SCOTSGAY MAGAZINE ================= ScotsGay is a monthly magazine for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Edited, printed and published in Scotland ScotsGay 80/- Heavy - Issue 53 - August 2003 ELECTRONIC EDITION ***Now available on the Web: http://www.scotsgay.co.uk/ How to Subscribe and Unsubscribe information is now at the END of the magazine. All Material Copyright (c) Pageprint Limited 2003. Permission is hereby given to distribute this material provided that this copyright notice is included and that distribution is specifically for non-profitmaking reasons. Distribution for profit must be done only with prior written consent of the magazine any deviation from this will be seen as an infringement of copyright. Hardcopies are limited to one per person for personal use only and such hard copies are subject to the same copyright restrictions as laid out above. The printed edition of ScotsGay is available by post at the following rates: 6 issue sub (UK & EC) GBP 8 6 issue sub (Overseas) GBP 15 12 issue sub (UK & EC) GBP 15 12 issue sub (Overseas) GBP 28 Make Cheques and POs payable to 'Pageprint'or 'ScotsGay' and send them to: Subscriptions ScotsGay Magazine PO Box 666 Edinburgh Scotland EH7 5YW Inside this issue: Editorial News Scottish Media Monitor Edinburgh Glasgow Dundee Aberdeen Edinburgh Fringe Festival Reviews Edinburgh International Film Festival Review Edinburgh Book Festival Review International News Voice Personals Boxes - the ScotsGay Meet Market Helplines Listings Venues --------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL ========= You may think that the Edinburgh Festival is half over. I think it is half to come! Following on from Pride Scotia earlier this year, the city has been a continuous rainbow of diversity and tolerance as long as you're reasonably selective about where you go. The place is awash with people - which means that the number of cute people has increased in direct proportion to the temporary increase in population. And this holds for whichever value of cute you prefer. As someone once said, "The best thing about the Festival is the new planeloads of American totty every week". LGBT people spill over from our own pubs and clubs into every hostelry in town and you can drink into the smaller hours than usual. Festival time in Edinburgh is a truly special time. And, it seems, it is a time that we may soon share with the good people of Glasgow. The two Lord Provosts have been on a peace mission and peace has broken out. The two cities are to bury their old rivalries and start working together to attract yet more tourists. It seems that some Edinburgh Festival events may actually take place in Glasgow in future. All to the good, I say. There can be too much of a good thing, even for Edinburgh. Let Glasgow take all the straight tourists and leave us the bent or bendable. After all, us Jessieburghers have to put up with a Clydeside boat that has no discernible link with the city as well as having seen a brewery levelled to allow the tardy erection of a tawdry talking shop. In fact, not only can Glasgow have the hetty tourists, but they're welcome to the bloody Britannia and the Scottish Parliament too! Could Edinburgh one day become the Brighton of the North? And Glasgow the Blackpool? John Hein E-mail: editorial@scotsgay.co.uk --------------------------------------------------------------- News ==== FIRST CENTRE FOR THE FORTH VALLEY On 21st July, Awards for All announced GBP 4720 funding for an LGBT drop in centre in Forth Valley. The flags LGBT centre, located at St. Crispin's Place, Falkirk is open Mon, Wed and Friday 7pm-9pm and welcomes lesbians, gay men, bi-sexual and transgenders from all parts of the Forth Valley and provides the latest Gay/Lesbian magazines, provision of condoms, lube and safer sex information coffee area and an advice/resource area. Icebreaker evenings are held at 7.30-9pm on the 1st Wed of each month. These informal gatherings allow people to meet in a safe and non-threatening environment. This is the first LGBT Centre in Forth Valley, and Flags LGBT group is hoping that with help and support from the LGBT community in the area they can continue to develop and increase their services to cover all the needs of the LGBT community. DOCTORED LIVINGSTON David Lewis, a gay man living in West Lothian, is currently on the case of the Chicago Rock Cafe in Livingston. He claims that he has been barred for "questioning the manageress" after raising with her the issue of two gay friends who had been ejected and barred for kissing. Currently, he and the owners, Luminar plc, are engaged in an exchange of letters with Luminar denying homophobia and claiming that the initial ejection was due to "two persons acting in an overtly sexual manner where their behaviour whilst kissing and fondling had passed a level which was deemed suitable in a public area. This decision had no relationship to sexuality: had this display involved either a mixed sex couple or a couple of the same sex, the request to leave and to bar would have been the same as requests to desist from this behaviour were treated initially with disdain and then with contempt." David remains unimpressed. He says that he has witnesses that the couple were never asked to stop canoodling but were merely asked to leave. HEALTH AND WELLBEING Over GBP 900,000 of public money is going into the new LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing Project which is due to open at 9 Howe Street in Edinburgh's New Town this month. Staff moved into the Centre in April and have been busy preparing and equipping the Centre as well as planning for an extensive programme of activity. The project aims to work in partnership with the LGBT Community and heath service providers to "achieve lasting improvements in the physical, mental and social wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people living in, and travelling to Edinburgh, East, West and Midlothian". However, one group, TransAlba, has already walked out of the Centre complaining that the Management Committee has been downgraded to an Advisory Committee and that promised provision of changing rooms for TV/TS meetings has failed to materialise. The Centre's web site is at http://www.lgbhealth.org.uk/ GRIN AND... Stuart, from Glasgow, was the winner of the recent Mr BearScots competition. Following the great success of BearScotFest II BearScots again welcomes bears and bear-lovers from around the world for this years' BearScotFest. They have a range of events planned for the weekend of October 3-5, including a dance night at the Laughing Duck, their regular bears' sauna at the Townhouse, their bears' pub night at the Claremont and a bears' buffet and tour of Edinburgh on the Sunday. Last year nearly 100 people attended the event, including many bears from overseas. This year thge organisers are already getting inquiries from overseas bears about the event so it should be a good time! Keep the dates free in your diary. You can contact BearScots through their web site at http://www.bearscots.org.uk HIGHLAND FLING As part of a needs assessment exercise involving visits to local LGBT communities all over Scotland, Beyond Barriers Project Manager Ruth Henry visited Inverness in August 2002. It was from that meeting and the results of the 'First Out Research' that Beyond Barriers decided on Inverness as the venue for its first conference which will be held in the Ramada Jarvis Hotel on Sat 13th and Sun 14th Sep. Although the conference is being organised by Beyond Barriers, it is an important opportunity for the Highland LGBT Forum to raise its profile and to raise the profile of Inverness as a city which supports social justice. The Forum hopes to draw attention to the particular needs of LGBT people in the Highlands and discuss how these can best be addressed. To this end, part of the Forum's GBP 5000 grant will be spent on the conference and subsequently on taking issues forward from it. Programme Highlights The opening speaker is Margaret Smith MSP who was outed in May this year by The Daily Record after another tabloid attempted to blackmail her into coming out. Separated from her husband 3 years ago, she now lives in Edinburgh with her 2 children. Lesbian author Ellen Galford is involved with The Living Memory Association at the Museum of Edinburgh. She will speak about The Remember When project to celebrate the LGBT communities' rich history in Edinburgh. Delegates can also attend two different 90-minute workshops covering issues such as health, law reform, ageing/ageism, T inclusion, community planning and challenging homophobia. An additional workshop will focus on self-esteem. LGBT Youth Scotland will provide a workshop for young people, and for those of you feeling creative there will be a workshop on lantern making and decoration. Entertainment A free evening of entertainment will be open to conference goers and members of the local LGBT community and their friends. This will include lesbian singer-songwriter Lorna Brooks who has toured with Horse and received much acclaim for her own albums. Check her out online at http://www.lornabrooks.com/ It is hoped to start the night with a DJ and end with a ceilidh! Put it in your diary now: from 8.30pm on Sat 13th Sep in the downstairs function suite (with bar) at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Church Street, Inverness. Contact the Highland LGBT Forum for more information - see listings (pages 24-25). VANDALS The Feuars Arms in Kirkcaldy had one of its beautiful listed leaded windows destroyed recently when a paving slab was thrown through it. Homophobes are thought to be responsible. WADOC There will be a meeting of WADOC at Waverley Care Solas on 1 September at 5pm. The meeting will receive an update on plans for a permanent memorial and be an opportunity for agencies to talk about their plans for WAD. If plans for the memorial are at a final stage then the meeting will be an EGM with a view to disbanding WADOC. PRIDE 2003 IN INVERNESS Discussions are underway for a Pride party to be held at The Gate in October. If you don't already know this gay-owned cafe/bar opposite the main post office in Inverness, you are missing out on a gay-friendly atmosphere with food, coffee and music thrown in! Happy 'hour' runs from 6-9pm daily. They have special nights such as a Fantasy Party from time to time and hosted a Red Ribbon event last December for World AIDS Day. It is also the venue for Girls @ The Gate twice a month. ABERDEEN Granite Sisters - a social and cultural group for older lesbians - have decided to host a new type of event for gay women of all ages. 4-2-9 Dance and Chat will be held on Sun 7th Sep from 4-9pm at Aberdeen Arts Centre, Kings Street, Aberdeen. Cost: GBP 3. This daytime /early evening dance with a separate quiet cafE area will enable women to meet, talk, dance, have a cuppa or drink and light snack. They also organise other events regularly in Aberdeen and the surrounding area. For contact details, see listings (pages 24-25). JOB ROAM, the Edinburgh based project, is looking for a Harm Reduction Worker (Sexual Health) It's E Grade or equivalent, 15 hours per week, GBP 17,105-GBP 20,655 (pro rata). Closing date 22nd Aug. --------------------------------------------------------------- Scottish Media Monitor ====================== Garry Otton on Sexual Morality For anyone looking to make a fast buck in the morality industry, it's boom time! The numbers of people dismissed for dropping into sex sites or distributing sexy images in the workplace is on the up. Wouldn't it be simpler to admit we are all hopelessly prudish and install Net Nanny as standard on all workplace computers? From something most of us derive a good deal of pleasure, be that a bit of a giggle or a life enhancing hand shandy, the media can only collapse hopelessly into paroxysms of finger wagging. Reports involving erotica seldom appear in the papers without niggling, negative paraphrasing. Anand Moodley was in The Daily Record because he thought it was more likely he had been sacked because of his colour rather than the fact "he was disciplined for looking at sick images from sex sites and forced out his job". The "dad-of-two", as The Record described him, claimed he had no idea how to surf the net and was "bewildered" when the "filthy images" (The Record's description), were mailed to him. Backed by Scotland's popular media, a moral crackdown in Glasgow continues with a new Licensing Board chief and its former convenor, Jim 'call me Mary Whitehouse' Coleman installed as depute leader of Glasgow City Council. The prudish Sunday Mail's chief reporter Charles Lavery was back at the tabloid's favourite haunt, the Park Grove sauna in Glasgow, to witness efforts to close them down. A "source" from the Force warned, "a clampdown was underway". Owner Hugh O'Donnell and his sister Christine Brown were charged with living off "immoral earnings". But whose morals? The "source" was quoted saying: "There will no longer be the same tolerance of saunas because they cause problems in the areas they are based and can, in some cases, attract undesirable elements of society". The report quickly rummaged around for a suitable "undesirable element" and found one of the key operators, a "flamboyant gambler". Let's face it; "undesirable elements" have been queuing to see what Park Grove sauna has had to offer for some time now. Starting with The Scottish News of the World, in a previous report they begged: "Help us to expose Scotland's seedy sex industry" after spotting a blonde "wearing a figure-hugging gown with high heels - but when she bent over it was clear she had NOTHING on underneath". The Herald gasped: "Sexual acts were described, some involving chains and whips". Glasgow's Evening Times found "twelve women working as sex slaves" and moral vigilant Jim 'call me Mary Whitehouse' Coleman declared it "the nearest thing to slavery in the 21st century". In none of the reports was there a single mention of sex workers rights or their protection in the workplace. Efforts to circumvent moral authoritarianism were now thrown back in the face of Park Grove sauna by The Sunday Mail: "Last year bosses at Park Grove claimed lapdance poles were there to aid disabled clients while flashing disco lights were there to help autistic children. They also claimed wall-mounted chains, shackles and mirrored ceilings were just for decoration. But they failed to fool licensing chiefs who took their licence away". (It was later renewed). Park Grove owner Christine Brown has claimed women had brought in their disabled sons in wheelchairs for massages, which, if this were the case, was absolutely commendable. Yes, disabled people have sexual rights too! With very little else to throw at Brown and O'Donnell, The Mail focused on something else: "Last year, O'Donnell admitted he once spent GBP 40,000 on a bid to fix a horse race". He owned a horse called Mentalasanything and has spoken openly of the extent of race fixing in Scotland. With some surprise I read how "an ex-soldier was convicted of breach of the peaceÉ for kissing his mate". Of course, it is not the first time such a banal act has provoked such moral fervour. Two years after Section 5 of the 1986 Public Order Act had been drafted, ostensibly to protect us from football hooligans, it was used to prosecute two 19-year-olds for kissing each other in a London street. Public order laws can be used in all sorts of ways as Joseph Stewart found to his cost when he was charged with behaving in a way likely to cause a breach of the peace and fined by Aberdeen Sheriff Court in 1989 for walking through a red-light district in women's clothes. So here we are in 2003 with two 38-year-old men, William Morrison and David Wallace, engaging in a story of kiss-and-tell for the benefit of readers of The Daily Record. Police had originally charged Morrison with assault after Wallace claimed he had kissed him several times to start a fight. But the sheriff found Morrison, of Musselburgh, East Lothian, guilty "of kissing Mr Wallace on the cheek only once". Morrison told the court: "He called me gay and a poof. After he called me a poof I kissed him on the cheek". I was invited on Graham Stewart's programme on Real Radio. Graham's real remit is business news, but he doesn't mind a bit of sexual frisson as he looks through the papers on a Sunday morning. Only a bit, mind! It's better than BBC Radio Scotland who drag in tired journalists to praise each other's work in the papers on weekday mornings. Graham Stewart often invites Matt Bendoris from The Scottish Sun. Graham expressed some astonishment at some of the conservative views this 'journalist' had expressed on his programme. Maybe that's why he invited me - with nothing but a square metre of cheap cord separating us - to challenge Bendoris on a few points. Although I'm sure he would deny it, Bendoris is a typical Sun journalist on matters of the flesh. Conservative, ill-informed and fairly narrow-minded. Like the tabloid he works for, the mere mention of the subject sets him babbling on about the protection of 'innocent' children. (Even more emphatically than his tabloid does when 'our boys' blow them up in Iraq)! On the programme Matt defended his editor Bruce Waddell's outrageously conservative stand over the repeal of Section 28 in Scotland and the astonishing leaders that appeared at the time, which sought to justify Section 28's retention with quotes from the Bible! Bendoris revealed that his paper hired a leader writer who happened to be a religionist and that Bruce Waddell did not write the editorials. As editor, Waddell is responsible for the twaddle that appears in his newspaper and I still maintain is guilty as charged. Over the gay dentist affair (ScotsGay 51a; Scottish Media Monitor Aug 2003), Sun reporters printed a picture of a gay dentist they stole from a gay website, Bendoris insisted the man shouldn't have been publicising himself in this way and told listeners of his concern that someone, (another supposed 'innocent'), seeking a dentist, might type in this man's name and come across these pictures. But this man didn't use his name and his picture appeared on a gay website clearly stating the sort of sexual interests that attracted him. Bendoris suggested reporters had agonised over whether or not to run this story before publication. He remained resolute, insisting, with not just a little arrogance: "The Scottish Sun never hangs its head in shame". A pity. A little humility does no one any harm. But my biggest on-air faux pas that morning was when I referred to the homoerotic qualities of S.N.O.T. World's sport's coverage as "wank fodder", although, I am sure, we will all be familiar with such language from time spent in school playgrounds. But in the polite world of broadcasting it is 'vagina', not 'beaver' and 'mammary glands' not 'bazookers'. My choice of words had clearly been inspired by my years of reading The Sun. A bigoted, homophobic, narrow-minded paper that chills the battered haddock it wraps. I can only hang my head in shame. Old Mother (Joan) Burnie, The Daily Record's dinosaur of an agony aunt got my crayons rattling with her 'I Love Marriage' sloganeering and moral self righteousness over an alleged letter from a "thirtysomething" married bisexual. After 10 years of marriage he'd fallen "head over heels" for another man. After being stupid enough to write to Old Mother Burnie for advice on whether his feelings were "normal" so "late in life", he was soon rammed up against the newsprint by the old crone under the heading "I've a wife but I love a man". He was whipped for being a "daft teenager", a sexual "tourist" and "just another common or garden variety married man who would like a bit on the side and wraps it up as some grand passion instead of what it most probably is - either a passing fancy or pure lust". There has been a great deal written about so-called 'sexual tourism', a concept eagerly swallowed by Old Mother Burnie. It has been nourished by Michael Houllebecq's novel Plateforme where Michel, a sexual tourist travels through Thailand gorging an insatiable sexual appetite or, and more in keeping with Burnie's Catholic roots, in the permanent observer of the Holy See's book, The Archipelago of Shame, Sexual Tourism and Paedophilia, aimed at influencing the World Tourist Organisation on so-called sexual tourism. Houllebecq had made the point that westerners had forgotten how to love; the Catholic Church had not only forgotten that, but how to have good sex too! Old Mother Burnie unhelpfully "advised" from Planet Burnie "you have evidently decided you are bisexual which, I suppose, gives you even more scope as well as self-justification for doing whatever you pleaseÉ some sort of free spirit who refuses to be confined by the usual boring conventions". Off to the gas chambers with him, then! If there were to be any victims here of the stoical convention of marriage, it was most certainly not this bisexual man, brain-washed and shepherded into something unsuitable, or even the first gay victims of his confused forays into gay life, it was his wife. "Remember her?" needled an indignant Old Mother Burnie. "Clearly you don't think she matters". I find that very unlikely. Such men are all too often distressed and confused by feelings of guilt, love and commitment to their wife and family and a need to express an emerging passion smothered by convention. "Those vows you took in either the registry office or churchÉ don't only count, but mean you are not free to chase after anyone else at all, male or female", warned Old Mother Burnie. Not so, mon cherie! Many partners survive perfectly well in flexible and open relationships. And with her pointed references to his "swinging sexuality", neither should this be an excuse to brand bisexuals with the mistaken idea they are all sexually promiscuous, unable to make long term commitments with either an Arthur or a Martha. A letter to The Record from a married gay man who had suffered a major breakdown after the stress of parting with his wife injected a modicum of sanity into Burnie's arguments, but another letter marked "name and address supplied" was from a woman whose husband left her for another man. "I have to say, Joan, that I blame some of it on people like you and the media. They've not only made homosexuality acceptable, but fashionable. (Excuse meÉ?) People think it's something to try like fancy coffee. Well it isn't and the misery it causes ordinary people shouldn't be ignored. Tell this man to behave himself and to grow up". Well, of course, Old Ma Burnie did just that. But like fancy coffee, you never forget a good cup! Garry Otton's book SEXUAL FASCISM is published by Ganymede Books priced GBP 8.99. E-mail: garry@scottishmediamonitor.com Now averaging over 1000 hits a day, read the papers, post your comments or search for material at the SCOTTISH MEDIA MONITOR website: http://www.scottishmediamonitor.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------- Dun Eideann/Edinburgh ===================== Well we have truly been blessed this Summer in terms of the weather. Everyone seems to go mad...the tops come off, all parts of the milky white typically Scottish body are shown and those who revel in toasting themselves under sunbeds come out to show off! For those of us who are self conscious we just need to sit back with our pints of lager and fags, raging with jealousy of those who are disciplined enough to actually use their gym membership rather than just having it looking pretty when reconciling the bank account at the end of the month. Well the good weather has benefited all the venues, minus the saunas as the regulars chose the outdoor cruising areas! Everyone seems to go mad at the festival - coming out drooling with anticipation over all the tourists who will be coming to town in dire need for a shag. I haven't seen very many have you? Instead of letting go of all inhibitions, we go out with the intention of hunting out some fresh meat and making them part of our 'community' And I am not tarnishing everyone with the same brush here (only 80%) Don't believe me? Next time you are out at any of the venues check out the animals wanting to hunt out prey, probably targeting somebody looking lost and na•ve, making eye contact then going in for the kill! All venues have extended hours, most of them open until 3am with the exception of CC Blooms which is open until 5am! Planet Out is planning a mega charity fundraiser for Waverley Care at the end of September. Yup I know it's loadsa notice but I am giving all you generous punters time to donate lovely prizes and make space in that busy schedule of yours. Fab prizes will be on offer and resident compere Miss Ima Hoore will be providing the evening's entertainment. Music will be camper than a row of tents and the atmosphere should be electric. It's a chance to let yourself go (which I know will be a chore!) Monday nights are still heavin'. Entry is GBP 2 then GBP 1 a drink on selected booze (All drinks are premium spirits!) On Tuesday's Planet hosts the pre VIBE party with cheap drinks and resident DJ Ol' Blue Eyes is on the decks providing the tunes. If you haven't already, head along for Fruit Salad with DJs John Pleased and Morgan providing music with a policy of - anything goes!! Follow the fun at midnight over to Fun at Club EGO and party till 3am, cheap entry and cheap drinks, what more could you ask for? Habana has a licence until 3am. Cheap drinks are on the go Mon-Wed, check out the specials board when in as selected specials run until close. DJ Chris is on the decks on a Monday, Quizieoke capers take place on a Thursday. Friday and Saturday evenings have DJ Johnboy on the decks providing a non stop Mardi Gras of entertainment for all of you drunken lushes out there. Alan Joy has finally opened his new pub, the Regent. Our pic shows Brother Bimbo with Alan Joy and Lisa as the Beer Engines receive an OPI blessing. Situated on Montrose Terrace opposite the Stag and Turret, this airy spacious pub should prove to be an excellent venue for all. And it serves a jolly decent pint of real ale too. The Holyrood Tavern, which has been on the market for a while, looks as if it is finally going to be sold. However, it will be playing host to the Campaign for Real Ale's Lesbian and Gay Drinkers' Annual Beer Festival from 5th-7th Sep. Wee Alan E-mail: weealan@drink.demon.co.uk --------------------------------------------------------------- Glaschu/Glasgow =============== Salutations and felicitations gentle folk. I will now tell you a cautionary tale. In the early hours of Saturday morning 2nd August, I was walking back from a friend's house in the East End of Glasgow. Unusually for me, I was slightly the worse for wear when I spied a group of Neds walking down the street towards me. Now normally I would discreetly cross over the road and avoid them. However on this occasion they were on both sides of the road and indeed walking on the road itself. So I carried on walking up towards them minding my own business. Where upon one of the Neds spotted me and started hurling abuse. I kept walking! Then one of them ran up, spat in my face and backed off - the usual big brave man that these kind of people are. I kept on walking! I crossed over the road and continued walking. Then one of them approached me and started asking me if I knew what the time was. I was tired and ask him to go away and leave me alone and kept on walking. He then punched me on the jaw. Fortunately, I didn't get knocked down and I kept walking. He moved back off to join his mates. I got home, cleaned up and went to bed with a sore jaw. The following morning I rang a friend who came round and suggested I go to the Accident and Emergency Department at the Royal Infirmary. After a 3-1Ú2 hour wait I got to see a doctor. I was X-rayed and it was confirmed I have a broken jaw. It is serious and may need surgery. So the moral of this tale is, if you are tired and worse for wear, even if you know the neighbourhood, get a cab. Neds get brave when they have a drink in them. I broke my own rules, I acted like a victim and they took the opportunity presented to them. I have lived in the East End of Glasgow for 4-1Ú2 years. Apart from verbal abuse, generally from a distance, I have had no problems, but this goes to show that you have to be aware and on your guard at all times. I got careless and paid the price. Whether we like it or not this is the world we live in, ignorance and aggression are a dangerous combination. If something similar happens to you or someone you know. Call the police as soon as possible, they are there to help and time is critical. Preserve the evidence if someone spits at you, they can be identified by their DNA. Try and get a good look at them. Your description can be used to confirm an identity on CCTV footage especially in the centre of town. For the record I have just learnt this lesson the hard way. This is your opportunity to learn from my mistakes. Okay on with the motley, as this is a Fringe Festival edition of the magazine, most of the space is dedicated to that. However we do still have a night life in Glasgow. The next night for club Mystyx is 30th Aug. A great centre of the city venue, ideal for those who like their perversions served straight with a twist! Doors open at 8pm and close at 1am, The entrance fees are the same as usual, GBP 5 for members, GBP 8 for non-members. Membership is available on the door at GBP 5 for a year. Location is the basement of Blackfriars Bar, Bell Street, Glasgow. Dress code is fetish and black. The B.U.R.L.Y nights will now be twice a month (second Sat and last Fri of the month) from August. However this will only continue if people support the club nights. Aug 28th sees their "Black & Leather" night and their Birthday Party, to be held at The Arches on Fri 12th Sep, will have a birthday cake and drink promos for club members. Wee Alan has asked me to tell you that DJ Georgey Boy is no longer part of the fun at Cube. The charismatic DJ is now with Sadie Frosts and Bennets on Tue and Wed evenings. If you are through in Edinburgh you can catch Georgey Boy at CC Blooms karaoke on Thu/Sun. So once again I reach the end of another column. The desperate scraping of the bottom of the barrel can cease for a few weeks. Which should please the neighbours as the noise drives them crazy! Remember folks, whatever you find to do: be safe. Angharad E-mail: angharad@drink.demon.co.uk --------------------------------------------------------------- Dun Deagh/Dundee ================ Despite the very incredible lack of safe sex information on the gay scene in Dundee, it was good to hear that the percentage of those diagnosed with Aids in the area in the last year were mainly believed to be through heterosexual sex and not the homosexuals. With such a cash-starved health service, the money goes to the majority. We must hope that the gay community do not forget the safe sex promotions of the past so that we again do not become the leaders in this unpleasant league. Don't get me wrong, there is still some money being spent on getting the safe sex message over to you. The massive question is where is that money going to and why do we never see the safe sex team on the gay scene or in the crnising areas. Perhaps they believe their jobs are safe with the petty politics they play in the NHS. lf you think we deserve better, then contact the Local Health Council and let them know. "The best ever night in Charlies" was the description most repeated after the charity drag party last Thursday. Charlie and Ian were delighted by the numbers who took part. Nobody seemed to mind the slower than usual service as the staff got used to high heels instead of the customary slippers. With such a great success the hunt is on for something exciting for the other days of the year. It would have been great to have a professional drag act on as the guys promised when they took over but apparently they are too dear. Bring on Slasher Reilly or Bob's Shirley Bassey - both will do it cheap! Brooklyns got a share of the camp action too prior to the good 'ladies' heading to the club for their busy Thursday night with Reilly on the decks and a few more lying around well intoxicated. Must be the alcohol in all that make up or the VK buy one get one free, which the club put on. Many doubting queens did not believe that Out Clubbing could have booked the American superstar Ultra Nate. But she did appear recently, or is that lately, at the club to bring the local holiday fortnight to a close. Belting out the hits that we have all danced to over the last four or five years she got us all singing along with her in an action packed half hour show. Paddy decided to become her dancer but forgot to ask the Diva or the Grump - so his career ended abruptly. Extra karaoke was held in Brooks over the holiday and Suzie gave away bottles of vodka to the winners on the Mondays. I hear karaoke on Mondays are not to be a regular occurrence so the best pre Mardi fun is still at Lloyds on a Monday. The staff at the pub are looking for ways to get us in earlier to the pub. Suggestions of strippers and drag shows are not so interesting as more cheap drink deals. Dundee and Aberdeen are to be on the Hazell Dean tour in the last weekend in September. She is still popular on the gay circuit with young and old. I remember a couple of years ago she appeared and guys came through from Glasgow especially. I also remember extending some Dundee shall we say hospitality to one guy's meat so a big welcome back Hazell and Ian - I think that was his name. Sadly DJ Ross is heading to Manchester in a well publicised secret departure. Club boss Brian is said to be upset. Whether that is because he is losing a good Sunday DJ orÉ another reason, he isn't saying. So who will be Ross's replacement (I mean as a DJ - don't panic Sir David) for Sundays as it is a hard act to follow both musically and the dress sense. Good luck Ross - cum back soon. Bar staff at the club have changed recently and the lovely Mel has been replaced by the spunky well toned guy called Brian. It's a welcome addition and something to drool over whilst waiting for a pint. We will of course still drool over Dean especially with his nipple exposing t-shirt. The new music bar planned for the area next to Brooklyn is now ready and just awaiting the music clips to be edited on video. It's planned to open late every night to possibly 2.30am including Mondays and Tuesdays and a charge for entry is only made after midnight of about GBP 3. Thanks to Madam Grumpy's friends for passing over that info as the good lady has not returned our Editor's phone calls. Will it open in September and which year will that be? SHAFTED --------------------------------------------------------------- Obar Dheadhainn/Aberdeen ======================== It's been hot, it's been sticky, there's boyz 'n' girlz in their short shorts and tight t-shirts (nice!) and the short fat balding one has an extremely sun burnt scalp! So whilst you're topping up your tan, take some time out to read the latest info for the expanding Grampian scene. Cube: Yes, Sal's has been renamed Cube and is welcoming any who wishes to part with their hard earned pink pounds to partake in a drink or three in the bar before heading upstairs to Out. Drink promos to be confirmed, but I can exclusively reveal (I feel like a real hack!!) Karaoke is on its way to Cube! OUT Club: News from our friends at Out have confirmed that Frankie is now officially the club manager (straight from Madame Grumpy's very own mouth!) and the club continues with new acts coming up to entertain you. On the 8th August Ultra Nate performed to a large and appreciative crowd, with special performances by the likes of Hazell Dean at the end of September and many more acts to be confirmed, the club is going all out for your custom. Sundays see the introduction of the 2-4-1 Good Vodka promo as well as the usual drink offers continuing. The punters at Out seem to be very happy with the new sound and lighting rigs, giving a loud and bright start to any weekend. Madame Grumpy passes on his best wishes to the new ventures due to open in Aberdeen and let the scene prosper. Abacos is open 7 days a week with meals (fantastic all day breakfast as a hang over cure) at reasonable prices served from Noon to 7pm. The bar has an in-house DJ (John) playing house and chart dance stuff every Saturday. The drinks promos march on with 2 bottles of 'C' Cider for GBP 1.50, House Doubles only GBP 2.00 and the usual 2-4-1 specials. Opening hours are 11am-Midnight Sun to Thu and 11am-1am Fri and Sat. Indigo (formerly 'Oh Henry's') in the Adelphi was due to open its doors to all you disco bunnies on the 16th Aug (spotted the mistake yet? yip in last month's column I said the 1st, so slap me!! Pleaseeeeeee!!) This is Oh Henry's second coming out and with a new name, refurbishments and drinks promotions promises to be one of the places to be seen in. Indigo will be open 7 nights a week from 5pm-2am on school nights and till 3am at the weekends. Free entry on weeknights and free before midnight at the weekends with a GBP 3 entry fee or GBP 2 with flyer after Midnight. If you want a comfy seat get there early to avoid disappointment. Mint (formerly 'Mr. G's') Will (the Manager) was slightly hung-over when I talked to him having spent the previous night and early morning at CC Blooms, so this is just a taster for what is to come. Mint opens on 5th Sep and is a mixed club housed in that old Aberdeen stalwart of the club scene Mr. G's. The club is currently being refurbished ready for the opening night. A mix of sounds from Camp to House and Dance music will keep you all entertained with more word on special events and promotions to come later. Wellman's have launched a special offer for students wishing to join the health club. A lifetime membership fee of GBP 20 (includes the first session) thereafter GBP 5 per visit. The sauna now has two video and DVD areas. North East Scotland Gay Group kicks off its Autumn to Summer session on Sun 21st Sep at 7.30pm, the first meeting to be held at the PHACE Scotland offices at 21-23 Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen. The group is open to men of all ages and meets on the third Sunday of each month. NESGG is a social and befriending group with some meetings attended by a visiting speaker. For more information contact the PHACE Scotland offices on Aberdeen (01224) 587166 or by e-mail. Pride 'o' Moray LGBT Group also kicks off in September with a meeting at the Health Promotions office, High Street, Elgin on Thu 25th Sep at 7.30pm. The group is being restarted to find out what provision of services are available and required for people living in the Moray area. For more information contact PHACE Scotland. Granite Sisters have asked me to remind you about Scotland's first 'Dance & Chat' for gay women at the Aberdeen Arts Centre on Sun 7th Sep from 4-9pm, open to all ages. Tickets are GBP 3 each. As this is a bit of history in the making, come along and be part of the legend. By visiting the 4-2-9 website you can also see what accommodation is available as it is the "in thing" to travel to events. The centre is closed to the public on a Sunday so the 'Dance & Chat' is exclusively for those who want to go along. Contact Granite Sisters on Aberdeen (01224) 713336 or E-mail: 4-2-9@clara.co.uk for details. Granite Sisters is now very much a Scotland wide group, with meetings in Tayside and throughout Grampian scheduled for the year ahead. A subgroup of Granite Sisters is the Spirituality Group, which hold regular events of Rainbow Web Weaving. Grampian Gender Group (3G) is having a change in the group's contact times. The number is staying the same 07050 562175 but you will only be able to contact them on Monday nights 7-9pm. The group is helping in the work being carried out by the Inclusion in Health Project, looking at Transgendered health needs. So if you're interested in having your say in improving current health provision then drop a line to andrear@ phacescotland.org and Andrea will no doubt fill you in (chortle!). Otherwise the group offers the usual mix of tea, biscuits, chat and bitchin'. As the fine sultry nights continue more and more guyz are out cruising so the local boyz 'n' girlz in blue (the police) asked me to pass on some personal safety stuff for the guyz who go cruising: 1. Never take any more money than you need to, if possible leave your wallet with the bulk of your hard earned readies and charge/credit cards at home and keep your cash or bank card somewhere safe (not the back pocket of your jeans). 2. If you have one carry a personal attack alarm, if you don't see the fab people at PHACE and they can get you one. 3. Always make yourself aware of the area you are in, find the best route of escape, you may need it. 4. Try and be aware of what is happening around you, if it feels unsafe leave and come back later. 5. If possible go along with someone else, now this may seem a wee bit silly but they might like cruising too. 6. If you're approached by someone you don't like the look of or if they give you the creeps walk away. 7. If you have a mobile phone programme this number into it - Aberdeen (01224) 386000 - Grampian Police HQ - it could be a life saver. 8. If you see someone being attacked and you can safely get away to a safe distance, try and get a good description of the attacker, phone the police, make your presence known by shouting or by using the attack alarm and only wade in to assist if the person leaves the area. If in doubt run like fuck then phone! 9. Finally, never put yourself at risk. Happy cruising. Grampian Police will continue to occasionally send patrol cars to the cruising areas to keep an eye on things. If you are worried about anything, don't be afraid to speak to them, they are human and unless you're shagging something on the bonnet of your Mondeo you've nothing to worry about! Final Fairy Thought: OK so you've all bitched about it for long enough, now you have an Aberdeen scene to be proud of. With a total of five venues (yip, count them, five!!) vying for your money. Now the ole cynic in me says "It'll never last" but if we are sensible and spread our cash out evenly there is no reason why we can't keep all of them going. Let's face it a change of venue to visit over the weekend or on one night is fab, just look at Edinburgh and Glasgow. If the central belt can do it, so can we! I'm off to mount my steed (watch it now!) and ride off into the sunset on yet another bike lesson, how bloody difficult can it be to pass a motorbike test? Give me four wheels and a steel box around me any day! Hopefully by the time I get round to writing the next column I'll be a fully fledged gay biker!! As always be happy, apply plenty of sun block, play safe and remember, "Let's be careful out there" Mark Thomson E-mail: markt@phacescotland.org Tel: Aberdeen (01224) 587166 --------------------------------------------------------------- Fringe Reviews ============== No idea what you might want to see? Our intrepid reviewers have a few suggestions. A Very Naughty Boy Pleasance Courtyard until 25 August A slightly nervy look at Monty Python's alcoholic homosexual - this play is more the life of Graham Chapman as told by John Cleese. You can imagine Cleese screaming at any moment, "He's not a genius, he's a very naughty boy!" Adrian Poynton's Chapman is convincing, looking much more the part than Tom Price's Cleese. Price is simply much to short - though his almost perfect Cleese voice and face ensures you forget this in moments. Lines taken from the Python shows and films pepper the whole show, there is some real humour here - by far the best bit is the depiction of Chapmen's University Interview which plays brilliantly on the classic Python 'argument' sketch. Chapman and Cleese wrote together over several decades - and it's fitting that the show ends with the regrets of Cleese But the best bits in this play are the Python gags - and I wanted more of them.*** Mel and Sue Pleasance Courtyard until 17 August We are in familiar territory here. You've seen Late Lunch, Celebrity Big Brother and the Kingsmill ads. I'm told that they pop up on some Breakfast TV show too. What you have seen on the telly - you get on the stage for an hour. Though perhaps, on reflection, you get a little bit more. The Jackie and Sam holiday resort stuff was edgier as was the quip about the Spanish Soap Opera "It's like EastEnders but with Spics in it." You will laugh yourself silly - you won't be able to help it. It's all a bit loose round the edges, it does sometimes go wrong - but that simply adds to the audience's enjoyment. Mel and Sue are having a good time up there and they are letting us play along with it.**** Jason Wood - Gets His Hits Out For the Lads After success last year, the camp singing impersonator is back with a new show. For those not familiar, Jason is a very good mimic who does the likes of Alison Moyet, Craig David and Sarah Brightman perfectly - but also has a strong line in audience banter (and abuse). His show this year had more stand up stuff and some new imperinations, but he picked on the front row audience members mercilessly. Some people were simply too tense to have a good time. A real shame that.*** Sam 'n' Emma in Pop Tarts - Pleasance Courtyard until 25th August Emma Taylor and Samantha Sanns are terrific performers, speeding away through loosely connected comic sketches around a story that doesn't really matter. One minute they are pole dancers, the next they are cannibalistic mountaineers or TV presenters. You know that clasic Pulp Fiction moment when John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson discus burgers? Abnormal people in offbeat worlds who talk just like us. Sam 'n' Emma also convey that feel. And these characters are more like us than we would want to admit. It's astonishing to find that the writers, choreographer and director are all men. Clearly these guys write for women well. You gay guys will enjoy it - the whole thing is so camp - but it's the women in the audience that will really love this show.**** Bad Play C Chambers Street until 24 August Bad Play has a dreadful premise, terrible script and some awful techie fucking up the lighting. Everyone involved with Bad Play should be killed. Pass me the keys to that aeroplane.* Shamlet C Central until 24th August A fictitious group of random lovie thesps, a nun and Dervish get together to stage Hamlet (or possibly Hamlet - the Musical). Then Shakespeare's ghost persuades a member of the cast to dig up his corpse and recover the 'lost plays' buried with him. Havoc ensues. It quickly becomes obvious that the plot is not the most immportant thing here - which is no bad thing. Harry Dickman's Shakespeare gets all the best lines. This is an openly gay Shakespeare with attitude and an awful wife who has too a sharp tongue. As for the lovie thesps - Louis Brownhill's Dervish deserves great credit for making an open beautiful face look really really stupid. Also Shamlet writer /cast member Andew Doyle somehow manages to play the whole thing totally serious and straight - a testament to his acting. Perhaps the stage was too big for the cast - which lead to some sloppy looking directing. But this is a minor fault in a genuinely hilarious production. If Chris Morris wrote Acorn Antiques then you would be half way to Shamlet.**** Shakespeare for Breakfast C Chambers Street until 24 August More Shakespeare for fun in a very different show. The worst part is the 10am time slot. The second worst is the audience participation. But with a chirpy cast and a free breakfast - Shakespeare for Breakfast get away with it. This time it's Macbeth that is getting the treatment. We have Lady 'MacDeath', complete with leather trousers and a whip, and more gender bending cast members than the Ladyboys of Bangcock. The puns are awful. But there are far worse ways of starting your Fringe day.*** Charlie Ross in Tracksuits and Munchkins CO2 Oxygen until 24 August Charlie is a stand up comic on a journey through growing up, teaching PE and coming out. But you don't have to be a friend of Dorothy to love this man - the most homophobic audience member would be joining Mardi Gras after an hour in his company. Nor is this just another coming out story. It's also a wee trip through the history of popular culture. The Doctor Who gags in particular score direct hits as do the stories of sadistic school games and slowly changing attitudes. Although the willingness of the audience to 'join in the fun' is a major part of the show, one never feels threatened or reluctant to participate. The trick to Charlie's act is his normallness. You quickly realise that in Charlie, gay comedy has grown up beyond the 'look at me I'm a big poof routine' and come of age. If you are considering coming out to your parents - take them to this show first. He really is that good. In short, Charlie is a new Scottish comedy genius (rare that, these days). And he's one of us.***** Hardcore Pleasance Dome until 25 August With the flyers and posters that have been doing the rounds, do you really need a review of Hardcore? Isn't this just this years 'Cock Play'? Indeed, it would be totally right to suggest that the best thing about Hardcore are the fit bodies of Craig (Alex Hassel), Kevin (Simon Thomas), Robert (Chris Redmond) and Martin (Phil Matthews). Four boys who get together to shoot a porn film. Craig has been in these movies before, streetwise, but always short of cash, he deals 'E' on the sly. He staggers along the his emotional journey throughout the play - indeed we learn much more about him than the others. Kevin is an alleged heterosexual who is there for the cash. Constantly on the phone to his girlfriend, he seems to enjoy the sex scenes a little too much. Robert is living the life of Riley with his cashed up older partner. Why he wants to be in a gay porn film is not sufficiently explained - surely not just to get laid? Martin though, is by far my favourite character (and the, ahem, best looking). Young, naive, he talks to much - he's looking for love. Like Craig he also goes on a journey, but in the opposite direction. Here we see what effect the porn industry can have on even the most intelligent young man. Ultimately we are dealing with cliched characters in a cliched world. But don't let that put you off too much - this play does have something to say.**** NewsRevue 2003 C Chambers Street until 25 August After 24 years on the Fringe, it would be disappointing if veteran satirists NewsRevue, didn't raise a smile or two. And they do - especially with the George W Bush material and the 'If I was Israeli' skit. But 9/11, Diana's death and Dr. Shipman all get another airing, as well as all together more offensive material. This reviewer is not and never has been a fan of political correctness. Straight people can make fun of gay people and it can be funny. Indeed, though I have heard much on the Fringe that could be, and is, seen as offensive by others, I have a thick skin and laugh along. NewsRevue's 'Fisting by the Pool' sketch is in an entirely different league however. Apparently a satire of Michael Barrymore's troubles - it would sit better on the lips of Bernard Manning than on that of a so called topical show. It wasn't even satirising the Barrymoore situation - which is fair game. It simply sneered at and mocked gay sex. The ignorance of the subject was such the otherwise talented actors didn't even mimic the fisting act correctly. Peter Tatchell would do well to keep an eye on the 'Fisting' script writer for future misdemeanours. Appalling.* The Flirt Lab C Chambers Street until 24 August Judith Faultless and Frida Torrance have, we are told, had 17 years of intense study into flirting at the Judith Faultless Institute. It is the result of this research that we are presented with tonight. It's just a little odd that, after all this hard work over the years, neither can get a boyfriend. The camp value in this show is immense. They inspect the male audience members constantly, getting us to stand at one point and later asking us to strip (which, of course, nobody does). The Flirt Lab is a one joke show that is very very funny. Rather Like French and Saunders and to a lesser extent, Mel and Sue, this double act constantly seeks to undermine each other in all they do. When one gets a date with Rob the Techie, the other does all she can to put an end to it. The final pay off gag is inspired.**** Sol Bernstein - Almost Alive Gilded Balloon Teviot until 25 August Here we have an ageing Jewish comedian who comes to Edinburgh in a sharp suit, and tells the rest of us to wear a tie. We then proceed through ugly wife gags, other assorted cracks - and a good dose of the usual Jewish humour. To be honest, this man is too, well, old to be really offensive. His views on bisexuality seemed so dated, so wrong, he could have gotten away with it if they had been funny. Gets an extra star for having a wee poke at the Israeli Government though.** Tina C - Lifestyle Guru Pleasance Courtyard until 25 August If you only ever see one drag act again - see Tina C. Part traditional drag - part biting satire on US international policy. Tina C's shows have the sass and the grit of true cutting edge cabaret. Last year she did the Twin Towers Tribute. This year she is the Lifestyle Guru. As you queue for the show attractive Pleasance staff distribute cards and pens. On them you write a personal problem. Later, during the show, and in between original radical comedy country music, Tina is Agony Aunt. Whilst not as edgy as last year's show (but then everybody is doing Twin Towers gags this year) Lifestyle guru still has enough to be a cut above a regular drag act on the gay pub roundabout. She is quick, biting, very funny, and has great legs.**** Mitch Benn and the Distractions Gilded Balloon until 24 August Mitch Benn is a legend. If you have never heard the song 'Crap Shag' you should treat your ears immediately. Nowhere has music and comedy been blended together to such effect. The Barron Knights never even came close. Unbelievably Mitch's last Fringe was three years ago, an absolute age, but this year he is back with a complete set of new tunes. He simply parodies other peoples work with a totally original approach. He can perform in the style of your choosing but his rapping really hit the spot. How about Macbeth to the Eminem tune 'My Name Is'? "I won a battle at the head of my legions /Showing my allegiance slapping down Norwegians" Backed up with professional band (a drummer and guitarist/keyboard player) this stuff would be entertaining enough sung straight. As it is this show should pack them to the rafters for three weeks and then go on a world tour. Brilliant.***** Topping And Butch: Take It Up The Octave! Pleasance Courtyard until 25 August Topping and Butch frequent the gay pubs of the South East of England making people laugh a lot. This is the kind of thing we could use much more of up here. Camp as fuck means that they get away with much that the mainstream would not touch. They are bitches - but they are political bitches as they perform 'Bombing 9 to 5' to the US Military. Topping and Butch nail that great lie. In reality some gay men really do improve with age.*** Craig Hill The Assembly Rooms until 25 August Oh Craig - he is such a bundle of loveliness. One big fat grin in a kilt - his fan base is threatening to explode the comedy circuit and go mainstream. Today he is hosting the 'T in the Park' show on TV, tomorrow he'll be filling in for Richard and Judy. It's just a matter of time. But for now he is still ours. His 'Newtown Bar' song, a satire on the gay bar in Edinburgh and sung to the tune of 'Downtown' is pure genius. His quips about Leith, and the Leith Festival are spot on. He picks on his audience occasionally, but nicely. His humour is just about self deprecating enough to keep you on side. All in all a very polished performer. Enjoy Craig while you can.**** This is Soap C Central until 24th August The concept is that the previous days audience give the cast ideas to be improvised for the following day's show. Last year I raved about This is Soap. In 2003 it's even better. Not sure about the time slot though. Like Shakespeare for Breakfast - this show is more of a kick starter than a main course. Still entertaining enough, nevertheless.**** Don't forget to go to the Waverley Care All Star Comedy shows - August 21st and 22nd at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre. And wear those tartan ribbons with pride, people! Martin Walker E-mail: mgwuk2003@yahoo.co.uk Alpenglow Projects, Fraulein Else C At the start I didn't think Amy de Lucia who adapted and acts in this one person show was going to be able to make it, her voice sounded so quiet against the very necessary fans in the space, but she did. Playing a 17 year old rich girl staying at a hotel in the early 20th century we experience the sexual tensions of innocent youth. Getting a letter from her father who is in desperate need of 30,000 guilders or else he is ruined, what will she do? And with whom? Some seriously good acting here but I did have a problem in working out which sections were reality and which fantasy. Are 17 year olds really this demented? It's a long time since I was 17 but I think for many the answer is yes.*** Velocet, After Sex All the Animals are Sad C OK, I went to see it because of the bizarre title but it really didn't work for me. It featured a woman, Christine (Anna James Manni), who seemed far too intelligent to be the Christian that she was, and her atheist zoologist partner Jerry (Thom Disney), but the two of them seemed to have nothing in common. She befriended a murderer in prison, Max (Adam Brace), and they establish some sort of a relationship. Then it ends. Er, is that it? Apparently yes.** Electric Company Theatre, Brilliant: The Blinding Enlightenment of Nikola Tesla C I'm glad they didn't put "multimedia" in the programme as I would have taken that for a euphemism for "crap", which it wasn't. This is a splendid combination of film, recorded sound and fast paced acting by a cast of four. It also had quite an intricate lighting design that was amazing for the Fringe where get in and get out times are so short. A historical tale about the genius of Nikola Tesla, the father of AC power and much else besides. It tells of his rivalry with Edison and Tesla's eccentricities. It also focuses on conspiracies. Why did the US Government blow up his New York tower during World War II? Were his dreams of free electricity and mass communication that threatening? Why did the FBI seize all his papers after his death in 1943? Quite a lot to take in when all I was expecting was a biography of a scientist. Well worth seeing.*** cpt Company, Napoleon in Exile Traverse Well, this certainly wins the prize in the weirdness stakes. Take a doctor, a nurse, a patient who lost all his memory in Vancouver in November 1999, Napoleon played by a woman (who may or may not be imagining who she is), Josephine and see how they interrelate. Just to add extra spice add in sections delivered in, I think, Finnish, Italian, Latin, and French. Is that clear? No, I thought not. It started with apparent random words delivered by actors and a number of bizarre scenes followed. What were they trying to say? Who knows? On the positive side the acting was first rate and the overall quality of the production was what one would expect from the Traverse, but there are far more accessible things available there.** Out of Joint & The Royal Court, Duck Traverse One expects great things from Out of Joint. We got them in this superb new play by Stella Feehily. Set in Dublin, but it could just as well be anywhere, it tells of two young women coming to terms with adulthood, the problems with their families and so much more besides. Cat (Ruth Negga), has a drug dealing lover who is not averse to violence. It is probably not a good idea therefore to blow up his expensive motor, nor to start a relationship with an elderly writer. Her friend Sophie (Elaine Symons) leads a more conventional life but still has her problems. I'll say no more about the story but do see this play if you enjoy first rate theatre.***** SPID Theatre Company, Bluebeard's Wives C Central What would it be like to really live the life of a fairytale after the line "and they all lived happily ever after"? This play be Helena Thompson explores that territory. I did feel a bit too much was expected to be understood by the audience before entering the theatre but a fine performance by Faith Hagerty.*** The Riot Group, Pugilist Specialist Pleasance Courtyard We live in a madhouse where the leading politician purports to be a Christian but seems to have forgotten the bit about thou shall not kill. Where government scientists committed to ridding the world of weapons of mass destruction are at best driven to suicide and at worst are murdered. Where the main opposition Party seems even more gung-ho than the government, and the only media debate is over who sexed-up which report and not on the underlying morality. In such a society there are few avenues for comment, but one of them is theatre. Forget Fringe Firsts, forget five stars, perhaps once or twice in a generation there comes a theatre of the moment that shouts out through all the lies and the humbug, to roar out the truth. This is such a moment. We have 4 US marines, 3 lieutenants, 2 bright and one who believes Fox News, and a colonel who just wants to get the job done. They are in Black Operations and are given a meaningless justification for going after "The Bearded Lady" (read Saddam Hussein). We are led through the absurdity of military jargon, of neo-conservatives with a bizarre world view forcing the military to deliver what they can in the real world, and much more besides. When reality is this mad just telling it as it is becomes satire. Delivered in The Riot Group's unique fast paced way there was laugh after laugh, but laugh and you would miss the next two gags. This resulted in an audience where about a quarter were laughing at any one time when I saw it. By contrast I'm told that the following day the audience didn't realise they were allowed to laugh and heard it in silence. Biting political theatre. Set design? Two benches and a non-functioning microphone. When the power of the word is so strong who needs more? Adriano Shaplin has delivered the finest piece of theatre I've seen in my life so far.***** UNLV, Joe... This Infinite Universe Garage Having a narrator on stage in a piece of dance is unusual. So is trying to cover everything from the big bang to the present day. For me it didn't quite work but as always there was fine dancing by Louis Kavouras.*** Savage Wit, Partly it's about Love Partly it's about Massacre Assembly Rooms The main problem I had with this fine piece of writing by Fiona Sprott and ably performed by Jacqueline Linke was that throughout there was text projected onto black drapes that I just couldn't read. A story about relationships and how little things that matter not at all to one party can be matters of crucial importance to the other - getting crumbs in the butter - that sort of thing. Doing a 90 minute monologue is not easy, but Linke performed it faultlessly.*** Count Arthur Strong, The Greatest Story Ever Told Gilded Balloon Teviot We were told we were in for a lecture about the bible from Count Arthur Strong. We got precious little of it but did learn a bit about God creating Adam and Eve from spare ribs to the present day when we have Cliff Richard. What we got was Steve Delaney's character who had obviously spent too long down the pub and was appropriately performing in the Wine Bar, talking marvellous gibberish, arguing with himself as he gets his words wrong, engaging in a wine tasting where the aim is to drink as much as possible, and much much more. An altogether more polished performance than last year's brilliant show by a more confident performer. Anyone who can carry off having his back to the audience, drinking, and muttering to himself for about a minute is a master of comic timing. Brilliant, sheer brilliance.***** Dance Japanesque, Vagina Garage Sometime people announcing a show start making an announcement that says more than they expect and I really could tell that the statement "Ladies and gentlemen the house is now open for vagina" conveyed more meaning than he had hoped. Totally unlike what I was expecting from the programme and all the better for that I was reminded of some of the early work that was presented under the title "The Japan Experience". It starts with dancers everywhere and while the frenetic nature of the dance, the song "silence is sexy", the skimpy costumes, and the female dancers competing for the one male may have implied this was about sex, the one part of the human anatomy it didn't seem to be about was the vagina. Superb dance though with a well thought out post show routine that really milked the applause.**** Heather Ruffo, Nine Parts of Desire Traverse Ruffo takes us through what it is like to be an Iraqi woman, probably before recent events. The performance was faultless but it did take some time to realise she was playing a series of different woman. It might have been better had it not been done as a one hander. It did however have one totally memorable line "what is depleted uranium if not a weapon of mass destruction".*** Kudos, Exposure Pleasance Courtyard I'm not sure where to begin with this play about the early photographer Edward Muybridge who showed that the image of horses galloping used for centuries was wrong except to say there was a story to be told. Unfortunately this play feels far more like 10 actors who want to do the Edinburgh Fringe than people with something to say. Why 10 actors, why some elaborate costumes but bare feet, why leap backwards and forwards in time, and why the reference to Jude Kelly in the programme? Are you trying to embarrass her? Dreadful.* Henry Naylor, Finding Bin Laden Gilded Balloon Teviot There are various ways of telling a story. I was wondering what I was letting myself in for with this. It's listed as comedy yet appeared to have a serious photographic exhibition to go with it. To start with it's a light hearted comedy, a satellite TV journalist worried about losing his job is in Afghanistan trying to get the next scoop before the BBC. It follows a familiar trail of the news media inventing news and featuring an Al Quida Archers fan getting the cast arrested and no doubt imprisoned at Guantanimo Bay. However in the final 15 minutes it turns into something altogether more serious about how real media manipulation presents us with a fairytale world. Throughout there are familiar pictures projected of recent destruction in Afghanistan. It ends with unpleasant pictures of dead bodies. It gets that heavy.**** Volcano Theatre Company, This Imaginary Woman Underbelly Volcano take risks, and deserve credit for that. This means they produce some utterly brilliant shows and some that, well, are not masterpieces. Fern Smith may be a remarkable actor but she is not Edith Piaf. Even if she were I'm not sure this show would work. To convey meaning through word is easy, through song not so. I had to read the press release to understand what this show was trying to say.** Volcano Theatre Company, TalkSexShow Underbelly I saw this show early so it may have got better, it felt as though it had a few rough edges. Sex is undoubtedly this land's favourite participatory sport - I refuse to believe all those reports that claim it is darts - yet we seem reluctant to talk about it, particularly with strangers. This show tries to break down some of those barriers. I overheard someone saying as they walked in that there was no audience participation. I repeated this to someone as we walked out and he creased himself laughing. Well he had only had a blond wig placed on his head and had one of the actors writhing on his thighs. This was a show where I didn't risk letting my notebook make an appearance. However I was required to tell the audience about the development of my erection. And that sums it up. A room full of people, all familiar with sex, yet not something you talk about in polite company. Why not?*** Paines Plough, The Straits Traverse At first I thought I was in an early Frantic Assembly show and it came as no surprise there was some involvement with that company. This was however a Paines Plough show, which means it was brilliant. It tells of some teenagers growing up in Gibraltar at the time of the Falklands war. Let's be clear Doink (James Marchant) is thick. Jock (Stephen Wright) is not much better. Darren (Calum Callaghan) has a bit more about him and is therefore regarded as a poof. Thank god he wasn't really or he would have been dead if this pair got their hands on him. Darren has a sister, Tracy (Jenny Platt), who while no star is the brightest of the four. It really didn't need the Falklands or Gib as this is a story of racist military kids and there dim horizons and it was here I had problems. I have so little in common with such people that relating to them is difficult. It's rare that I mention lighting design, because normally if you notice it it shows how bad it is. I didn't notice it in that way in this show but occasionally thought "fucking hell, that's good". Superb work by Natasha Chivers once again.**** Parados Dance Company, The Tango Spell, C There are companies one has heard of, those that look as though they may be interesting, and those that don't even register on the radar. This lot were in the third category. So why did I see them? Well they had 3 minutes at C Venues launch showcase and I was sufficiently impressed to take a longer look. This is frequently a mistake as at these events companies often put on the best 3 minutes of their show. So was it as good as those 3 minutes? No. The whole show was better. With only a few words at the start and the finish this is about dance, sexual allure, jealousy, rivalry, hedonistic pleasure, and lots more. There may be some tango in this but there is much else besides. Without a doubt the dance sensation of the 2003 Fringe.***** Grid Iron, Those Eyes That Mouth 32 Abercrombie Place That space, those actors. Grid Iron did not have it easy this year when they had only 2 weeks to re-set their piece in this wonderful space having been refused a theatre licence for their original location after complaints from neighbours. Complaints? They should have felt honoured. I'm told by the producer Judith Doherty that the production both gained and lost by the change. I'm amazed it lost anything. We walk through rooms in a semi-derelict house where a tale is told. My main criticism is that the space was so wonderful I was sometimes more enchanted by that than the events on stage. Go and see it and soak up the entire theatrical experience.**** Semper Fi, Ladies & Gents Traverse 4 Not heard of Traverse 4? That's hardly surprising as it's actually the public conveniences behind the Catholic cathedral. It was a mistake to see this show straight after Grid Iron. They may both be site specific but the places felt and smelt quite different. I realised that for the first time of my life I was in an Edinburgh public convenience that didn't stink which gave it an unreal atmosphere. The smell of stale urine would have added to this work (and I defy anyone to find a review of any other show containing those words). A very dark piece in every way, from lighting to plot. The audience is divided into two groups and see half in either the ladies or the gents and are then swapped round. I got hints of cottaging, deception, betrayal, whoreing, murder, and press photographers. Very well done but not quite my thing.*** Our Europe, Italian Cappuccino, French Croissants and Danish Pastries - Do We Really Need Europe Gateway Theatre Listed under events this was the launch for the Our Europe organisation. And what an event it was, the largest audience that I have seen on the Edinburgh Fringe this year that seemed to consist of Scotland's great and the good plus me. It is clear that Tomek Borkowy, who runs Hill Street and the Gateway, has a large part to play in this organisation that seeks to develop cultural understanding between Scotland and other parts of Europe. Quite which parts of Europe was more up for debate. Ricky Demarco was championing Siberia - teach that man some geography. However the highlight of the meeting was Scotland's culture minister who totally misjudged the audience and droned on and on and on. After failing to take many hints eventually one of the audience stood up to walk out and shouted "Why don't you just shut up?" He took this as a prompt to say more. The guy sat behind me was repeatedly mouthing "shut up" whether in annoyance or as a hint is anyone's guess. Eventually he stopped. Recalling this tale to someone that night he said "You mean he made Sir Les Patterson look like an intellectual". Got it in one.** Scottish Dance Theatre Dance Base How much better can Scottish Dance Theatre get? Not much based on this superb performance. There are limits to what can be achieved on stage. Two pieces. Self Observation without Judgement, choreographed by Victor Quijada is a beautiful piece about relationships and being alone. This is followed by the even sillier named My House is Melting. This came across as a celebration of movement. A series of very different dances, some happy, some sad that enchanted and held spellbound a delighted audience.***** APE Productions, Red Peter Demarco Rocket Art House Occasionally it is worth seeing something done really badly because it makes one realise just how good it is when it is done well. This could have been so good. There is rich material in this adaption of Kafka's A report to the Academy, about an ape who becomes human. I suspect with decent direction Rowan Bangs could have carried off his cross between a gorilla and a man. Unfortunately he didn't get it. For some unknown reason rather than presenting this piece in a normal way a decision was made to "relate" to the audience in a physical way with the actor moving amongst them. It was just embarrassing. At least this is what happened after the piece eventually started. For other inexplicable reasons nothing happened for 4 minutes after the lights went down. I did wonder whether the whole piece was going to consist of nothing at all on stage. If it had it would have been better.* Pip Utton, Only the Lonely Roman Eagle Lodge This is billed as being about Troy Orbison, a performer doing a tribute act, but it is really about Dave Williams, an ordinary bloke, trying to lead a decent life, coping with everything fate throws at him. As always Utton's writing gets inside the complexity of what it is to be a human being. This time there are however some laughs. We didn't get many of those in Adolf. Excellent writing, excellent acting, an excellent show.**** Nabokov, Camarilla C One of the joys of the Fringe is when you pick a show almost at random, go and see it expecting little, and it turns out to be one of the theatre sensations of the year. A bomb explodes and a young woman is injured. Who did it? How does this and other events affect her family? How do different people see the same events? How important are civil liberties? What is it to be free? Means and Ends. Van Badham has written a wonderful play. See it.***** Martin Powell martinp@drink.demon.co.uk Why should we attend any event in this year's Edinburgh Festivals? - I hear you say. Perhaps it is because it will afford us the opportunity to look beyond the parameters set either by ourselves or society, knowingly or unknowingly, beyond the bar or sauna in which you find so much support the rest of the year. At best we are in danger of finding an new and innovative way of resolving an issue we cannot, or will not, address which despite many drinks and sauna visits we just cannot ignore. At worse we can settle for an evening of leering with avarice intent upon some new and dream-invoking eye candy from out of town. Whatever the motive the outcome can only empower us to be what we want to be or at least broaden our options to attain that goal. But enough of this homespun philosophy, what does the festival have to offer that inspires any of the above. Janet Street Porter... All The Rage, Assembly Rooms, Supper Room. Our beloved Janet,the bringer of such diverse attactions and successes as Youth TV and Rambling Great Britain, needs your help. Such a plea created in the audience what can best be described as a butt-clenching gringe. We are being asked by one of the most notable media devas to help get look in depth into her past and look forward to a possible career rethink. Your cringe will so ease to laughter as Janet takes you through her family history, her marriages and her love life often in hilarious detail. An enjoyable hour in the company of an interesting lady. Rope Underbelly A sinister plot is 'hatched' by two student lovers, the strong and phychopathic Brandon and his weaker partner Granillo, the outcome of which would see them brutally kill a mutual friend and invite his family to dine within feet of their slain relative. This play is set in the decadent upper class London of the 1920's and has been kept true to the original script by director, Sarah Drinkwater, resulting in a strong and convincing performance by this young London company. Not a play for the faint-hearted but a must for all devotees of phycho drama helping you develop a healthy apettite for lunch at least. Cafe Coward Cafe Royal It is the early 1950's, Noel Coward reflects the turbulent years with the 'spirit' of another controversial icon of that era, Gertrude Lawrence, whose death has just been announced to a grieving multitude of adoring fans not least of which is Noel himself. Punctuating his one-man in the Cafe de Paris with touching flashbacks of their long platonic love affair, Nick Cheales as Noel Coward and Suzanne Mott as Gertrude Lawrence give a suberb performance in this hour of gentele nostalgia for the more mature and apprieciative members of our LGBT community. Skirts Old St Pauls Church, Jeffery Street Three lads, all straight and extremely frustated, devise a hair-brained scheme to attract girlfriends - a task none of whom have had much success in achieving to date. The plan is to crossdress for the purpose of gaining entrance to the local (women only) aerobics class at the nearby leisure centre. A near senile granmother of one of lads reminds him of the days when she helped his grandad to crossdress and the joy they both took in this controversial passtime. Add to the farcical mix many energetic dream sequences of not just the lads but their new-found female friends and you have an hour of mildy amusing hetrosexual merriment. Non-Scene, A Dead Gays Play, Garage Theatre Lionel (Alan French) is a lonely gay man, under-appreciated in his hum drum office job and eager to offer to anyone on the gay scene his 'services' as a sub. But Lionel is unable to persuade any of the few visitors he does lure to his shabby front room to stay more than a fleeting moment. But that was in the early days. Lionel now diversifies his taste in men, these ones stay because they have little choice as does the biological changes we alone see in them when he engages them in his macabre fantasy. A suberb supporting preformance by the young Office Janet (Alex Scott), the skinhead (Philip Hayden) and the longstanding friend Andy Pandini who are lead by the polished and powerful performance by Alan French in this, the latest work from the poison (but accomplished) pen of Brian Fillis. Not for the faint-hearted, though not entirely without humour, catch this work before it too disappears. PS Let your friends and barman meet that dark and handsome stranger you just met before being dragged into the night, Lionel comes in many forms. The Bootleg, Clare Summerskill, Theatre Workshop Take a generous helping of Victoria Wood and add a likewise portion of Joni Mitchell and to round it off impecable credentials of a much enjoyed lesbian, singing her original work, and you have the recipe for one hour of sheer enjoyment. Relax as Clare introduces you to Mary, the cottage dwelling dyke. Meet Magdalene, the workshop touting organiser of the annual Women's camp. And finally meet big soft-hearted Ange the pub owner. Wether LGBT or 'others' a warm welcome awaits you from this highly accomplished performer with a meterosexual appeal. Godspell C Chambers Street For the more mature of us this is an ideal opportunity to indulge in eighty minutes of musical nostalgia. If in addition you are of a religious bent, perhaps a member of MCC, (you know who you are), then many happy hours of clap-happy tunes will rattle around in your head from a strong and capable young cast. A few adaptations have been made to incorporate latest trends in musical style, but the essence of a classic 70's musical remains to delight you. Vera Wilde Bedlam Theatre In this abridged version of Vera Wilde we are not only being given the opportunity to pay homage to our beloved Oscar Wilde, one of the world's most celebrated gay icons, but we allowed a rare glimpse of the motivation behind one of his earliest works. For those of an Modern History leaning, particularlly of the Russian flavour, roll up and be educated. Opening in the late nineteenth century, the political aspirations of a young revolutionary named Vera Zasulich and her injurous intent brings her to not only to the attention of the authorities of St Petersburg but the world and our own Oscar. The ensuing battle for an open trial and subsequent acquittal inspired Oscar to write his first play, Vera or the Nihilists. A powerful performance by this Seattle based company lead by the highly accomplished K.Brian Neel (Oscar) and Lindsay Brandon Hunter (Vera) with a suberb supporting cast make this production both enjoyable and educational. Being There Harvey Nichols Here is an unmissable opportunity 'to have and to hold' a record of the stars you have loved throughout the sixites and seventies, lovingly captured by the expert lens of well-known gay Edinburgh Photographer Stanley Reilly. From an age of mutual respect between the stars and their photographic admirers come both endearing and enduring images in a stunning exhibition which will run until Sat 30th Aug. And in reference to the 'have and hold', many images from this exhibition have been captured in a book entitled 'BEING THERE' on sale in-store priced GBP 9.99. Your purchase will afford much welcomed support for the expanding work of Scotland's leading HIV charity, Waverley Care, who are the sole beneficaries of the sale of this work wherein you will find a special foreword by Sir Elton John. A must for your coffee table and that 'nostalgia trip' which we all have from time to time. Love From Dusty. Crowne Plaza This work is a fitting tribute to the following, a great and tortured gay icon, a young man's courage and commitment to 'a love that dare not speak its name' and to all those who still suffer the oppression of homophobia in what heterosexual society alone believes are enlightened times. It is the pre-Stonewall era and the young, shy and romantically optimistic Arthur meets rugged closeted Farmer whose liking for gay icon Dusty Springfield acts as the catalyst for life-changes in them both. Arthur finds in his newly adopted role as Dusty a liberation, an empowerment, and a vehicle for change resulting in an 'understanding' that would last them a lifetime. Now Arthur can only speak through Dusty who tells this true story with memorable affection. In this post-Section 2a (Section 28 in England) era this work should be recognised as an invaluable piece of LGBT social history and used as an educational tool to combat the rising homophobia found in the young. A superb perfomance by Dusty (Chris Holmes), heartthrob Farmer (Janek Jurkiewicz) and Arthur (David Sandford) with a superb supporting cast under the fine direction of Barrie Wheatly. J-Boys Gay Samurai Revue The Garage If you are looking for entertainment that has not only energetic, erotic but fine examples of traditional and contemporary dance then look no further than this late-night show. The history of the Samurai and its tolerant attitude of homosexuality was met with both surprise and pleasure in equal measure by an enthusiastic audience. Costumes both scant and elaborate showed to perfection the finely toned physiques of these highly accomplished dancers. Meet and greet moments put both young performers and mixed audience at their ease making an enjoyable evening of cultural enlightenment. [The following reviews were received too late for the printed edition of ScotsGay and appear ONLY in the online edition of the magazine: A Friend of Dorothy, The Garage, Grindlay Street, 12.15am. Who among us are not moved by the tragic story of our beloved Judy. Allow your emotions to go on an a roller coaster ride as David Kettle 'tugs at your heart strings' with his superb renditions of many of Judy's greatest hits. Laura Sydonie captivates us with the power of her performance as she chronicles the life of our tortured gay icon with some brutal facts about an ambitious mother, a bi-sexual father and a drug enforcing Hollywood mogul. Capture these last few days of this UK tour which lets you renew your vows as 'a Friend of Dorothy'. Think no Evil of Us... My Life with Kenneth Williams by David Benson. Assembly Rooms. After too long an absence David returns with this his finest work, albeit for just one performance, and in so doing raises the standard of work upon the Fringe stage that will not just delight the audiences but inspire those who seek to follow in the profession. A packed house sat spell-bound as David affectionately caricatured one of the Britain's a most loved comedian, actor and raconteur of the last century. Hoots of laughter were often followed sighs of regret and pity as this portrayal revealed a life of a talented man often riddled with self-doubt and tortured self-loathing. A short respite from the story of Kenneth Williams came in the form of a revealing, often humorous, anecdotes of how David had been influenced by the British comic's work. A delighted audience gladly participated in the hymn singing at the 'morning assembly' to mention but one of joys of this performance during this respite. For those less fortunate not to have had the pleasure of this 'one off' performance David invites you to seek out his special limited edition video, Think no Evil of US ( recorded March 1998) and his latest collaboration with David Sant, Star Struck, at the Assembly Rooms till the 25th August. A must methinks. Noel Coward...A Tribute to the Man and his Music, Riddle's Court, High Street. There simply cannot be a better way to spend an Edinburgh Fringe Festival afternoon than to be in the company of the extremely talented Louie Utterson and Jub Davis in auditioncall.com's production of 'Noel Coward, a tribute to the man and his music'. It is only fitting that a production of such a high standard should be held in the elegant surroundings of the Green Drawing Room in a 17th century dwelling here in the 'old quarter' of our capital city. Relax in a sea of decadent nostalgia and let Louie's dulcet tones wash over you with his divine renditions of such Noel Coward classics as Someday I'll Find You, Mad About the Boy. His own superb arrangement of Bad Times Just around the Corner is accompanied by the highly accomplished double bass and piano of his co-musician Jub, such talent creates an unforgettable ambience and welcome respite from the abrasively loud and competitive world of amateur theatricals found in the street below. An unmissable work and yet another triumph from the pen of producer and director John Foley whose expertise has brought many news works to the attention of an eager and appreiciative audience through his creation of The Arts Club, Coal Wharf, North Oxfordshire where this fine production will be heading after the 23rd of this month, a note for all our readers south of the border. ****** Stop Press ********* This unforgettable tribute to our beloved Noel will be moving to a larger space in the same venue for an extra performance in aid of Waverley Care, which as we all know is Scotland's leading charity in the support of people both infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. This is a must for not just your social calendar but everyone who likes their music refined, or should I say Kylie free, so get your little book out and get those phones humming with invites and ticket orders for 'the' event to be seen at this year. VENUE 11. Riddle's Court, High Street. FRIDAY 22 AUGUST, 7.30pm. Box Office, Tel (0131) 225 8961. Kit and the Widow at the Academy for Boys, Stage by Stage Edinburgh Academy. Once again Kit and the Widow are literally packing them to the rafters at the 'Academy for Boys'. Whether you are aged 18 or 80, and some, your festival would not be complete without a visit to the Fringe's most beloved duo and their banquet of unashamed campery. Society's self-appointed great and good are but lambs to the slaughter to the incisive minds of these seasoned Fringettes whose observations will leave you aching in all the right places and still begging for more. Career focused revelations and the now traditional sing-a-long opera closure will re-affirm the wisdom of your choice of mid evening amusement of such polish and style. A life-enhancing experience that should be on the NHS. Flanders & Swann Reformed, Greyfriars Kirk House. The satirical genius of a bye gone era has been lovingly recreated by a pair of ne'er-do-wells from London. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, an hour in their company seems but a fleeting moment. Harry Vann, a self-confessed lifetime devotee of the 50's comedy duo, has coerced his cherub-faced student chum (Rob Dalling) to venture north with this distinctly English brand of humour and we are all the merrier for their sterling efforts. Such classic delights as The Gnu, Have some Madeira M'dear, and The Armadillo were delivered and received with equal measures of affection and a fitting pre-curser to hilarious audience participated rendering of The Hippopotomus. Do not let this talent go back from whence they came without your perusal lest they never return and we are the poorer, and sadder, next year for our loss. ] Sister Athletica de la Bain What a contrast between my first two fringe events this year. The powerful B minor Mass by Bach brilliantly performed by Ludus Baroque thrilled the audience at the Greyfriars Kirk. I followed up with the Wrigley Sisters at the Reid Hall. An interesting mix of traditional folk music from an Orcadian group. Afterwards I found that great allrounder Mike Hatchard (currently appearing at CO2 Oxygen, Infirmary Street in I'm Sorry I ran Over Your Quintuplets) jamming with members of New York's Lift Group (appearing at The Underbelly) at the Royal Oak in Infirmary Street. What a great evening. Piano, Violin, Comedy: is there no end to this men's talents? Come on, get off the web and get stuck into the Festival. Richard Wilson --------------------------------------------------------------- Film ==== Young Adam Showing at the 57th Edinburgh International Film Festival. It is only fitting that we start the festival with some home-grown talent, for me that can only be Ewan McGregor and his latest offering, Young Adam. McGregor heads a cast of quality wherein we find Tilda Swinton of 'Orlando' and 'The Beach'. Peter Mullan, director of 'The Magdalene Sisters' and Emily Mortimor of 'A Foreign Affair', all come together to create a moody, and at times carnal, thriller set in the early 50's on the Forth and Clyde Canal. The corpse of a young woman is found floating in the River Clyde by Joe (McGregor) and with the help of Les (Mullan) is brought ashore, immediately we notice Joe's reaction to this find differs from that of others. Is Joe's reaction one of compassion or remorse? Was the young woman's death an accident, suicide or murder? McGregor's performance as a restless drifter who finds sexual encounters a ready 'fix' for his existential crisis is flawless and has been expertly exhibited by David McKenzie's direction in a faithfull adaptation of a novel by the Scottish Beat writer Alexander Trocchi. Sister Athletica de la Bain --------------------------------------------------------------- Book Festival ============= The Edinburgh International Book Festival got off to a bang with a gig (as he's taken to calling them) from Tony Benn. The sell-out event loved Benn's coruscating wit as he laid about current political standards and the government's performance. All the passion was there although he seems a little frail now. In another sell-out, Paisley's own Christopher Brookmyre was as sharp as ever reading an hilarious short story. When question time came, one dour audience member suggested he write thrillers with less swearing. "I'll fucking bear that in mind", replied Brookmyre. Another packed house saw Booker winner Ben Okri in a plea against censorship and for more courage from writers. Roy Hattersley also laid into the government, calling for more redistributive socialism. Good stuff to come includes: Ian Rankin, Clive James, Irvine Welsh and John Mortimer. David Starkey, the eminent historian and flamboyant old queen par excellence, is to talk on Henry VIII's ill fated queens. Why not get yourself down to Charlotte Square and check it out for yourself? You can pick up a free copy of the Glasgow Herald and who knows what else! The Book Festival runs until 25th Aug. Richard Wilson --------------------------------------------------------------- International News from Rex Wockner =================================== BISHOP: CHRETIEN MAY GO TO HELL The Catholic bishop of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Fred Henry, says Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien may go to hell for his support of same-sex marriage. "He's putting at risk his eternal salvation," Henry said recently. "He's making a morally grave error and he's not being accountable to God." Canada is in the process of legalizing full same-sex marriage nationwide after courts in Ontario and British Columbia legalized it in those provinces in June and July. Foreign couples can marry in the two provinces as well. They can buy a marriage license and get married the same day. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops took issue with Henry's statement. "It's not the sort of language that the rest of the bishops would employ," said conference General Secretary Monsignor Peter Schonenbach. Michael Leshner, half of Canada's first married same-sex couple, called Henry's remarks "appalling." "It's sickening, it's obnoxious and it's got to stop," Leshner told Toronto's Globe and Mail. "I think the bishop has eaten too much mad cow." A new Environics poll found that 57 percent of Catholic Canadians support same-sex couples' access to full marriage. Only 38 percent of Protestants polled in favour of gay marriage. Overall, 53 percent of Canadians approve. GAY SEX NOW LEGAL IN ALL OF EUROPE Gay sex is now legal everywhere in Europe. Armenia was the last European nation to criminalize homosexuality. Its new penal code, which took effect on 1st Aug, lifted the ban. MEXICANS TO START GLAAD-LIKE GROUP Activists in Mexico City are beginning the process of setting up a media-monitoring group like the U.S.' Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. It likely will be named Red Nacional (National Network). FILIPINO POLICE RAID BAR Police have raided a gay bar in Baguio City, The Philippines, and arrested seven male performers for working without permits and dancing nude. A police spokesman said the raid on the Chip and Dale bar was the beginning of a new drive against bars that offer nude shows. SKINHEADS ATTACK STOCKHOLM PRIDE One man was hospitalized after around 30 skinheads attacked marchers in Stockholm's gay-pride parade with rocks and bottles. The skinheads reportedly carried banners reading, "Crush pedophiles." Police made about 15 arrests and relocated several groups of skinheads out of the city center for the duration of the parade. POLISH GAYS DENOUNCE CENSUS Poland's Central Statistical Office (GUS) has broken a promise to report a count of same-sex couples in the new census, gay activists charged. BRAZILIANS STAGE KISS-IN More than 1,000 gays have staged a kiss-in at the Frei Caneca shopping center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in protest against a security guard who had forced a same-sex couple to stop kissing. Mall management supported the event, staged in the food court, by blanketing the premises with posters of red lipstick kisses. However, a mall spokesman said the original kissing incident had crossed a line by being excessively intimate and the guard made the right call. FIJIAN ALLEGED KILLER WAS 'INSANE' The man charged with hacking to death the openly gay head of the Fijian Red Cross and his lover was found innocent of the crimes by reason of insanity. Apate Kaisau, 29, will be held indefinitely in a Suva mental hospital, according to the Australian daily newspaper The Age. TEL AVIV EXTENDS BENEFITS Tel Aviv has announced that same-sex couples will have access to city-provided spousal benefits such as discounts at municipal cultural and sports events. To be eligible, gay couples must present an affidavit declaring they live together. [Picture: Luke 6:37 - About 140,000 people turned out for San Diego's gay-pride parade last month, including a handful of Jesus-crazies. Photo by Fergal O'Doherty/Wockner News ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SCOTSGAY VOICE FOR PERSONALS ============================ (We regret that this service is only available within the UK) To reply to ScotsGay Voice Ads, phone 09068 556613 (calls charged at 60p per minute) and use the number at the end of the ad. You can leave your own ad FREE on FREEphone 0800 138 4121. 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Get back to me for fun". Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5458. Brief Encounter? Andrew is from Edinburgh and willing to travel anywhere is his search for discipline and pants, schoolboy/girl scenario. Over 60's are very, very welcome. "Please come back to me and tell me what you want me to do". Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5394. Oooh Matron! Fife guy would like to meet transvestites or transsexuals who are strict, dominant and into roleplay. Also fetish couples who are into uniforms: strict Matrons, strict Doctors etc. He is 100% genuine. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5404. Central Belter Experienced headmaster, 55 years old, presently dealing with athletic 35 year old bad boy, wants to enlarge the class. Traditional discipline and correction given. Discretion expected and assured. Will travel Central Belt. Also interested in meeting fellow masters. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5423. Well Built 28 year old well-built, straight-acting guy from West Lothian would like to meet someone who is straight acting, 18-30 years old, for a possible relationship. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5425. Clouting Thomas Thomas from Tayside's hobbies are: going to the cinema, going out drinking, meeting people and generally having a good time. He has a medium build, is 5'6" tall with short, grey hair. He is looking for a headmaster/schoolmaster because he has been very naughty lately. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5427. Edinburgh Domination "We are two dominant guys from the Edinburgh area, one is 50, the other 22 years. We are looking for a young, submissive guy between the ages of 18 and 30 years approximately. He must be prepared to accept bondage, CP etc.. We can travel but not accommodate at the moment". Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5347. Netherlads? Genuine Glasgow guy, 55 years, looking for slim younger guy, 16-25 to take on holiday to Amsterdam in August. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5351. Tayside Seeks Younger Genuine guy living in the Tayside area, 46 years old, 5'6" tall with dark blond hair, green eyes, clean shaven and slim/medium build would like to meet a younger guy for friendship and hopefully a relationship as well. He likes cinema, music, the Arts, nights in and out and the countryside. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5356. Father Ken Ken is a young-at-heart, genuine mature guy who is a very caring, genuine, honest fatherly figure. He is looking for a younger son/nephew who he can care for and love in a special way. He enjoys a bit of role play - but that is optional. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5362. Fife Fetish For Rubber And Restraint Fife Fetish couple looking for fetish males, females and couples. They are into leather, rubber, restraint and domination. They can accommodate and travel. Age not important. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5367. Check Mate? Mature, honest and trusting guy, recently come out, would like to make new friends. His interests include motoring, eating in and out, Ten pin bowling, chess, Scrabble and cuddling up. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5369. Sore Bottom Guaranteed Edinburgh guy, 59 years old, offers school-type CP to naughty boys; spanking, cane - a sore bottom guaranteed. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5379. Peter From Edinburgh Peter from Edinburgh is 48 years old, 5'8" tall and totally non-scene. He is very genuine, honest and caring. He likes theatre, cinema, walking, the gym and holidays. He is looking for a like-minded gay or bi-guy who enjoys life - 18-50 years old. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5380. Dave From Aberdeen Dave lives in Aberdeen, is 60 years old, 5'10" tall, slim/medium build and especially likes music. He is looking for a younger male for a bit of discreet fun, friendship and possibly more. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5382. Leave Your Message NOW! Smart, mid-50's guy is ready to deal firmly with you. He could be your uncle or neighbour who offers you the chance to be punished. Central Scotland. Make sure you leave your message NOW! Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5383. Clydebonk? Michael is in his late 40's; tall, slim and greying and he is looking for someone in their early 40's from the Clydebank area to meet up with and have some safe, discreet fun. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5305. Non-scene In Glasgow Masculine, attractive Glasgow guy, mid-40's and genuine, not a fan of the scene is looking for guys 25-35 years for affectionate fun and friendship. Asian guys are especially welcome. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5307. Sorely Missed Would Tony who is a Foreman in a sawmill in Tullibody please contact Andrew from Renfrew again. He would like to pick up where he last left off. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5309. She'll Wear You Out! Samantha is a 48 year old Transvestite who works in the Dundee area and is looking for an active, dominant man in the Dundee/Angus area. "Fun time guaranteed - I promise I will wear you out!". Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5315. Learning The Ropes Slim, mature, 50's passive Tayside guy who likes bondage and restraint games would like to meet an active gay partner who is interested or experienced in trying out bondage ideas. Age and looks unimportant. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5318. Suberdonian Aberdeen area slim 38 year old submissive guy seeking dominant guys 40+. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5321. Cuddles With Kenny Kenny is 50 years old, passive, mature (but not immature), cuddly guy with a good personality who is looking for some TLC, friendship and a possible relationship with a sturdily-built man between the ages of 25 and 45. He loves massage, singing, reading, writing and conversation. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5342. Do You Look Good In Uniform? Then here's something to your advantage with discreet, friendly non-scene type. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5285. Glasgow Master Seeks Slave "I'm looking for a 100% submissive slave aged 25-45 years from Glasgow or within travelling distance. You must be in a position to come to me at any time. You must be slim, straight-acting and straight-looking. You must like role play which will involve bondage and mild CP. You must NOT have a current master. Me: I am 55 and very dominant and can accommodate but not travel. Reply, giving full details and leaving phone number. No Queens, no TVs or time-wasters". Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5300. Mature From Dundee? Francis from Dundee is in his mid-fifties with a slim build, 5'8" tall with blue eyes. He would like to meet an active gay guy for fun and friendship. Preferably mature, but any age and colour would be most welcome. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5232. Masculine From Glasgow Alvin from Glasgow is 29 years old, 5'7" tall with dark hair and eyes, quite well built, hairy and masculine. He loves travelling, films, books, food and drink. He is looking for someone who is genuine, masculine, intelligent and easy-going for fun and friendship - hopefully leading to a wee bit more. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5236. Belting Memories "I am looking for a genuine retired or former teacher, living in Scotland, over the age of 50 to give me the belt as per my schooldays. I need my hands warmed again". Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5252. Asian In Glasgow? Glasgow guy, 44 years old, 5'11", 12st with dark hair who works out would like to meet an Asian guy for fun and friendship. He is very discreet and can accommodate. So if you like what you hear - leave a message. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5180. Pissable Meeting In Aberdeen Aberdeen area. Slim, tanned, 38 year old Sub, into bondage and yellow, looking for other guys 40+. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5199. Colourful Aberdonian Aberdeen area, submissive 42 year old, into yellow or brown, into dominant guys, any age. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5082. Gym'll Fix It Dominant Master, Glasgow area, 44 years, 5'11", 12 stones with dark brown hair. He's very fit and goes to the gym 3 times a week. He is looking for a slave for spanking, role play and mild CP. He can accommodate and is very discreet. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5052. Yellow Sub- 38 year old slim, submissive guy, into yellow, is looking for dominant guys any age. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5060. Bob A Job? Bobby is 40 years guy old from Aberdeen where he owns his own Training and Animal Centre. He is looking for passive guys 17-30 years old and may be able to offer accommodation and employment. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 5001. Sexy Seeks Shy Attractive, tall, sexy, gym-trained 42 year old professional guy who lives in Glasgow and is into quiet things like walking, movies and music yet enjoys a beer is looking for a younger, shy guy who is equally attractive, for a possible relationship. No queens, cross-dressers or time-wasters please. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 4868. Professional And Non-scene 31 year old professional, non-scene gay guy, non-smoker, 5'8", 10.5 stone, 33" waist. Hobbies include cinema, theatre, reading, country walking and swimming. Looking to meet gay/bi guys up to 45 years old for a possible 1-2-1 with the right guy. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 4775. Bald, Sincere Glaswegian Wanted 28 year old Glasgow male, 5'9" tall, short-haired and good looking - often doesn't pass for his age. He is mature and studies social and medical sciences. His interest are: reading, watching documentaries, politics, classical music and he has a very keen interest in Modern History. He is looking for friends or a 1-2-1 in the Glasgow area, 35-40 years, preferably bald or with a No 1 haircut. Seeking a caring, sincere, stable man for a possible relationship. Queens, time-wasters, users or two-timers need not apply. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 4785. Peter From Edinburgh Peter from Edinburgh is a 51 year old, clean-shaven guy with dark hair. He enjoys, music, cinema, theatre, country walking, swimming, briefs and Speedos and he is looking to meet people for fun. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 4710. Renfrew Rendezvous Andrew from mid-Renfrew is 40 years, 5'10" with cropped fair hair, clean-shaven and quite hairy. Likes long walks, videos, cosy nights in and the occasional pint. Looking for tall, dark, muscular, hairy guy for no strings fun. He can accommodate but can't travel. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 4521. Belting I am a guy in my 40's that remembers the belt at school. I am looking for a genuine, retired or former schoolteacher over 50 to give me the belt over my outstretched palms. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 4437. Fraserburgh Versatile and fair-haired. Classical music, books and video-lover looking for similar. Phone 09068 556613 - Number 9628. -------------------------------------------------------------- BOXES - THE SCOTSGAY MEET MARKET ================================ To reply to a Contact Ad: By e-mail: We can now accept replies by e-mail for Box Numbers. They should be sent to boxreplies@drink.demon.co.uk and will be printed out and posted on by snail mail to the box number holders. There will be no charge for this service. As box number holders are unlikely to have access to e-mail, please include your name and address so that they can get back to you! And remember to include the box number that you're replying to clearly on each reply. By snail mail: Just pop your reply in an envelope with the box number written in the TOP RIGHT corner and place the envelope with your reply inside another envelope with two loose first class stamps. If you are writing from outside the UK, an International Reply Coupon (IRC) should be enclosed for each reply instead of postage stamps. International Reply Coupons are available from most Post Offices throughout the world. We are unable to send on replies without postage stamps or IRCs. Send all replies to: ScotsGay Magazine, PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. To place a Contact Ad: Write to the above address enclosing your advertisement copy. Ads are FREE of charge to the advertiser. Or you can send them by e-mail to scotsgay@drink.demon.co.uk *WOMEN Cadzow Athletic Ladies FC Are seeking new players in all positions. We train Tue and Sun in Hamilton. If interested, contact Michelle on Motherwell (01698) 249154. *MEN Men Spanking Men A fully illustrated magazine containing CP stories of Men Spanking Men. Canes, Tawses, Hands, Straps and much more. For full details and an order form, ring Jason Junior on 0800 9805469. E-mail: jason@jason-junior.co.uk WWW: http://www. jason-junior.co.uk [52a] Fraserburgh Interested in starting an LGBT switchboard to cover the Fraserburgh area? If so, get in touch. Box SG53001. Gay Football In Glasgow Looking to start up a team to play recreationally and possibly competitively in the Glasgow/Central Scotland area. All players welcome, regardless of skill level, sexual orientation or gender. If interested in either organising or playing, E-mail: Shaun at glbtfootball@hotmail.com Attracted To Men And Also To God? I am trying to initiate a support/talk/study group, perhaps meeting weekly, for men of all denominations who have a belief in a higher power/source/godhead, and who, like me, are not finding him/her/it in organized institutional events. Phone: Hamish on 07796 958206 or E-mail: lebartonne@hotmail.com Going To Uni This Autumn? First time? Like to try things out with a considerate older guy rather than make a fool of yourself with a guy your own age? Box SG53002. Looking For Big Fat Men I live in the West End of Glasgow and enjoy good times with larger than life men. I am 44, 6'2", 38" waist and 16 stones with short beard and modest body hair. I am a quiet and empathetic person. I enjoy most things except clubbing!! Contact me with more questions and details. Box SG53007. Firsttimer Seeks Older 16 year old lad from Kilsyth seeks older guy to teach tricks and have fun with. Live near Kilsyth/Cumbernauld/Kirkintilloch area would be perfect travel wise. Mail me if you're interested or want more info. Box SG53008. Active Coloured 4 Older 35 year old active coloured guy in the Berkshire area looking for an LTR with someone genuine and honest between 45 and 65, I would love to relocate up north and would do so for the right one. I am 5'9", black hair, S/A, S/L, C/S guy, very hairy. very discreet, genuine and honest, very clean guy, easy going. Like normal stuff in life, going out with friends for a meal and drink. Love gardening reading, movies, sex of course. I am more active, love kissing, cuddles, nipples play and oral. So, if there is someone genuine out there, get back to me. No time wasters please. Box SG53009. Central Glasgow 40 year old seeking younger slim male 18-26 for discreet friendship and companionship. Can travel and accommodate easy enough. Genuine decent guy wants special person to brighten life up. Box SG53010. Edinburgh Friendly mature Indian guy, 40's, seeks uncomplicated fun with 20's-30's guys. Regret unable to accommodate or travel. Total discretion required and offered. Box SG53011. Young Guy 26 Seeks Manly Mature Young guy 26, Edinburgh, good looking, versatile and sane, seeks genuine guy over 50 who is well built and masculine for discreet meets, maybe more if we are compatible! Box SG53012. Chubby Older Guy Seeks Oriental Parnered older top guy 50+ (partner living away) seeks friendship with younger oriental guy. Good friends that may lead to more but friendship comes first. Box SG53013. Time passing... Alone too often these days. Want someone to do things with, go places, share. 40 something, time passing by. Non-scene, wide interests. If in same boat, please get in touch. Box SG53015. Woof! Small hairy bear (45) seeks young smooth cub (16-20) for mutual pawing. Your cave or mine. Box SG53016. Want To Meet For Fun I will be in Perth for the motorcycle do and I am looking for fun. Me: 53, shaven head/chin, beard, fit. Will be up there with my own bike. Get back soon. Box SG53017. Come And Fix My Back Friendly 40something seeks young man to massage his back and soothe away his troubles. Box SG53018. Submissive Aberdeen Guy 34, nice looking, looking for fun. Into spanking, bondage, O, A, role play. Box SG53019. Looking For 24/7 Aberdeen guy, 34, 5'8", nice looking, gsoh, looking to meet guy for 1-2-1. If you want a lover then get back. Box SG53020. Artistic Male Nude Photography Are you interested in having a free professional quality photo shoot showing you at your best? If so, contact me for more information and examples of my work. Box SG53021. Glasgow - Renfrew - Paisley Stephen, 32, s/l, s/a, gsoh (I hope), fed up with scene, would like to meet someone substantial to share common interests. Likes cinema, theatre, classical music, dining out or just chilling in front of TV with a glass of wine. If this appeals, then I would be happy to hear from you. Box SG53022. Central Scot Guy Seeks Friends 25 year old good looking guy in Central Scotland seeks friends. Also seeking guys for discreet fun, no strings. Box SG53024. Text Wanker Seeks Others Horny guy into text sex chat. Adult joke exchange. Seeks text communication with other horny masculine male wankers. Over 18 only and up. Complete discretion assured. Come on! Let's have some fun! Text me now: my throbbing! horny mobile text number is 07884 250336. Box SG53025. Central Glasgow Like to meet 18-32 slim male in Glasgow area. Genuine, decent, 40 year old, own place, can also travel, looking for younger friend/companion to enjoy and brighten life up. So give it a shot. Hope to hear from you. Best wishes. Box SG53026. Week In Ibiza Mature gent WLTM gay non smoker with a view to share week's holiday at end of September. Including visits to Ibiza's nude/gay beach. Box SG53027. Fife - Edinburgh - All Scotland Fife gay, 41, seeks slim guys of any age for no strings fun. Can accommodate/travel. Bi guys, married and male couples welcome! Discretion assured. ALA. Box SG53030. Dominant Older man Wanted I'm 52, slim, fit, seeking regular fun sessions with roleplay, B/D, C/P, etc. Your place or mine. Lancs. Box SG53031. Glasgow Gay Guy Friendly gay guy, 5'8", dark hair and brown eyes, medium fairly muscular build, looking for similar guy for fun, friendship and perhaps 1-2-1. I'm in my 40's and wearing well. Box SG53032. Glasgow - Lanarkshire 30's, 5'11", 11st, slim, short red hair, GSOH, no baggage, passive, seeks active top for no strings fun. Men of colour and bi guys welcome. Can accommodate. Box SG53033. Glasgow - Lanarkshire Guy, 30's, fit, 5'11", short hair, 11st, GSOH, passsive, still looking for Mr "Twice A Night", active top to make me howl till dawn. No strings. Can accommodate. Box SG53034. Active Guy Wanted Ayrshire guy, genuine, nice looking, youthful 50's, good slim body, 32" waist, with cute little butt, WLTM mature, discreet, active top for mutual enjoyment. Box SG53035. Big Bodybuilder Champion Blond muscle Titan from Sweden, soon in Britain, big ass, big body, passive, devoted, seeks dominant friend. All is possible! Make me all yours! Till then... Box SG53036. Cheers Glasgow! Irish guy, 31, living in London but regular visitor to Glasgow seeks new friends 18-35 for a few drinks next time I'm in town. Box SG52037. Skinhead Seeks mates Zero crop skin, looking for mates, into gob, w/s, humiliation, rubber, gas masks, poppers and waders. Long sessions. Phone number for quick reply. Box SG53038. Come And Go Edinburgh. Friendly guy, 40's, offers 16-21 year old guys no strings fun. Total discretion if required. Box SG53039. Beefy And Hairy Rugby player, 34, strong muscular cropped hairy masculine 6 footer seeks beefy chunky masculine stocky man with a massive amount of body hair 20-50. E-mail: jbzz989@hotmail.com. Box SG53040. Fife Mining Stock Are you 16-26, a typical Fife miner type - small and squat? Older Edinburgh guy would like to meet you for fun and friendship. Box SG53041. Recovering Alcoholic Seeks Friend 32 year old guy in Edinburgh seeks guy, similar age, for fun and maybe more with other non drinking guy in the Edinburgh area. ALA. Genuine guy so no time wasters please. Box SG53042. Companion Required 45 year old businessman, regular world traveller, seeks 16-26 year old companion. Write fully with recent photograph of yourself. Box SG53043. Skinhead Seeks Mates Skin wants to meet skins into DM's, rubber, w/s, gob, bondage, humiliation. Let's meet for drinks and hot wet fun. Phone number and phto for quick reply. Box SG53044. Dominant Man Trains Male Are you a cute healthy well built boy under 25? You will get trained to serve your boss and in his home you will love naked bondage and much more. Box SG53045. Edinburgh - Glasgow - Anywhere No strings fun offered to young, plump, smooth chested guys by older hairy bloke. Photo helps. Box SG53046. Seeks Nephew Or Houseboy If you are 16-25, you can visit or live in. I will take full care from A to Z and you will get trained. Send photo and info from you. Box SG53048. Perth 21 year old guy in Perth looking for fun, friendship and possible relationship. High sex drive needs seeing to. Looking for young guys in Perth. Love to go out to p