wee Red Bar, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place, 229 1442. A heady mix of disco, hi-NRG, acid house, Italo and electro from the safe hands of DJ Simonotron. Dive! Sun 3 Nov, 9pm–3am. £tbc. Henry’s Cellar Bar, 8–16 Morrison Street, 629 4101. Eclectic underground queer party, blending spoken word, live music and comedy with a kaleidoscopic soundtrack and a filthy disco to finish.

17 Oct–14 Nov 2013 THE LIST 79