fringe - ScotsGay Magazine

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE EDITED, PRINTED and PUBLISHED IN SCOTLAND SINCE 1994 • DISTRIBUTED IN LGBT AND OTHER SELECTED VENUES 

ScotsGay 

scotsgay.co.uk £1.50 WHERE SOLD • ISSUE 93 

2009 

fringe 

coverage by 

TONY CHALLIS 

VICTORIA COOKE 

JOE DANIELS 

ANDREW DOYLE 

JODIE FLEMING 

JOHN HEIN and 

MARTIN WALKER 

Susan Calman 

The Last Woman on Earth

NEWS 

DRINK AWARE 

TWITS 

GIVE STIGMA THE INDEX FINGER 

The UK’s only Gay and Lesbian Cruise agency 

To celebrate the launch of our website, log on to enter the free prize draw for your chance to 

win a fab Mediterranean cruise! 

worldpridecruises.co.uk 

Tel 0844 884 9501 

Free prize draw, no purchase necessary. Closing date 31/07/09. Log on for full details. 

Chief Inspector David Lyle 

(General Secretary and Scottish Coordinator 

of the Gay Police 

Association) writes: 

The Assistant Chief Constable has 

contacted me, in response to my 

request, to him, to look at the issue of 

the rejection of licence extensions on 

the day of Pride Scotia. 

He tells me that there were only 

two applications for extensions, one, 

from 0100 to 0300, the other, from 

0300 to 0500. Both were rejected, 

with the reason given that, as the 

Parade had concluded by 1400, and 

the main events by about 1700, 

having licences already available to 

0100 and 0300 allowed plenty of time 

for the provision and consumption of 

alcohol in connection with the 

occasion. 

This is a reason for rejection that 

is by no means unique and he does 

not feel that there was any issue of 

discrimination being applied to the 

applications. 

I'd be obliged if you could pass 

this information on. Obviously, if the 

licensees concerned remain 

unsatisfied, it is open to them to write 

to the Chief Constable and/or the Chair 

of the Council's Licensing Board, to 

register a complaint. 

YOUTH GATHER 

Are you fed up doing the same 

old things every weekend? Does it feel 

like there's nothing else to do? LGBT 

Youth Scotland will be holding a three 

day National Gathering in Glasgow 

which is all about Alternatives. Over 

the weekend of 11th-13th Sep you'll 

get the chance to try a whole range of 

different activities and learn new skills. 

To find out more and how to 

register, and to nominate people, 

groups, events and projects for a 

National Gathering Award, please visit: 

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/ng09.htm 

EVERYONE IN 

EveryOne IN: Working towards 

Equality for Minority Ethnic Lesbian, 

Gay, Bisexual and Transgender People 

in Scotland is the first research of its 

kind in Scotland and tackles a subject 

that has long been ignored or deemed 

"too controversial" to openly discuss. 

Funded by the Equality & Human 

Rights Commission and delivered in 

partnership by Equality Network and 

Black and Ethnic Minorities 

Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS), 

EveryOne IN details the findings from 

nine months research and will be 

launched in Glasgow on 28th Aug. E- 

mail Tim Cowen 

(timc@equality-network.org) for an 

invitation. http://www.equalitynetwork.org/minorityethniclgbt 

You can now follow the Equality 

Network's LGBT News on Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/EN_LGBTNews 

CAN'T HELP SINGING 

Edinburgh Gay Men's Chorus will 

be taking part in the New Town Bar's 

big fundraiser on Sat 23rd Aug. They 

will perform at some point between 

4pm and 6pm. 

PROM 

"The Big Gay Prom, Big Enough 4 

All" has been developed by the West 

Lothian LGBT Practitioners Forum and 

local young people and will take place 

on Fri 21st Aug, 6-10pm, Strathbrock 

Partnership Centre, Broxburn. 

REGE LEGE ET GREGE 

The next date for the brand new 

drop in for LGBT young people in 

Perth is Wed 26th Aug, 5.30-6.30pm. 

For more details, please visit: 

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/perthandkinros 

s.htm 

IT’S YOUR POLICE SERVICE 

– BE PART OF IT 

Strathclyde Police is actively 

encouraging members from the 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and 

Transgender (LGBT) communities 

to come along and find out more 

about careers within Scotland’s 

largest force on Sat 22nd Aug. 

The event, which will run 

from Noon-4pm is being held at 

The Gallery of Modern Art, Royal 

Exchange Square in Glasgow City 

Centre. 

It’s hoped that people will 

take the time out to pop in and 

have a chat with officers about 

careers, salaries and Accelerated 

Career Development Programme 

for Graduates. 

Staff from the diversity recruiting team and organisations such as The Gay 

Police Association and The National Trans Police Association will be available to 

provide advice and information on the roles of police officers, police staff and 

special constable as well as answer any questions or queries. 

Constable Susan Phee from Strathclyde Police Diversity Department said, 

“At Strathclyde Police we encourage people from all walks of life and diverse 

backgrounds to join the force.” 

“The idea behind this recruitment and information day is to inform anyone 

from the LGBT communities about what opportunities are available within the 

police, to encourage them to find out what roles are most suited to them and to 

potentially join us.” 

“Officers and staff from the other organisations will be available for one to 

one chats throughout the session and will be able to answer questions, allay any 

fears or reservations people might have about joining the police.” 

“We really hope people will take the time to drop in to see us”. 

Stigma relating to HIV remains significant in the UK. A survey by the 

National AIDS Trust in 2007 indicated that 71% of people agree more needs to 

be done to tackle prejudice, and that attitudes such as rejection by family and 

friends, blame, and guilt relating to HIV transmission remain and are highly 

stigmatising. Inaccurate or sensationalised media coverage of issues relating to 

HIV fuels stigma. 

The People Living with HIV Stigma Index provides a tool that will measure 

and detect changing trends in relation to stigma and discrimination experienced 

by people living with HIV—it is a research and advocacy initiative that is by and 

for people living with HIV and is generating a positive energy for change. It is a 

community drive initiative that is generating evidence to better inform and 

improve policy and practice to address HIV related stigma in the UK 

(www.stigmaindex.org). 

-“It’s a big rollercoaster for me—it’s a journey I will never ever forget. I am 

not alone. I have been hiding—for what?” [Researcher, London, June] 

-“When the nurse put on two gloves I was so humiliated, I mean who 

taught her to do that? If this interview is going to make a difference you can ask 

me anything you like.” [Participant, London, May] 

-“You’re all positive too? OK count me in” [Participant, Manchester, June] 

More than 10 HIV organisations in Scotland and the UK and working 

together to reach out to many different people living with HIV. We want to hear 

your story. If you are living with HIV and would like to get involved, contact the 

Stigma Index team by E-mail: UKstigmaindex@ippf.org or phone 020-7127 0017 

to participate. Participants will be offered £20 (inclusive of travel expenses) for 

completing the questionnaire and the interviews in Scotland will take place in 

August-September. 

VOTES FOR WOMEN 

Edinburgh Young Women's 

Suffragettes Project are aiming to put 

on an event celebrating the upcoming 

100th anniversary of the October 1909 

Suffragettes march in Edinburgh. They 

want to mark those areas in which 

much has changed for all women over 

the past century, while also 

highlighting those areas where too 

little has changed. 

The first planning meeting will be 

on Mon 24th Aug from 6-8pm at 40 

Commercial Street, Leith. For more 

information, E-mail: 

j.c.ware@sms.ed.ac.uk 

ScotsGay: a monthly magazine for 

LGBT folk and friends. 

ISSN: 1357-0595. Unless otherwise stated © Pageprint 

Publishers Litd, August 2009. PO Box 666, Edinburgh. 

Non profit use of material in the magazine, to which we hold 

copyright, will normally be permitted free of charge, but you must 

contact us first for permission. 

Views expressed in ScotsGay don't necessarily 

reflect the views of ScotsGay. People featured in 

ScotsGay may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, 

transgender, straight, or all or none of the above. 

Editorial 0131-539 0666 

editorial@scotsgay.co.uk 

Advertising: 07722 388903 

advertising@scotsgay.co.uk 

editor John Hein 

fringe Andrew Doyle & Martin Walker 

adverts Jean Genie 

web www.scotsgay.co.uk 

www.myspace.com/ScotsGayMagazine 

www.bebo.com/ScotsGayMagazine 

www.facebook.com/ScotsGay

VENUES 

& EMPORIA 

*denotes ScotsGay available 

ABERDEEN 

CHEERZ 

BAR & CLUB* 

2-8 Exchange Street. 

Tel: (01224) 594511. 

Bar: 6pm-Midnight. 

Club: Sun-Wed 

11.30pm-2am, Thu 

9.30pm-2am, Fri 

11.30pm-3am, Sat 

10pm-3am. Lively gay 

bar and club with 

entertainment and 

more. 

www.cheerzbar.net 

CLUB 

FOUNDATION* 

Carnegies Brae. 

Wed-Sun 11pm-3am. 

Popular club opposite 

The Tunnels. 

DRAMA* 

Club Foundation, 

Carnegies Brae. 

1st Sat of each month. 

10pm-3am. New club 

night. Register online 

for membership. 

E-mail: 

info@ilovedrama.co.uk 

www.ilovedrama.co.uk 

HYPLOC* 

72-74 Commerce 

Street. Tel: (01224) 

580744. Sun Noon- 

Midnight, Mon-Sat 

11am-Midnight. Gay 

bar with weekend 

entertainment. Food 

also served. 

E-mail: 

hyploc@btinternet.com 

MARKET ARMS* 

13 Hadden Street. 

Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, 

Sun 1-11pm. 

Traditional bar with 

quizes and karaoke. 

WELLMAN'S 

HEALTH 

STUDIO* 

218 Holburn Street. 

Tel: (01224) 211441. 

Mon-Fri Noon-10pm, 

Sat Noon-9pm, Sun 2- 

9pm. 8-man Jacuzzi, 

sauna, steamroom, 

café. Free Internet 

access. Massage 

available. 

E-mail: rod@ 

wellmans-health-studio.com 

www.wellmans-healthstudio.com 

DUMFRIES 

DUMFRIES LGBT 

CENTRE* 

26 Brewery Street. 

Tel: (01387) 739888. 

Mon 9am-5pm, Tue- 

Wed 9am-5pm and 

7-9pm, Thu 9am-5pm, 

Fri 9am-5pm, 6- 

9.30pm. Small but 

friendly. 

MIXED BAG 

QOS Hospitality 

Lounge, Palmerston 

Park. 

Tel: (01387) 252441. 

Infoline: (01387) 

739888. 9pm-2am. 

Last Fri of each month. 

Monthly club night. 

E-mail: 

DandG@lgbtyouth.org.uk 

www.myspace.com/ 

mixed_bag_dg 

DUNDEE 

BROOKLYNS* 

2 St Andrew's Lane. 

Wed-Sun 7pm- 

Midnight. Well 

appointed LGBT bar 

around corner from 

OUT. Entrance under 

rainbow flag. 

THE GAUGER* 

75-79 Seagate. 

Tel: (01382) 226840. 

Sun 12.30pm- 


11am-Midnight. LGBTfriendly 

bar with free 

disco Fri & Sat 8pm- 

Midnight. 

JOCKS HEALTH 

CLUB/SAUNA* 

11 Princes Street. Tel: 

(01382) 451986. Sun- 

Thu Noon-10pm, 

Fri-Sat Noon-11pm. 

Dundee’s newest gay 

venue. Sauna, gym, 

steamroom, lockers, 

lounge, cabins. 

E-mail: ask 

@jockssauna.co.uk 

www.jockssauna.co.uk 

OUT* 

124 Seagate. Tel: 

(01382) 200660. Wed- 

Sun 11pm-2.30am. 

Good atmosphere, 

very popular disco 

with wide selection of 

sounds and the 

occasional act/PA. 

EDINBURGH 

DURING THE 

EDINBURGH 

FESTIVALS, 

MOST VENUES 

HAVE GREATLY 

EXTENDED 

OPENING HOURS 

THE AULD 

HOOSE* 

23-25 St Leonards 

Street. 

Tel: 0131-668 2934. 

Sun 12.30pm-1am, 

Mon-Sat 11.30am- 

1am. 

Everybody-friendly real 

ale bar. Food served: 

Mon-Sat 11.30am- 

9.30pm, Sun 

12.30-8pm. 

BLUE MOON 

CAFÉ* 

1 Barony Street/36 

Broughton Street. 

Tel: 0131-556 2788 

(Bar) or 0131-557 

0911 (Office). Sat-Sun 

10am-11pm, Mon-Fri 

11am-11pm. Food 

served until 10pm. 

Popular LGBT café. 

www.bluemooncafe.co.uk 

BOBBIE'S 

BOOKSHOP* 

220 Morrison Street. 

Tel: 0131-538 7069. 

Mon-Sat 10am-1pm, 

2-5.30pm. Sells a 

selection of gay 

magazines. 

BOOTY* 

GHQ, 4 Picardy Place. 

Tel: 0131-550 1780. 

Info Line: 07736 

936650. Sun 11pm- 

3am. Club night. 

E-mail: dale 

@lushmarketing.com 

www.club-booty.com 

CAFÉ NOM DE 

PLUME* 

60 Broughton Street. 

Tel: 0131-478 1372. 

Recently opened 

café/bar in the LGBT 

Centre. Meals, snacks, 

drinks. Free WiFi. Dogs 

welcome. Outdoor 

smoking area. 

E-mail: 

info@cafenomdeplume.co.uk 

C.C. BLOOM'S* 

23-24 Greenside 

Place. 

Tel: 0131-556 9331. 

Sun 7pm-3am, Mon- 

Thu 6pm-3am, Fri-Sat 

6pm-3am. Two funky 

floors! Disco every 

night from 11pm. 

E-mail: 

ccblooms@tiscali.co.uk 

www.bebo.com/ 

CCBloomsNightClub 

DEEP BLUE* 

1 Barony Street. Tel: 

0131-556 2788 (Bar) 

or 0131-557 0911 

(Office). 4-11pm. 

Friendly gay basement 

bar. Unobtrusive 

music - great for 

talking to people. 

www.bluemooncafe.co.uk 

DV8 

Spiders Web 

Basement, 258 

Morrison Street. Tel: 

0131-228 1949. 8pm- 

1am. Last Fri of each 

month. Fetish club. 

E-mail: saltire28 

@yahoo.co.uk 

http://dv8fetishclub.co.uk 

EDINBURGH 

LGBT CENTRE* 

58a and 60 Broughton 

Street. Houses Café 

Nom De Plume and 

Pride Scotia. Free WiFi 

Internet access 

(sponsored by 

ScotsGay). Bought in 

1974 by the Scottish 

Minorities Group, it is 

the only LGBT-owned 

LGBT Centre in the UK 

and is also the oldest 

LGBT Centre in Europe 

if not the world. Tel: 

0131-556 9471. 

Meeting Room 

Booking Tel: 07817 

533337. 

E-mail: hello@edinburgh 

lgbtcentre.org.uk 

www.edinburghlgbtcentre.org. 

uk 

ELECTRO- 

SEXUAL* 

C.C. Bloom’s, 23-24 

Greenside Place. 

Tel: 0131-556 9331. 

11pm-3am. Last Sun 

of each month. Club 

night. 

E-mail: electro-sexual 

@live.co.uk 

www.bebo.com/ElectroS61 

FEVER 

Faith Nightclub, 207 

Cowgate. Tel: 0131- 

225 9764. 11pm-3am. 

3rd Sat of each month. 

Club night. 

www.taste-clubs.com 

FRENCHIES 

BAR* 

89 Rose Street Lane 

North. Tel: 07711 

862813. Sun 2-11pm, 

Mon-Thu Noon-11pm, 

Fri-Sat Noon-1am. 

Vibrant gay bar 

(Edinburgh's oldest) in 

the heart of Rose 

Street. Under new 

management. 

E-mail: 

frenchies@blueyonder.co.uk 

FURBURGER* 

GHQ (Back Room), 4 

Picardy Place. Tel: 

0131-550 1780. 

11pm-3am. 2nd Fri of 

each month. Popular 

women’s club night. 

E-mail: furburger.club 

@hotmail.co.uk 

GHQ* 

4 Picardy Place. Tel: 

0131-550 1780. Tue- 

Sun 5pm-3am. Stylish 

bar and club catering 

for the capital's 

fashionable gay crowd. 

www.socialanimal.co.uk/ 

Edinburgh/GHQ 

HABANA* 

22 Greenside Place. 

Tel: 0131-558 1270. 


Mon-Sat Noon-1am. 

Friendly pre-club bar 

popular with locals and 

visitors. Free WiFi 

Internet. 

E-mail: cafehabanaEH1 

@mac.com 

www.cafehabanaEH1.com 

LEATHER & 

LACE* 

8 Drummond Street. 

Tel: 0131-557 9413. 

Fax: 0131-557 8336. 

Sun Noon-9pm, Mon- 

Sat 10am-9pm. 25 

Easter Road. Tel: 

0131-623 6969. 

Noon-6pm. Toys and 

video rental. 

LGBT CENTRE 

FOR HEALTH & 

WELLBEING* 

9 Howe Street. Tel: 

0131-523 1100. LGBT 

community centre in 

the heart of the New 

Town offering a range 

of events, courses and 

activities. Also 

provides meeting 

space for community 

groups. See website 

for listings. 

E-mail: 

admin@lgbthealth.org.uk 

www.lgbthealth.org 

LUVELY 

Faith Nightclub, 207 

Cowgate. Tel: 0131- 

225 9764. Info Line: 

0131-657 4633. 

10.30pm-3am. 1st Sat 

of each month. Club 

night. 

www.luvely.com 

MORE 

The Speakeasy at 

Cabaret Voltaire, 36 

Blair Street. 

Tel: 0131-220 6176. 

11pm-3am. Every Sun 

except 1st Sun of each 

month. Club night. 

Entry is free. 

www.bebo.com/ClubMore 

NEW TOWN 

BAR* 

26B Dublin Street. Tel: 

0131-538 7775. Sun 

12.30pm-1am, Mon- 

Thu Noon-1am, Fri-Sat 

Noon-2am. Food: 

Mon-Fri Noon-3pm. 

Popular and busy gay 

bar. Real ale. Free WiFi 

Internet access. 

E-mail: newtownbar@aol.com 

www.newtownbar.co.uk 

No EIGHTEEN* 

18 Albert Place, Leith 

Walk. Tel: 0131-553 

3222. Mon-Thu Noon- 

10pm, Fri-Sun 

Noon-11pm. The UK's 

first VAT registered gay 

sauna! £10 (£8 

concessions), £5 after 

8pm. 

www.number18sauna.com 

PLANET* 

6 Baxter's Place. Tel: 

0131-556 5551. 1pm- 

1am. Popular and 

busy gay bar with 

friendly staff. 

E-mail: planetout 

@btinternet.com 

THE PLAYGIRL 

MANSIONS 

Lulu, underneath 

Tigerlily, 125 George 

Street. Tel: 0131-225 

5005. Sun 10am-3am. 

Mixed. Music policy is 

mostly cutting edge 

house and disco 

classics. 

E-mail: info 

@luluedinburgh.co.uk 

www.playgirlmansions.co.uk 

PRISCILLA'S 

CABARET BAR* 

17 Albert Place, Leith 

Walk. Tel: 0131-554 

8962. Sun-Fri Noon- 

1am, Sat 5am-1am. 

Friendly bar putting the 

fun back into coming 

out! 

E-mail: debrakeith11 

@yahoo.co.uk 

www.bebo.com 

/priscillasedinburgh 

Q-STORE 

5 Barony Street. 

Tel/Fax: 0131-477 

4756. Sun 1-5pm, 

Mon-Fri 11am-7pm, 

Sat 11am-6pm. 

Scotland's only 

licensed gay store. Not 

just feelthy pictures - 

lifestyle too! 

QUEER MUTINY 

Queer autonomous 

space . See website for 

details of events which 

are often organised at 

short notice. 

E-mail: EdinburghQueer 

Mutiny@gmail.com 

www.queermutiny.tk 

www.myspace.com 

/queermutiny 

THE REGENT* 

2 Montrose Terrace. 

Tel: 0131-661 8198. 


Mon-Sat 11am-1am. 

Edinburgh’s Gay Real 

Ale Pub. CAMRA's 

Lesbian & Gay Real 

Ale Drinkers meet here 

on the 1st Mon of the 

month (2nd Mon in 

Aug) from 9pm. 

E-mail: theregentbar 

@tiscali.co.uk 

www.lagrad-edinburgh 

.org.uk 

STEAMWORKS* 

5 Broughton Market. 

Tel: 0131-477 3567. 

Daily 11am-11pm. 

Stylish sauna forming 

part of busy gay hotel 

and sauna complex in 

centre of gay quarter. 

State-of-the-art 

facilities including large 

spa pool, sauna cabin, 

large steam room, 

video room, labyrinth 

with themed areas, 

café lounge, free 

Internet access, 

tanning booth. 

www.steamworkssauna.co.uk 

THE STREET* 

2 Picardy Place. Tel: 

0131-556 4272. Sun 

12.30pm-1am, Mon 

4pm-1am, Tue-Sat 

Noon-1am. Small but 

perfectly formed bar 

run by Louise and 

Trendy Wendy. 


/thestreetbar 

TASTE 

The GRV, 37 Guthrie 


2987. 11pm-3am. 1st 

Sun of each month. 

Popular club night. 

www.taste-clubs.com 

www.bebo.com/ 

tasteclubs 

VELVET 

WOMEN’S 

CLUB NIGHT 

The Ark, 5-7 Waterloo 

Place. Next date to be 

announced. 10.30pm- 

3am. For gay girlies 

and their LGBTI 

friends. DJs Jeremy 

and Leatherface, 

eclectic genre 

spanning music. Great 

drinks promos. 

E-mail: clubvelvet 

@blueyonder.co.uk 


/clubvelvet 

www.webflyers.co.uk/ 

Flyer/377 

WORD POWER* 

43-45 West Nicolson 


9112. Sun 12-5pm, 

Mon-Sat 10am-6pm. 

Independent radical 

bookshop. 

E-mail: books@wordpower.co.uk 

www.word-power.co.uk 

GLASGOW 

BENNETS* 

80-90 Glassford 


5761. Wed-Sun 

11.30pm-3am. 

Scotland's oldest gay 

disco. 

www.bennetsnightclub.co.uk 

www.bebo.com/ 

bennetsniteclub 

BYBLOS 

NIGHTCLUB 

Unit Q, Merchant 

Square, 75 Albion 


3895. Mon & Tue 

11.30pm-3am. 

Popular club nights. 

£3/£2. 

E-mail: information 

@tlcglasgow.co.uk or 

info@byblosglasgow.com 

www.byblosglasgow.com 

CCA* 

350 Sauchiehall Street. 

Tel: 0141-352 4900. 

Fax: 0141-332 3226. 

Café Tel: 0141-332 

7959. Sales & Info: 

Tue-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 

10am-7pm. Gallery: 

Tue-Sat 11am-6pm. 

Café: Tue-Thu 10am- 

7.30pm, Fri-Sat 10am- 

9pm. Scott Street Bar: 

Tue-Wed 5-11pm, Thu 

5pm-Midnight, Fri-Sat 

5pm-1am. The Centre 

for Contemporary Arts. 

6 performance and 

exhibition spaces, café, 

bar. ScotsGay available 

in bar. 

E-mail: gen 

@cca-glasgow.com 

www.cca-glasgow.com 

COURT BAR* 

69 Hutcheson Street. 

Tel: 0141-552 2463. 

Sun 12.30pm- 


9am-Midnight. 

Intimate bar. Straight 

until mid-evening. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DELMONICA'S 

BAR* 

68 Virginia Street. Tel: 

0141-552 4803. 

Noon-Midnight. DJs 

nightly from 9pm. Thu: 

Quiz. Sun: Karaoke. 


GlasgowCityCentre/ 

Delmonicas 

FHQ* 

10 John Street. Tel: 

0141-553 5851. Mon- 

Wed 5pm-Midnight, 

Thu 9pm-3am, Fri 

5pm-2am, Sat-Sun 

Noon-2am. Female 

only bar and club. 

E-mail: fhq 

@g1group.com 


GlasgowCityCentre/FHQ 

THE LANE 

60 Robertson Lane. 

Tel: 07789 906851. 

Irregular hours. Sauna. 

Not very busy. 

MERCHANT 

PRIDE 

20 Candleriggs. Tel: 

0141-564 1285. Sun 

12.30pm-Midnight, 

Mon-Fri 4pm- 

Midnight, Sat 

Noon-Midnight. Bar in 

the heart of the 

Merchant City. 

MODA* 


0141-553 2553. Mon- 

Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sun 

5pm-3am. Fashionable 

pub/club. 


GlasgowCityCentre/Moda 

PILLOW TALK* 


0141-5521278. Sun 

Noon-6pm, Mon-Sat 

10.30am-7pm. Toys, 

mags, underwear and 

more. 

THE 

PIPEWORKS* 

5-10 Metropole Lane. 

Tel: 0141-552 5502. 

Mon-Thu 11.30am- 

11pm, Fri 11.30am- 

Sat 6am, Sat Noon- 

Sun 11pm. Men's 

Health and Leisure 

Club. Usual facilities. 

£13 (£10 concession). 

www.thepipeworks.com 

POLO LOUNGE* 

84 Wilson Street. Tel: 

0141-553 1221. Mon- 

Thu 5pm-1am, Fri-Sun 

5pm-3am. Long 

established pub/club. 

Young crowd. Open 

Fri-Sun, £5 after 

11pm. 


GlasgowCityCentre/ 

Polo_Lounge 

Q! GALLERY* 

87-91 Saltmarket. 

Tel/Fax: 0141-552 

7575. Text: 07762 

722460. Mon-Fri 

11am-5pm (during 

exhibitions Mon-Sat 

11am-5pm). Glasgay's 

year-round gallery 

dedicated to queer art. 

E-mail: info@glasgay.co.uk 

www.glasgay.co.uk 

 

 

 

 

 

RELAX 

CENTRAL* 

3rd Floor, 27 Union 


0415. Sun Noon- 

8.30pm, Mon-Sat 

11.30am-10pm. 

Established gay sauna. 

Entry £8. 

E-mail: relaxcentral 

@hotmail.co.uk 

www.relaxcentral.co.uk 

REVOLVER BAR* 

6a John Street. Tel: 

0141-553 2456. Mon- 

Fri Noon-Midnight, 

Sat-Sun 1pm- 

Midnight. 

A refreshing antidote 

to the current gay 

scene. Free WiFi. 

www.revolverglasgow.com 

SILKS AND 

SECRETS* 

308 Argyle Street. Tel: 

0141-572 1017. Fax: 

0141-221 0959. Sun 

Noon-5pm, Mon-Sat 

10am-6pm. 

Clothes and toys 

catering for gay, 

transvestite and fetish 

tastes. 

www.silksandsecrets.com 

SPEAKEASY* 

10 John Street. Tel: 

0141-553 5851. Mon- 

Wed 5pm-Midnight, 

Thu 5pm-3am, Fri 

5pm-2am, Sat-Sun 

Noon-2am. 

Fresh alternative to the 

gay scene. Food 

served until 9pm. 

E-mail: speakeasy 

@g1group.com 


GlasgowCityCentre/Speakeasy 

TRON THEATRE 

CAFÉ BAR* 

Chisholm Street. Tel: 

0141-552 8587. Fax: 

0141-552 6657. Sun 

11am-Late, Mon-Sat 

10am-Late. 

Friendly theatre bar. 

Mixed. Good food. 

www.tron.co.uk 

THE TUNNEL 

84 Mitchell Street. Tel: 

0141-204 1000. Wed 

HELPLINES and 

SWITCH BOARDS 

BREATHING SPACE 

Mon-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri 6pm - Mon 

6am (24 hours at weekends) 

Freephone: 0800 838587 

www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk 

CROSSLYNX NATIONAL TV/TS/TG 

HELPLINE 

Mon 7.30-9.30pm. Phone: 0141-847 

0787 www.crosslynx.org 

CUMBRIA AND THE BORDERS GAY 

HELPLINE 

Nightly 6-9pm. Phone: Bassenthwaite 

Lake (01768) 776244 

DIVERSITAY LGBT SWITCHBOARD 

(DUNDEE) 

Mon 7-9pm. 

Phone: Dundee (01382) 202620 

Write: PO Box 53, Dundee. DD1 3YG. 

E-mail: contact@diversitay.org.uk 

www.diversitay.org.uk 

FIFE HATE CRIME REPORTING 

HELPLINE 

24 hours. Phone: Freephone 0800 

3891425. A freephone number for 

people who wish support in reporting to 

Fife Constabulary crime motivated by 

hate. For further information about the 

service or becoming a trained helpline 

volunteer, phone us now! 

HATE CRIME REPORTING 

Nightly 7-10pm. Phone: 0141-847 0647 

or Stirling (01786) 469483 

11.30pm-3am. Allure: 

Club. Entry £3/£2. 

E-mail: information 

@tlcglasgow.co.uk 

www.tunnelglasgow.co.uk 

VIOLATE 

Violate Club Line: 

09099 108174 (60p 

per min at all times) or 

07939 723387. BDSM 

Runs regular clubs at 

the Big Joint in South 

Street, Glasgow on the 

first Sat of the month. 

www.violate.co.uk 

THE WATERLOO* 

306 Argyle Street. Tel: 

0141-248 7216. Sun 

12.30pm-Midnight, 

Mon-Sat Noon- 

Midnight. Popular, 

crowded, down to 

earth drinking shop. 

Scotland's oldest gay 

bar. Busy, busy, busy! 

www.waterloobar.co.uk 

HAWICK 

LOTHIAN GAY AND LESBIAN 

SWITCHBOARD 

Mon-Fri 7.30-10pm. 

Phone: 0131-556 4049 

E-mail: help.switchboard 

@btconnect.com www.lgls.co.uk 

LOTHIAN LESBIAN LINE 

Mon 7.30-10pm. 

Phone: 0131-557 0751 

E-mail: help.switchboard@ 

btconnect.com or www.lgls.co.uk 

STRATHCLYDE LESBIAN AND GAY 

SWITCHBOARD 

Nightly 7-10pm. 

Phone: 0141-847 0447 

E-mail: info@sgls.co.uk 

www.sgls.co.uk 

STRATHCLYDE LESBIAN LINE 

Wed 7.30-10pm. 

Phone: 0141-847 0547 

www.sgls.co.uk/services1 

THT DIRECT 

Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat-Sun Noon- 

6pm. Phone: 0845 1221200. 

LONDON SWITCHBOARD 

Daily 10am-11pm. 

Phone: 020-7837 7324. 

Minicom: 020-7689 8501. 

FAX: 020-7837 7300. 

E-mail: admin@llgs.org.uk 

www.llgs.org.uk www.queery.org.uk 

FLIRT* 

Base Nightclub, 10 

Baker Street. 1st Thu 

of each month. 8pm- 

1.30am. 

LGBT friendly club 

night. Free admission, 

but you need to 

register first at 

www.bebo.com/flirtybase 

INVERNESS 

CACTUS JAK’S 

39 High Street. Tel: 

(01463) 248906. First 

Tue of each month. 

9pm-3am. Brought to 

you by the Highland 

LGBT Forum. 

STIRLING 

ALBION BAR* 

51 Barnton Street. Tel: 

(01786) 461252. 

Mixed bar. Bar meals 

available. 

E-mail: cj@albionbar.com 

www.albionbar.com 

STORNOWAY 

AN LANNTAIR* 

Kenneth Street. Tel: 

(01851) 703307. Mon- 

Sat 8.30am-Late. LGBT 

friendly arts centre with 

bar and restaurant. 

Real ale. 

E-mail: info@lanntair.com 

www.lanntair.com 

ScotsGay VENUES listings are 

FREE 

Send your group’s details to 

listings@scotsgay.co.uk 

For bang up-to-date info visit 

www.scotsgay.co.uk/listings

glaschu 

GLASGOW 

dùn eideann 

EDINBURGH 

Well folks, I’m doing things a wee bit 

different this month as, to be honest, there 

is just so much going on that I could not 

cover everything so I’ve narrowed it down to 

the very best of the best for this month….. 

So let us begin!!!!! 

MONDAYS: if you are blessed enough 

to be here in Glasvegas on a Monday and 

not dying from a mammoth sized hangover 

like I usually have then Byblos nightclub is 

where you want to be, the bar is snazzy… 

the crowd quite diverse and it’s always busy 

with cheap beverages flowing! What more 

could you ask for exactly? Ahh yes, talent! 

Well there’s something for everyone as this 

night spot attracts a mixture of ages and 

both genders so fear not there is something 

for everyone! 

TUESDAYS: Time to ease into 

the week, open from 5pm till 1am a 

Tuesday night is in Moda!!! Moda is 

next door to the Polo Lounge and 

open from 5pm till 1am with drinks 

served from £1.80 and the most 

amazing cocktails from £2. Credit 

crunch prices in a luxurious setting 

and it’s even nicer when they have 

the roaring fire on!!! DJ Devine gets 

you going with his funky tunes with 

LUSH from 9pm. 

WEDNESDAYS: Has to be Polo 

Lounge first as all drinks are a 

pound then moving onto Allure at 

the Tunnel where DJ Darren is the 

master at work and the club 

Miss Shivey 

glasgow@scotsgay.co.uk 

provides Scotland’s busiest gay night. It’s 

always good; the crowd are attractive and up 

for it and the tunes are cheesy. Jobs a good 

un’ basically! But if you aren’t able to put 

your dancing on mid week or just don’t 

fancy it then the Wii Night in Revolver is a 

great alternative and much laid back! Added 

bonus being this venue has great staff and 

great regulars. 

THURSDAYS: Delmonicas time for the 

quiz from nine every Thursday with 

guaranteed prizes and a rollover cash prize. I 

swear that £1,000 will be mine when it 

comes up; I’m already swotting up and 

intimidating the other team’s lol. Hot tip for 

the quiz is in the week before look on the 

website for Social Animal to find a question 

set by the manager and this will always be 

used in the quiz! It’s legal cheating, 

fabulous! And when the quiz finishes 

and the bar closes if you still want 

more then head to Bennets where the 

booze is cheap and if you’re signed 

onto their new text service entry is 

FREE!!! 

FRIDAYS: Friday night is party 

night, the working week is over and its 

time to get drunk and spend your hard 

earned!!! The Polo Lounge is 

bouncing each and every Friday and 

this could be for numerous reasons, 

there is the Trophy Room played uber 

camp classics (most hilarious when 

someone knows all the dance routines 

AND performs them) or it could be 

because of the top floor which is spacious, 

has a new DJ and the most amazing bar and 

leather couches to sprawl out on? Or it 

could be because it’s where I would be? 

Either way, always a good night and keep an 

eye out on their Bebo and Social Animal for 

possible guest acts! 

SATURDAYS: Well this is a hard day as 

on the last Saturday of the month there is 

Death Disco @ The Arches so if that’s on 

then go there!!!! But when that’s not on 

there is only one late night Saturday venue 

and it sure is an oldie but it’s also a goodie! 

Head to Bennets, meet ‘six pound darling’, 

drink a Corkys shot and chat up the 

bouncers! This experience is a must! Also 

the new décor is worth having a swatch at; 

the snakeskin seating is terribly fabulous…. 

Though also wipe clean I notice! Not that 

I’m suggesting lewd behaviour ever goes on 

or anything! 

SUNDAYS: Oft the weekend comes to a 

close before another starts smacking us 

around yet again so chill the heck out and 

head to THE Sunday session that goes on in 

Revolver! This is their best and busiest night 

with camp classics, movie clips, DJs, mixed 

clientele and so much more! Also got to 

mention Revolver is doing a Bears night on 

Fri 4th Sep, so get ready to growl Bears! 

Ah finally the end is near but no I’m not 

facing the final curtain, I’m facing the final 

call at the bar! Be good ladies and gents and 

if you can’t be good then make sure you 

don’t get caught! Ta ta for now x 

Pillow Talk 

45 Virginia St, Glasgow, G1 1TS 

Tel. 0141 552 1278 

Mon-Sat: 10.30 - 7pm Sun: 12 - 6pm 

The Festival is in full swing and it has to 

be the best one so far! The city is simply 

abounding with gay and gay friendly 

comedians, shows, music, one-off club 

nights extraordinaire and let’s not forget our 

5am drinks licenses!! 

Popular Fringe venue Sweet are running 

an LGBT night on Sun 23rd Aug from 9pm- 

3am. Compered by a Susan Boyle drag 

impersonator, the evening will feature 

appearances from various fringe 

performers. There will be the usual 

discounted drinks and ‘dirty dancing’ in the 

basement. 

First up - latest news from GHQ is that 

they have 3 fantastic new nights on!! Every 

Sat, Live from the GHQ Big Top comes 

‘Circus Saturdays’! Featuring freak shows, 

bearded ladies, acrobats, clowns, tightrope 

acts and body art!! Then, every Mon is now 

Industry Night, Edinburgh’s biggest trade 

night offering free entry and £1 drinks. And 

last but not least, Student Wednesdays with 

DJ Michelle - with free entry, £2 double 

vodkas and mix, £1 for bottled Fosters and 

VK! From 11pm ’til way past your bedtime 

… esp on a schoolnight!! And shots £1 any 

night of the week. 

On Tues 25th Aug, it’s the now 

infamous World Famous Regent Bar Quiz 

with dynamic duo Brett and Siobhan. This is 

the most professional, well run quiz night in 

Edinburgh, with six different rounds 

including a music round. The quiz starts at 

9pm, though I’d get there before that if I 

were you to secure a seat and get your real 

ale in! Just a wee note about the fantastic 

food also being served at the Regent Bar, 

their menu just seems to get better and 

better! Also, Nom de Plume - the Regent’s 

little sister - is getting busier as news of its 

opening reaches far and wide. With a wicked 

menu, variety of coffees, alcoholic drinks 

and amazing food - which caters very well to 

veggie and vegans - it’s definitely worth a 

look. 

Also on 25th Aug is new night ‘Hello 

Sailor’ at The Street. It’s hosted by Cabaret 

artiste Captain Anchor, who is also playing 

20th century pop music live! Accompanied 

by DJs Beefy & Wolfjazz playing disco and 

electronica, the theme code is, of course, 

Nautical! Aye aye Captain! 

The lovely ladies of Planet have 

arranged a fantastic PJ Party! On Sat 29th 

Aug from 10pm, Lady Gali and her crowd of 

admirers will be getting the PJ’s on for a fun 

and messy drinking session in Planet, then 

late night camping afterward at Arthur’s 

Seat!! Football, barbies and sleeping bags - 

sound like your idea of a good time??? 

(that’s bbq, not Barbie dolls. Or maybe both 

… ) Get in touch with the gorgeous Sabrina 

at Planet and ask for more details. The price 

of entry is as much cupcakes as you can 

carry! And on the off-chance that you don’t 

own a pair of PJs, your birthday suit will do 

the trick! 

Café Habana are hosting their biggest 

and best drag productions yet, with their 

Queens Coco and Misty, and two male 

dancers. It promises to be the best show 

Habana has seen to date, which takes some 

beating! The shows go out each Thu and 

Sun night from 11pm, throughout Aug. 

Both shows will be different, so if you do 

come to the Thu one and can’t get enough, 

Jodie 

Fleming 

edinburgh@scotsgay.co.uk 

Get news about 

your area included! 

E-mail: editorial 

@scotsgay.co.uk 

be assured that on the Sun there will be a 

fresh bit of entertainment to get you going!! 

The crew at Habs are also having their 

annual Xmas Party this month, to mark the 

end of the Festival and also to fuck with the 

heads of the tourists!! It’s going to be held 

on Sun 30th Aug. There will be many guest 

acts in the venue over the Festival, so check 

out the posters in the venue for more info! 

Taste are holding a one-off club night 

on Sun 30th Aug at Faith in Cowgate; it’s a 

double-header from two of Edinburgh’s best 

loved club nights Taste and Karnival, 

featuring the resident DJs from both 

clubs!!! There are our well known and loved 

DJs Fisher & Price, Ryan Ellis and Mike 

Pinkerton in the Main Room and Miss Chris 

and Matt Edwards in the Cocktail Bar. Doors 

open at 11pm and the club runs until 5am! 

As it’s the last night of The Fringe and also a 

Bank Holiday weekend, it’s looking to be a 

busy night - the best way to wind down 

from a fantastic Festival month!! 

Also on Sun 30th Aug is a one off 

Tackno, which will be held at The Voodoo 

Rooms. The theme is Redneck Tackno, and 

promises plenty of ‘hillbilly hootenanny’ and 

country classics from DJ Trendy Wendy! 

Fancy Nancy and her Wild West Heroes will 

be flashing the best line dancing logistics… 

So get those fringed boots and neckerchiefs 

at the ready and get down for a cheesy old 

time!! From 11pm onwards. 

A fantastic wee find of a venue in Leith 

is Kitsch, a gorgeous quirky little gayfriendly 

café bar in Leith. They are offering 

some fantastic Festival fun throughout Aug, 

including two productions with tailor made 

dinner ‘n’ drinks packages. The first is the 

Festival Bubbly Tea, which features a 

selection of sandwiches, cakes and scones 

served with a glass of bubbly (or loose leaf 

breakfast tea) followed by the play 

‘Sequence Of Events’, a thriller directed by 

Liam Rudden. This offer is available on Aug 

14th, 15th, 20th, 21st, 25th and 26th, from 

8pm - for the bargain price of £20! And 

also, a one-off special on Sat 22nd Aug, a 

showing of ‘Say You Love Me’ by Karen 

Herbison. Kitsch are offering a food Platter, 

Play and Pudding for only £20!! 

Furburger had their festival spectacular 

this month on Fri 14th Aug, and their next 

ladies night is on Fri 11th Sep at GHQ. 

Check out their Facebook page for more info 

on what’s happening with the ladies with 

good shoes. 

This month also saw the resurgence of 

huge historical womens’ night Velvet, which 

offered fantastic previews of festival 

entertainers including lesbians Susan 

Calman, Marga Gomez and Hannah Gadsby. 

Also the very fantastic Daquiri Dusk and 

Vendetta Vain burlesque performers - I was 

at the front of the stage, and all I can say is - 

HOT!!! Especially Vendetta. Check out the 

first name terms! I didn’t even meet her! 

Haha! Hopefully Velvet will come up trumps 

with another one-off in the near future. It is 

a well-missed institution! 

And now for the community bit. There’s 

a fantastic programme of events on at the 

LGBT Centre for Health and Wellbeing over 

the coming months. First up, from Wed 9th 

Sep - 14th Oct, is a weekly ‘Self-harm Selfhelp’ 

workshop from 7.30-9pm. It explores 

the cause, coping and control of self-harm. 

Then, on Tue 22nd Sep, a one off workshop 

entitled ‘Talking About Safe Drinking’, from 

7-9pm. From Mon 12th Oct - 7th Dec, 

there’s a series of Emergency Services 

workshops specifically for the LGBT 

community, featuring safety information on 

everything from first aid to fire. From 6- 

8pm. If you would like any more 

information on any of these courses, please 

contact the Centre staff on 0131-523 1100 

or E-mail: admin@lgbthealth.org.uk

dùn deagh 

DUNDEE 

Hi! I’m Joey - here to keep you up to 

date on the Dundee scene. I will try to keep 

you informed with what’s gone on and 

what’s going on. If you have anything 

happening you want mentioned, feel free to 

contact me or the Editor. 

Firstly I would like to welcome Dundee 

back to ScotsGay. 

Al ot has been going on recently on our 

scene. Joyce and Maureen have been busy 

making renovations to The Gauger. 

Brooklyns is opening again in September. 

Dean has added Karaoke to Out’s weekly line 

up on Thu. 

The Gauger 

Open from 11am Mon-Sat pop down for 

a wee cheeky lunchtime pint with the lovely 

guys and gals on the bar. Anne’s Karaoke on 

Wed and Sun is very popular with her lovely 

singing groupies who always have a theme 

for each night, You might even get a glimpse 

of karaoke mascot “Daisy” who makes the 

odd appearance. Make sure you get there 

early if you want the chance to sing as it 

does get busy. New addition to the bar 

menu, Smoothie Cocktails are proving 

Joey Dunn 

dundee@scotsgay.co.uk 

popular and DJ Ross’s special cocktails are 

a must to try. Date for your Diary: Wed 30th 

August - Miss Scarlet Diamonte direct from 

London will be making an appearance - 

show starts at 9pm. Fri and Sat have DJ 

Ross playing the latest tunes and some of 

the biggest club classics to get you in the 

clubbing mood. Joyce and Maureen and all 

the staff would like to thank their customers 

for putting up with the ongoing renovations. 

They would also like to thank Robbie for 

doing the new floor - it’s looking good Mr. 

So things to remember 

Mon-Tue More relaxed night after the 

weekend, jukebox popular these nights. 

Wed and Sun Anne’s Karaoke very busy 

with theme nights from the groupies. 

Thu Getting ready for the weekend. 

Fri and Sat DJ Ross taking you to midnight 

with his bangin’ tunes, to get you in the 

Clubbing mood. 

Out 

As always the club is busy and a new 

night has been added: Karaoke on Thu 9pm- 

Midnight. Then DJ Jan takes you into the 

week with his camp club classics and any 

requests. Out is open 11pm-2.30am Wed- 

Sun with resident DJs Dean, Jaime and Jan 

providing some of the best tunes out there 

and adding their special mix to each night. 

Take advantage of the drinks promos on 

every night, if you’re not sure what to ask 

for, Kerry and Barry will let you know what 

promos are running. Check with Out’s Bebo 

for updates and a chance to see yourself in 

some of the galleries, if you see the camera 

(pose people). Out is a very popular disco 

and a good time is always had there thanks 

to Dean and his team. 

Jocks Health Club/Sauna 

Jocks has settled in well to the scene 

with regular theme days and nights, and for 

those more interested in keeping fit the gym 

is excellent. Check out their website. 

www.jockssauna.co.uk 

Well readers, that’s the news for this 

month. If you want to get in touch please 

do. Until next time: Support your gay scene 

and stay safe Guys & Gals! 

Joey xx 

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scotsgay.co.uk 

Marga Gomez


check out more fringe reviews at 


Theatre 

Accidental Nostalgia 

Traverse 

Presented initially as a self-help 

conference entitled “How To Change Your 

Mind”, Accidental Nostalgia is an awardwinning 

multimedia operetta by writer / 

performer Cynthia Hopkins. This framework 

soon disintegrates as Hopkins leads us on a 

journey, both real and metaphorical, into the 

terrain of her past. The humorous notion of 

whether amnesia can actually have some 

benefits turns nasty when Hopkins begins to 

mull over the possibility that she may, in fact, 

be guilty of patricide. 

Hopkins is a multitalented performer, 

whose singing voice is both idiosyncratic and 

compelling. She is ably supported by the band 

Gloria Deluxe, along with Jim Findlay and Jeff 

Sugg, who control the live feed projections 

throughout the show. It’s an experimental 

fusion of physical theatre and live music, which 

makes some headway into replicating the 

oneiric nature of the introspective process. 

That said, the capriciousness of memory is 

hardly fresh territory, and the deliberately 

shambolic quality of the piece will try the 

patience of many theatregoers. In truth, this 

wasn’t the show for me, but the talent on 

display is undeniable. AD 

Comedy 

Alun Cochrane is a Daydreamer 

(At Night) 

Stand III 

Filling the last spot of the day at Stand III, 

Alun Cochrane doesn’t so much perform a 

stand-up routine as he just opens up his brain 

to the audience. It’s an interesting experience, 

and also a very funny one, with most laughs 

coming from the sheer inanity of some of his 

daydreams. The hit-rate is impressive too, with 

him rarely telling a duff joke, and given that his 

act is largely feedline-punchline (albeit 

disguised by his relaxed demeanour), this is 

indeed an achievement. 

His delivery is impeccable as he appears 

so laid back that the front row almost want to 

be picked on, just because he seems so 

friendly! His slow Yorkshire drawl compliments 

his timing perfectly and further adds to his 

likeability. He is clearly on the verge of 

mainstream success, following appearances on 

various panel shows and Michael McIntyre’s 

Comedy Road Show, and this show is a 

testament to the success he so richly deserves. 

JD 

Comedy 

Amsterdam Underground 

Comedy Collective 

Underbelly 

This capacity audience and I began by 

being moderately well disposed towards this 

young Dutch trio. This lot had last year 

delivered a critically acclaimed five star show 

with the mighty Han Teeuwen at the helm. 

Tonight Martin Koning heads proceedings, 

but runs out of steam two minutes in. And 

neither the cynical Sander van Opzeeland – who 

resorts to shouting at the audience when he 

fails to get a laugh – or the bumbling Stefan 

Pop, raise more than a non-committal half titter. 

Watching one comedian die on their arse 

is sad. Watching three, one after the other, is 

fucking depressing. MW 

Comedy 

Anna and Katy 

Pleasance Courtyard 

There is something incredibly charming 

about Anna and Katy which underpins their 

often surreal, yet always hilarious performance. 

This is sketch comedy but with a difference, as 

pigeonholing these two is a lost cause. 

Describing what happens in the show would fail 

to do it justice, but there are some inspired 

sketches which are both baffling and brilliantly 

funny. 

As is often the case with superb comedy, 

the audience is divided. Unsure whether certain 

bits are jokes or not, the crowd are at times 

reluctant to laugh, with just a few people in 

hysterics. These people are the ones to be 

trusted, as Anna and Katy are one of the finest 

double acts I have seen in a long time. JD 

Theatre 

Art House 

The Zoo 

A fascinating portrayal of mental illness, 

manipulation and desire. Charlie is a tortured 

artist, struggling to live within the confines of a 

world that moves too quickly. In a quest to gain 

ultimate freedom, posthumous fame and also 

reap the benefits, she fakes her death – with the 

assistance of her ever-indulgent sister Viva. 

The consequences are not, of course, what they 

had anticipated, and the result for both women 

is catastrophic. 

Art House is an interesting glance at what 

drives us, how absolute power corrupts and 

how freedom always comes at a cost. A truly 

original production with a beautifully poetic 

script. On the whole the play is well acted, 

although there are some wooden moments. 

Definitely worth checking out. JF 

Comedy 

Ava Vidal – Remember, 

Remember the 4th of November 

The Stand IV 

Playing to a ram-packed shoebox room, 

one feels Ava Vidal needs a bigger venue, and 

what she has in popularity, she lacks in 

originality. Whilst the title of her show 

references President Obama’s election, this 

show is about her. She is at the centre of her 

universe, and she wants the world to know. 

She tells stories about her dabbling in cocaine, 

her time as a prison officer, and about being a 

black woman living in Britain. The first two 

subjects provide some of the funniest moments 

of the show, and are a testament to her skill as 

a writer and performer, but sadly, the latter is 

the one she dwells on, more or less for the 

whole hour, and she does so with very little 

originality. 

There is no problem with comics 

discussing their race or gender, and by 

exposing the inherent ridiculousness of 

prejudice a comic is able not only to make 

people laugh, but also to challenge the way they 

think. However, with so many acts targeting 

various societal bigotries, originality is vital, and 

it is here where Vidal falls flat. Her jokes are 

predictable, and she often comes across as a 

condescending know-it-all. She complains that 

racism still permeates society, and that the 

BNP’s rise is representative of that. I’ve never 

felt so patronised in all my life. JD 

Theatre 

Barflies 

Traverse @ The Barony 

There is something immediately refreshing 

about site-specific theatre. Gone are the 

conventions of the auditorium, the tilted foam 

seats, the interval drinks. The novelty value in 

itself is often exciting enough to make the 

experience worthwhile. And so it is with 

Barflies, in which selected writings of the 

American writer Charles Bukowski have been 

adapted to a Scottish bar, in this case The 

Barony on Broughton Street. 

Pioneering theatre company Grid Iron have 

hit upon another highly effective conceit, in 

which the audience become barflies along with 

the characters of the play itself. Drinks are 

ordered in the queue outside the venue, and 

audience members are invited to sit on the 

venue’s own rickety stools in the musky halflight 

of this traditional Scottish pub. There’s no 

doubt about the sense of intimacy that this 

creates, but when the actors begin recklessly 

throwing the contents of their glasses about the 

place, or when they simulate sex on one of the 

bar’s tables, it’s difficult not to feel 

uncomfortably close to the action. 

Keith Fleming plays Henry, a dipsomaniac 

with a prodigious talent for poetry. Gail Watson 

plays the women in his life, beginning with the 

self-harming Cass, and ending with the 

sophisticated Vivienne, who hopes to publish 

Henry’s work and reap the financial benefits. 

Watson’s range is quite astounding, and 

Fleming displays the appropriate combination 

of drunken garrulousness and a repressed 

desire to be loved. 

Accompanied by Silent Dave on the piano, 

played by David Paul Jones, this is an 

atmospheric and intriguing piece. Ben Harrison 

has not shied away from the misogyny of 

Bukowski’s writing in his adaptation. Rather it 

is pursued to an excessive degree, appropriate 

enough for an alcoholic character who does not 

do things by halves. Moreover, the pub culture 

of Scotland makes Bukowski a sound choice for 

an adaptation of this kind, and the location of 

Broughton Street makes complete sense; it is 

said to have more bars than any other in 

Edinburgh. 

Some have accused this play of 

glamorising alcoholism, but this is a Grid Iron 

production, not an episode of Hollyoaks, so we 

needn’t be too concerned. AD 

Theatre 

Becoming Marilyn 

Assembly Rooms 

A fascinating, sophisticated and lively 

narration of how Norma Jean Baker became 

Marilyn Monroe, and the devastation this 

creation caused. The audience is taken on 

Monroe’s journey of coquettish excitements 

combined with her hysterical lows. The 

performance encapsulates the transformation of 

a lonely and unloved small town girl into an 

immortal ‘Hollywood whore’, fully exploring 

every irony of the starlet’s descent into self 

destruction. 

Issy Van Randwyck has mastered 

Monroe’s sickly-sweet baby voice and unique 

vocals, and as she lay on the chaise longue 

sparkling, there are moments I could have 

sworn it was Monroe herself. This performance 

will blow you away! JF 

Comedy 

Ben Lerman’s Size Matters 

Laughing Horse @ Café Renroc 

Ben Lerman plays the ukulele. Oh yes, he 

does indeed. Passing well, too. 

He is also a truly sick and perverted 

individual performing songs that I feel sure he 

neither learned nor sang at mother's knee 

(unless he had an extremely tolerant mother). 

His pleasant singing voice combines with 

the product of considerable manual dexterity on 

his small but perfectly formed instruments to 

fill the converted subterranean bakery that 

adjoins Renroc's famed Rusty Water 

Department. 

The cubby New Yorker sings of things he 

knows: love, loss, pirates, chubby chasers, 

online dating and much more... And has the 

intimate space rocking with not inconsiderable 

mirth. 

It's the intimacy which makes it work. 

And why he should be confined to the small 

stage - if not a padded cell. 

Contains strong language: not suitable for 

trendy bisexuals, vegetarians or the politically 

correct. Enter this open sewer with an open 

mind! 

As Edinburghers oft say of the last 

omnibus of the evening: not to be missed! JH 

Theatre 

The Bite-Size’d ‘Breakfast in 

Bedlam’ 

Bedlam Theatre 

Five sumptuous portions of mini-comedy, 

served with hot coffee, croissants and 

strawberries! Each performance involves three 

to four different cast members, who offer 

polished performances of various skits. 

The variety of diverse mini-topics neatly 

packed into the hour included: a Victorian scene 

of miscommunication and melodrama; an angry 

underground passenger who is vexed by 

pregnant women and suicide attempts; a 

modern-day Bonnie and Clyde who met during 

a bank heist; the secret to giving up on 

loneliness and being 'found' in love; and the 

collision of inner voices against what the heart 

really wants. 

This is a unique start to the day, with 

wonderful performances from a group of 

talented and enthusiastic actors. The beauty of 

this production is that there are three different 

breakfast shows a week - so once you've seen 

one, you can go back for two more completely 

different ones! JF 

Theatre 

Blondes 

Udderbelly’s Pasture 

This show is a mess. Denise Van Outen 

has a strong singing voice, and her 

appearances on The Big Breakfast all those 

years ago proved beyond doubt that she could 

raise a smile. But this mishmash of songs and 

banter is a vacuous and mind-numbing way to 

spend an hour. 

Part of the problem is that Van Outen is 

simply not an effective joke-teller. There are a 

few humorous lines lurking amongst the mire 

of inane wittering, but from her lips they 

invariably fall flat. The script has been cobbled 

together by Jackie Clune, a stand-up comic 

who, in contrast, has excellent comic timing. 

With Van Outen trying to deliver Clune’s jokes, 

the effect is rather like hearing a poem by Yeats 

being read aloud by a man with a mangled 

tongue. 

Jackie Clune is unquestionably a brilliant 

stand-up, so the laziness of the writing in 

Blondes is all the more vexing. There are even 

some jokes at the expense of lesbianism, Van 

Outen at one point miming a vomiting action 

when she describes lesbian sex. In the context 

of the humour in this show, which is about as 

anodyne as it gets, it seems unnecessary to 

single out gay women as the one minority 

group who are worthy of ridicule. It seems 

particularly rich given that Jackie Clune was 

herself a self-proclaimed “radical feminist 

lesbian” for a period of twelve years, until she 

“came out” as straight in 2002. 

Of course, Clune’s sexuality is her own 

business, and no one has the right to pass 

judgement. But what is galling is that Clune 

subsequently sold her story to the Daily Mail; 

the result being an odious, overtly homophobic 

article that played directly into the hands of 

those right-wing bigots who believe that samesex 

orientation is a choice. I presume this was 

for financial gain, but when you consider that 

recent research has demonstrated that 

homophobia is on the rise is schools, and that 

Jane Austen’s 

Guide to 

Pornography 

by steven dawson 

gay teenagers are six times more likely to 

commit suicide that their straight peers, is it 

really worth contributing to this culture of hate? 

Still, I hope she enjoyed the money. 

Gay-bashing aside, the show has some 

other cringeworthy low-points. There’s the 

karaoke-style projection of lyrics onto a screen, 

with Van Outen urging a reluctant audience to 

sing along. There’s the scripted audience 

participation, which sees Van Outen slagging off 

her audience members in a witless and 

contrived manner. Most aggravating of all is 

Van Outen’s feigned corpsing whenever she 

says something that she deems particularly 

amusing. At least someone’s laughing. AD 

Comedy 

The Boom Jennies 

Pleasance Dome 

These three ladies are pretty sharp – this is 

sketch comedy at its most fluid. What’s hard to 

place, however, is the subject matter: most of 

the scenes, though expertly set, are relatively 

tame affairs, firmly grounded in familiar 

situations, and tending to drag on just enough 

to become a little irritating. But every now and 

then they’ll throw in a curveball, something so 

surreal it’ll either deliver huge laughs or fall 

totally flat. 

Many of the sketches depend on the antihumour 

of stretching the jokes over long 

periods and leaving awkward silences, but 

although they get away with it once or twice, it 

quickly becomes wearing. The show is 

redeemed, however, by a few truly clever ideas: 

a has-been George Lazenby is a highlight. 

Definitely worth a go. ET 

Dance & Physical Theatre 

Boy In Darkness 

The Zoo 

“Do you think I am funny?” says the 

creature Hyena to the young protagonist of 

Mervyn Peake’s Boy In Darkness. “Because I 

can tickle your ribs from the inside if you like”. 

It’s this kind of menacing sentiment that makes 

this story one of the darkest pieces in the Peake 

canon, with the obvious exception of Titus 

Alone. Peake’s famous “Gormenghast” novels 

are astonishing flights of the imagination, 

related through beautifully controlled and yet 

flamboyant prose, but Boy In Darkness remains 

relatively unknown, and theatre company 

Curious Directive are to be congratulated in 

adapting it for the stage. 

The story concerns Titus, the 77th Earl of 

Groan, who has escaped from Gormenghast to 

experience his first taste of freedom. What 

follows is a peculiar adventure culminating in 

his meeting with the Lamb, a vicious creature 

who transforms people into half-animal hybrids. 

Along the way, Titus befriends the Goat, played 

with verve and sensitivity by Lydia Rynne. 

Peake has had some fun inverting traditional 

notions of Christian mythology, and Curious 

Directive do their utmost to bring out the more 

disturbing elements of his text. 

Fiona Mikel’s Lamb is especially effective. 

With her eyes shut throughout the production, 

irises painted onto her lids, her very presence 

exudes a sinister malevolence. Yann Allsopp 

plays Titus a little too young, but is nonetheless 

a very talented and engaging performer. With a 

limited budget, director Kim Pearce has wisely 

focused on the physicality of the characters in 

From the team that brought you last year’s hit comedy 

‘Adventures of Butt Boy & Tigger’ comes an even 

classier bit of filth! 

“…high-camp, comical, raunchy, romantic and tender 

– sometimes all in the same scene!” 

Adelaide Theatre Guild 

“Dawson presents a performance that is lighthearted 

and fun so sit back and enjoy the ride. 

You won’t be disappointed.” 

aussietheatre.com 

“...an emotive, multifaceted piece of theatre.” 

australianstage.com.au 

Zoo Southside (venue no. 82) 

Aug 7th - Aug 31st (Previews 7th & 8th All Tickets £6.50) 

(No shows 11th,18th & 25th) 

1700 (70 mins) Tickets £8.50/£6.50 Weekend £9.50/£7.50 

Bookings 0131 662 6892 www.zoofestival.co.uk 

www.edfringe.com 

Out Cast Theatre, Melbourne




order to immerse us in Peake’s fantastical 

world. It’s a notable achievement. AD 

Comedy 

Bridget Christie 

- My Daily Mail Hell 

Gilded Balloon 

Having worked on the Daily Mail for six 

years, Bridget Christie is more than informed 

enough to mock the institution of the right, 

without sounding preachy in the slightest. 

There is a danger of treading on over-familiar 

ground when any comic starts laying into the 

Mail, but for Christie this isn’t a problem. 

Her unique wit, excitable delivery, and 

natural charm come to the fore, and she proves 

herself to be one of the finest story-tellers on 

the circuit. She holds the audience perfectly as 

she tells anecdotes from her time at the paper 

which all expose its ridiculousness, whilst never 

coming across as condescending. Her gags are 

also superb and sadly some are lost on the 

audience. Whilst not quite as left-field and 

inventive as her previous King Charles II shows, 

there is plenty to applaud here, and Christie 

remains one of the finest comics working today. 

JD 

Comedy 

Brigitte Aphrodite in 

Suburban Hell 

Zoo Southside 

Brigitte Aphrodite is certifiable! Living 

proof that genius and madness are intrinsically 

linked, this quirky David-Bowie-meets- 

Tinkerbell hybrid (with a unique and sensational 

voice that Kate Nash would envy) immediately 

has the audience in the palm of her hand. 

Her warm introduction includes adorning 

every guest with a smattering of body glitter. 

She then proceeds to skilfully sing a clever 

commentary on her most random world. From 

the toilet cubicle that transports her to fairyland, 

her dalliances with eco-woman, and sexual 

fantasies about the sweetcorn green giant, 

Brigitte’s performance sparkles even more than 

the gallons of glitter that accompany her promqueen-meets-rock-fairy 

ensemble. 

The girl from Bromley has realised her 

dream and has broken free from suburban hell! 

An original and alternative performance with 

interaction that will capture and win over any 

audience. JF 

Comedy 

Bully 


There’s a hideously banal section of books 

in most bookstores which come under the 

genre of ‘Personal Tragedy’, and for the first ten 

minutes of this narrative I feared I’d been 

cruelly duped into attending a live one-man 

indulgence of such a story. However, as the 

performance developed, I was transfixed by 

Richard Fry’s performance. 

Davy is a big, butch, working class bloke 

who delivers his narrative in rhyme. It ranges 

in speed, pace and intensity as he delves into a 

tirade of the cycle of abuse he’s been subjected 

to throughout his life. When he reaches his 

sexual awakening, his sudden admission of 

being gay comes as such a surprise that even I 

was genuinely shocked. 

Davy details a sad catalogue of 

homophobic abuse, from his father, his brother 

and schoolmates which leave him feeling 

suicidal. The performance does, however, 

abound in clever comedy quips, which elevate 

what could have otherwise been a complete 

tear-fest that would have Trisha Goddard 

cumming in her pants. 

This narrative is well written, emotionally 

performed and fantastically luminal as it 

challenges every preconception of a gay man 

that ever existed. As Fry’s character develops 

and encounters many twists and turns of fate, 

he has the audience clutching their ribs and 

their Kleenex in equal measure. JF 

Music 

Camille O’Sullivan 

- The Dark Angel 

Assembly Hall 

Camille O’Sullivan is a truly brilliant 

performer. Her cabaret-noire style fits the 

ornate Assembly Hall perfectly, and playing to a 

full house, she storms it. She is one of the rare 

few singers that is able to make her own mark 

on every song she covers (or more aptly, she 

interprets). Be it the work of Jacques Brel, 

David Bowie, or Kirsty McColl, there is no song 

O’Sullivan can’t make her own. 

Of course, the greatest moments come 

when she performs songs by rock’s Prince of 

Darkness, Nick Cave. Owing to the narrative 

driven style of Cave’s songwriting, O’Sullivan is 

able to inhabit the characters with her own 

flamboyance to stunning effect. 

Receiving tumultuous applause from an 

audience that included Alan Rickman, Camille 

O’Sullivan has cemented her place as one of the 

greatest acts of this year’s festival. See this, if 

nothing else. JD 

Theatre 

A Clockwork Orange 

C Chambers Street 

If you are at the front here the action is 

very close and it’s vivid, visceral action. Not for 

the faint hearted. 

This is very powerful theatre. I won’t call 

it physical theatre, as script and character are 

centrally important. We (nearly) all know the 

story – or think we do – of the violent “droog” 

who is caught, incarcerated, reformed by new 

treatments, goes downhill and comes to new 

awareness. This production emphasises the 

development of the drama and the character, 

along with discussion of what makes someone 

human, not merely the shocks along the way. 

The ensemble acting is excellent. I saw 

the third night, and every aspect of the 

production ran extremely smoothly. Chelsea 

Walker as director has created something very 

fine. Most of the cast move between a variety 

of roles with great fluidity. 

As the central character, top droog Alex, 

Jacob Taee bears much of the weight of the 

play. He is hugely convincing in his early 

enjoyment of violence, and graphically 

expresses his later nausea. He enters fully into 

his character’s many tribulations. It’s a tough 

role, but he has an elegant assurance 

throughout. Anna Fox as Branom, Warder, and 

Marty fully and variously embodies these 

different roles. Nick Pullen as the Chaplain 

brings some depth to a role that is difficult to 

make exciting. As Minister of the Interior, Emily 

Precious is tough, but I’d like to have seen 

dignity combined with threat and snarling 

deviousness. The production keeps the 

audience riveted, and makes its points with 

great clarity. 

Jacob Taee is known in Edinburgh as a 

member of Out of the Blue, an a capella group 

who have been a highlight at the fringe for a 

number of years. The final scene is made, as 

much as anything, by the attractive warmth and 

tonal richness of his singing voice. 

At least half of the audience awarded the 

cast a standing ovation. Get your tickets while 

they are available. TC 

Comedy 

Colin Hoult’s Carnival of 

Monsters 


The Pleasance Hut has a high capacity for 

a small venue, and what air conditioning it has 

is totally ineffectual – luckily, the discomfort 

lends itself perfectly to this comedy equivalent 

of a sharp kick to the head. This isn’t so much 

a sketch show as a menagerie of ill-adjusted 

characters, “monsters” if you will, each given 

ample time and space to establish themselves 

and freak out the audience. 

The strength of the show comes from its 

never letting up: the cast switch cleanly and 

frequently between high-energy rampage and a 

kind of poetic intimacy, but each scene and 

each character is as powerful and unnerving as 

the last. When invited to participate, the 

audience find it difficult to resist Hoult’s charm, 

though he doesn’t always treat them how they’d 

hoped – my only reservation is that the show is 

often a little too weird to appeal to all tastes. ET 

Theatre 

The Contest 


A thought-provoking look at how one 

careless decision can change the course of your 

life and everyone around you. 

Two successful art students compete to 

win an art school contest, which will result in 

the winner being catapulted from obscurity into 

the centre of the art world. They’re forced to 

question what they really want from life, and are 

confronted with what they’ll have to sacrifice to 

realise their dreams. 

This performance is full of passion, 

exploring core values, morals and desires. It 

challenges the audience at every turn, and 

questions whether what we get is every really 

what we wanted – with some valuable lessons. 

The performers are extremely convincing 

and committed to their roles, which just 

heightens the electric atmosphere of the many 

twists and turns of an original and innovative 

plot. JF 

Comedy 

Craig Hill - 40 Love…? 


Hill explodes onto the stage wearing a 

beige kilt and a trilby, oozing sex appeal as he 

struts to a Michael Jackson hit. From that 

moment the audience are enraptured by this 

fantastically charming Glaswegian gay who is 

adorable and charming in one breath and 

scathingly sharp in another. One gets the 

impression Hill could say anything and get 

away with it, as he coats his musings in 

lashings of charm in this wonderfully clever 

show. 

Based on 100% audience interaction, Hill 

explores the audience’s views of life after 40, 

the secrets of a long term relationship and 

unapologetically delves into life as a gay man 

without having to connect every gag to the topic 

– which is very refreshing! Hill has a killer 

combination of ego and humility as he cajoles a 

butch hetero man from Livingston to play a 

romantic role play, and he greets every 

audience member at the end to personally thank 

them for their attendance. 

A lovely man, a fantastic comic, an hour of 

your time that will fly by like it’s a second, and a 

performance that cannot be missed! Prepare to 

laugh like you’ve never laughed before. JF 

Theatre 

Cross Purpose 

C Cubed 

Not a whodunnit. Rather a “will they do 

it?” 

Martha and her mother have run a hotel 

for many years, and have murdered many 

guests for their money. They plan to rob one 

last rich guest and then escape to the sun and 

the sea they dream of. A last guest arrives; the 

son and brother who left twenty years ago and 

who has made a fortune in the sun. He now 

wishes to share this. But he also wishes to 

observe his family incognito at first. 

Reminiscent of something in Roald Dahl? A 

touch of Greek tragedy? 

The essential thing is establishing 

suspension of disbelief in this situation. This is 

done by the hard-as-nails and ambitious Martha 

(the excellent Beth Richards) and the 

exhausted, death-desiring mother (Elesa 

Bryers) in their opening conversation. So 

mundane and matter of fact that you enter into 

their boredom with routine and their frustration 

at life’s failings. This introduction to two 

sharply defined and contrasting characters is 

very successfully carried off, and after that 

everything else follows. The son Jan (Sam 

Freeman) and his wife Maria (Heida Reed) burst 

in, representing all the passion and love of life 

that has been missing thus far. They are out of 

place here in land-locked Bohemia. The 

Algerian Camus (yes, this is one of his) 

repeatedly condemns the cold-heartedness and 

lovelessness of Europe when compared to the 

warmth and vitality that lies beyond it. 

In this age of the “War on Ter’r”, with its 

increasing tendency to suggest that all is well in 

the west but everywhere else is increasingly 

“beyond the pale”, this is a salutary approach. 

An approach made vividly alive by the 

successful direction of Sophy Westendarp and 

acting of a high standard which precisely 

delineates these contrasting characters. TC 

Comedy 

Domestic Goddi 2: How to Cope 


We won’t be spotting the Domestic Goddi 

in a Pop Idol final anytime soon, but this series 

of chipper comedy sketches is a very pleasant 

way to spend an hour. Gathering inspiration 

from a variety of television shows, adverts and 

stereotypes, they range in amusement factor as 

they broach ‘coping’ with 21st century living. 

The sketches are complimented by an 

imaginative range of costumes and props, as 

well as a fantastic soundtrack which offers an 

explosion of all-round sensory entertainment. 

The highlight of the show is ‘Hot Gear’, a 

spoof of Top Gear which sees the Domestic 

Goddi ‘heel drag racing’ a pair of killer red 

Cavalli heels against a pair of Kurt Geigers. It’s 

a moment of pure genius! JF 

Comedy 

Elvis McGonagall 

- One Man and his Doggerel 


An in-depth journey into the mind of a 

social revolutionary who wants to change the 

world. McGonagall delivers his musings 

through the medium of poetry, where he has a 

random superfluous rant on just about every 

topic imaginable. 

McGonagall is undoubtedly entertaining, 

as well as a skilled poet. His script is a wealth 

of researched personal philosophy, and his raps 

on Jamie Oliver and Jeremy Clarkston are 

exceptional. 

However, the arbitrary and sudden 

outbursts of volume, together with such a fully 

packed, verbose script left me with a bit of a 

headache. JF 

Theatre 

East 10th Street: Self Portrait 

with Empty House 

Traverse 

This is one of the most eccentric shows I 

have seen for some time. Lit from beneath like 

a narrator from a Hammer horror, writer and 

performer Edgar Oliver takes us through his 

experiences of living in his New York tenement 

apartment. He speaks in a self-consciously 

ridiculous drawl, extending his vowels 

melodramatically to heighten the absurdity of 

his anecdotes; all the better to portray the 

outlandish neighbours from his building, a 

number of whom seem inexplicably determined 

to murder him for sport. 

Oliver’s declamatory style makes him 

seem as bizarre as the characters he is 

describing, but there is a truth to his delivery, 

and by the end of the play we begin to believe 

that such a grotesque world might actually 

exist. Some may grow weary of the lack of 

variation in the piece, but I enjoyed both 

poeticism of the language and the sheer 

ludicrousness of the stories that Oliver tells. 

Sometimes it’s fun to be baffled. AD 


Elvis Still My Heart 


Three young women – Louise Barrett, 

Katey Leader and Georgina Pavey – present an 

absolute gem of a modern dance show. 

It’s circa 1970. Arianne (Leader) is a 

Welsh teenager running away from a broken 

home. Tasmin (Pavey) is escaping Cornwall 

and the sexual abuse of a man who thinks he’s 

Jesus. They find each other and move into the 

London home of the reclusive Agnes (Barrett). 

They soon turn Agnes’ world upside down. 

Played out to an Elvis Presley soundtrack, 

you need neither be a fan of dance or Elvis to 

enjoy this show. Although it occasionally 

touches on dark and challenging aspects of 

growing up and fitting in, this is ultimately a 

feel-good play about love and acceptance which 

will have you leaving the theatre with a broad 

smile. 

Dance is rarely this accessible and 

accomplished. A wee treat. MW 

Theatre 

Facebook Fables 


There is a general assumption that any 

show basing itself on a current social 

phenomenon is going to be god-awful, and 

Facebook Fables is no exception. It’s an hour of 

watch-checkingly tedious sermonising on the 

dangers of revenge and vanity – using the 

social networking site as an example. As if the 

moral wasn’t trite enough, the three characters 

are all shallow stereotypes, which would work 

in a sketch, but not in an hour long play – 

instead it just adds insult to what is already a 

fatal injury. 

There are many ways to kill time: 

television, computer games, petty crime, 

masturbation – all of which result in a more 

productive hour than Facebook Fables. JD 

Theatre 

The Fall of Man 


Was I wrong in seeing this as a sermon 

against adultery? The au pair is in bed in the 

tiny venue as we all scuttle round her to our 

seats. When we are settled, the father of the 

children she minds leaps from amongst the 

audience, is fascinated by her, and a sexual 

connection is made. This is interspersed with 

slabs of Milton’s Paradise Lost – all about the 

Genesis story and the tree of knowledge of 

good and evil. 

Yes, there is graphic sex as advertised; no 

prizes for guessing what Veronica (Stephanie 

Day) is doing to her employer whilst he is 

declaiming about Eve eating the forbidden fruit. 

All of which is fine, if watching a middle-aged 

man being fellated whilst reciting Milton is your 

bag… 

There was fire in this production, even if 

no visible brimstone. If the wife had appeared 

that would have been explosive. But, no such 

fireworks. 

The relationship, such as it is, does not, of 

course, go wrong because God is defied, but 

because Peter (Graeme Rose) wants the thrill of 

having his ageing body stimulated by a young 

beauty, and Veronica wants a privileged life as 

the new wife of a prosperous British man. Their 

twin aims are completely at odds, so of course 

the relationship will fail disastrously. 

There are touches of non-Miltonic poetry 

as Peter describes and caresses the curves of 

Veronica’s body. And Veronica’s accent did 

serve to transport me to some of the joys of 

foreign travel. However, without the Milton this 

would be slight and entirely predictable; with so 

much Milton it verged on the tiresome and 

almost unintentionally comic. Both characters 

are thoroughly immature and unsympathetic – 

more grown up characters in the same situation 

would have been different. But the Milton - it’s 

a bit like a great tiger balanced on a bar of soap. 

Did I say soap? TC 

Comedy 

Felicity Ward – Ugly as a Child 

Variety Show 


Australian newcomer Felicity Ward’s style 

is one that is particularly grating. She is overly 

physical, to the point where she sullies her own 

punchlines, and this gets annoying quickly as it 

slows the show down. The premise of the 

show is also flawed, as looking at the pictures 

from her childhood that adorn the stage, it is 

clear that she was not an especially ugly child, 

so one finds it quite difficult to run with her 

when she launches into self-deprecating rants 

about her youth. 

There are some good gags here and she is 

a confident performer, but sadly the duff 

material outweighs the good, and ultimately the 

show lacks anything particularly worthwhile. JD 

Comedy 

Fergus Craig Still Watches 

Neighbours 


Fergus Craig provides a nostalgic trip 

down memory lane, as he peppers humorously 

narrated clips from ye olde Neighbours with his 

own childhood home movies. The show 

manages to combine cute, funny and adorable 

elements alongside a social perspective on why 

the soap phenomenon captures the attentions 

of the masses. I was in awe at how incredibly 

well researched this piece of comedy was! 

Craig sweeps from topic to topic in a unique 

bipolar-esque fashion that whips the audience’s 

attention into a frenzy and holds them there. He 

discusses the ironic effects of Nurofen, shows 

home videos of babies on acid, muses at the 

Jason Donovan biography and combines Irish 

and Chinese accents. It works, and the result is 

a show which I challenge anyone to watch 

without laughing at least ten times. JF





First Class 


A man goes to the post office to send a 

parcel; unfortunately a woman with a bad 

American accent refuses, instead dragging him 

around her little charade of Paris. So it is 

Michael rediscovers his love for life in a post 

office. How quirky, I hear you cry! 

It is a shame that the play does not work, 

because whilst both members of the cast can 

clearly dance and sing, there is simply not 

enough dance. Instead of what the audience 

wants, the production is adorned with strange 

gestures - which seem out of place. At 

moments it tries to prove itself in stylish 

movement, but this is rare. 

The annoyingly chirpy Bea, who clearly 

has a love for life, takes boring old Michael on a 

tour of her imagination to Paris and changes his 

life forever. Theoretically, this should work, but 

Bea comes across as creepy more than 

anything else. The audience’s concerns are 

then left with Michael, who just wants to send a 

parcel, not cruise around Paris with a mildly 

insane and unbearably enthusiastic spinster. 

The talent is most definitely evident 

though movement – particularly apparent in the 

human Eiffel Tour, and when they convey the 

traffic using just hand gestures and noises. But 

Paris loses all romanticism because of the 

strange characters. 

First class I am afraid it is not. VC 

Comedy 

Four Poofs and a Piano 

- Smoke and Mirrorballs 


One thing must be made clear about Four 

Poofs and a Piano: the audience here does not 

consist of gay men; it mostly comprises middle 

aged women who like to laugh at the queer 

boys on the telly. As such, this is not gay 

interest – it’s almost offensive to the gay 

community – but is instead populist 

entertainment which, when taken with a pinch 

of salt, is amusing enough. 

The humour is crude, and there are cringemaking 

puns, plenty of stereotypes, and 

ridiculously short shorts. However, this is all a 

knowingly tacky affair, and providing you leave 

your brain at the door, it’s entertaining. JD 

Theatre 

George in the Dragon’s Den 

Zoo Southside 

It is a rare occurrence when suicide seems 

like a more viable option than staying until the 

end of a play. George in the Dragon’s Den is 

quite possibly the worst thing I have ever seen, 

and not just on stage. 

The press release brags about how this 

two-person theatre company has travelled the 

world over, playing to thousands of schools – 

but if I were a child watching this in assembly, 

the ASBO I’d get for killing these two would be 

a tempting trade-off. What makes this even 

worse is that the play is not listed under the 

children’s section in the fringe, but under 

theatre, with an adult audience in mind. This is 

nothing short of offensive. 

For a retelling of the legend of George and 

the Dragon, this avoids all the possible avenues 

of entertainment in place of cringing rhyme, and 

amateurish acting. The set consists of a child’s 

play tent, and the dragon costume is made from 

a stuffed toy snake. The less said about the 

references to the TV show Dragons’ Den, the 

better. 

In short, George in the Dragon’s Den is 

awful, embarrassing, and represents everything 

that is wrong with humanity. JD 

Comedy 

Gerry Howell’s Incubation Hour 

Underbelly 

Gerry Howell’s Incubation Hour is a 

strange one. I was thoroughly entertained and 

intrigued, but I never really belly-laughed. His 

style is one which invites comparison to Eddie 

Izzard. Rather than having structured jokes, he 

rambles about various thoughts he’s had, with 

the humour coming from the ridiculousness. 

His musings can be downright surreal – with 

him discussing, at great length, an egg. This is 

a risky strategy which leaves some of the 

audience behind. However, at other times, it 

pays off wonderfully. 

There’s a lot about Gerry Howell to like. 

His random mumblings when not so funny are 

endearing, and when he gets them right, they 

are hilarious. It’s a worthwhile show which 

provides an hour of harmless chortles and 

guffaws, but nothing that’ll change the world. 

JD 

Comedy 

Godley’s World 


Janey Godley’s back with a vengeance, 

with a whole new repertoire of autobiographical 

madness from her ‘epicentre of disaster’. 

She regales us with tales of her overseas 

adventures, as she dissects the LA homeless 

contingent, finds herself stricken with hives and 

a period on a swine flu infested plane, and 

acquires stigmata bruises after smoking angel 

dust and crack. 

Godley immediately warms the audience 

by introducing them as acquaintances as they 

come through the door. Her salt of the earth, 

candid and unapologetic charm has us riveted 

from start to finish, as she talks about her 

childhood in Shettleston drinking water out of 

puddles, and shares her indignation about 

people’s expectations of female comics. 

This is a warm, heartfelt, funky and feisty 

show. JF 

Comedy 

Hannah Gadsby – Kiss Me Quick 

I’m Full of Jubes 

Assembly Rooms 

Hannah fell off her bike in the streets of 

Edinburgh the day before this performance, 

ending up with a serious bout of concussion. 

Battling through with cups of tea so she could 

perform her show later that night at the 

Assembly, followed by a spot on Best of the 

Fest, the concussion started to kick its heals in. 

With a mammoth headache and lack of 

eyesight, David O’Doherty and Adam Hills 

rushed Hannah to hospital in an ambulance, 

only to be told that she’d had “a wee nasty fall 

love” and there was actually nothing to worry 

about. 

It was all too familiar an event to an 

accident prone Gadsby. A large part of her 

show features stories of her falling over or 

riding into things. She also discuses her 

upbringing, her hips and what it’s like to be a 

lesbian in Australia. 

Gadsby’s deadpan, honest delivery really 

works. Her jokes are multilayered and fresh. At 

one point she loses her place, complaining of a 

headache, and starts eating an audience 

member’s ice-cream. It’s the sign of a really 

great comedian that we don’t care – ’cos we’re 

too busy laughing. MW 

Theatre 

The Hotel 

Assembly @ George Street 

This site specific, art instillation of a 

comedy is a wonderfully amusing experience. 

Guided from George Street, you are checked 

into a hotel that might as well be called Fawlty 

Towers. 

There’s an immediate sense of mayhem to 

this piece. On entering you can choose to eat 

dinner from a comedy menu. I had a pint of 

anti-depressants and a bowl of cornflakes. The 

whole room seems slightly cartoon-like, with 

joke mouse traps strewn about the place. After 

two girls had been roped into a cracker eating 

competition, I decided it was time for a drink in 

the downstairs bar. 

Behind every closed door is a character 

with whom to interact. A punished staff 

member lives under the stairs, the chefs make a 

lot of noise throwing things at the door, and the 

French comedian at the bar is wonderfully 

absurd. 

On returning upstairs, I was offered a key 

and sent into a room where I was greeted by a 

delinquent guest, swearing and scratching his 

scrotum. I quickly dodged for the door to find 

myself in the bedroom of a middle-aged 

alcoholic using his bathroom as a makeshift 

darkroom, scattered with pubic hair. And there 

was much more to come, all of it hysterical. 

Comedian Mark Watson has done himself 

proud with this gem of an idea, and at the same 

time changed the traditional ideas of theatre. I 

take my hat off to him. VC 

Comedy 

I’ll Always Think of 

You That Way 


A charmingly warm and sometimes 

humorous performance about the nature of 

friendship, mutual support and differing 

agendas. 

Savannah is a wistful, dreamy creature 

who wants to juggle samurai swords and 

karmically cleanse the world. Alison is cynical, 

disillusioned, depressed and still deeply in love 

with her ex. After meeting in a psychiatric 

hospital, they forge a five-year friendship which 

takes them both on a journey of self-discovery 

and change. 

From the outset, the show is produced as 

Alison’s eulogy to Savannah at her funeral. It’s 

a fairly poignant and moving performance, with 

some touching and humorous moments. 

Despite its inclusion in the “comedy” category 

of the fringe programme, this piece is 

essentially more theatrical than comedic, but 

it’s worth a look. JF 

Theatre 

Internal 

Traverse @ Mercury Point Hotel 

Internal is nothing short of extraordinary. 

When the curtain is raised you are confronted 

by a complete stranger. Is it plausible that 

within twenty-five minutes the two of you will 

share a trusting relationship? Playing on ideas 

of speed dating and group therapy, the 

astonishing Belgium theatre company 

Ontroerend Goed will leave you stunned. 

Every experience of Internal will be 

different, but this was mine. As the curtain was 

raised, I found myself face to face with Yuri. He 

examined my face, and I must admit that the 

feeling was unpleasant, a kind of immediate 

violation. He then led me into a booth and the 

four other couples followed suit. He poured me 

a drink, I smiled, he smiled, and then he held 

my hands. 

This surprisingly intimate gesture was only 

the beginning. I found myself revealing all 

manner of private details to him, details that I 

have not even told some of my closest friends. 

Yuri told me that our relationship could never 

work out because of the age difference. 

After this startling tête-à-tête, he guided 

me back to the group, his hand around my 

waist. What followed was bizarre. He offended 

me in front of everyone, but before I could get 

upset it suddenly clicked that I was inside a 

performance, a cleverly constructed mind game 

of sorts. 

Internal leaves you with a sense of 

violation. All five audience members leave with 

their minds pondering over the things they have 

experienced: rejection, a kiss, a nude dance. 

There are unanswered questions. Someone has 

written down your address, but will they ever 

actually contact you? Did that twenty-five 

minutes mean anything at all? 

This performance destroys all conventions 

of the theatre, making many uncomfortable. 

But to get the most out of it, you have to lose all 

your inhibitions and prepare yourself for the 

complete demolition of the audience / actor 

boundary. Whatever your experience, it is clear 

that this company has excelled itself and 

possibly created the most inventive and 

thought-provoking production at this year’s 

fringe. VC 

Comedy 

Jack Whitehall 

- Nearly Rebellious 


There is something about Jack Whitehall 

that makes you want to hate him. It could be 

his rushed-to-Channel 4 success, his TV 

presenter image, even his noncommittal beard! 

Whatever it is, I want to loathe him. 

But I can’t, and this is because he is a very 

good comedian. There’s no doubt that most of 

the audience are members of his television 

following, but this is all about the live event. He 

tells jokes about being prematurely made a star, 

his insecurities about being a man, and the 

nature of stand-up itself. It’s highly intelligent 

stuff, but told in a very accessible way, so it’s 

not patronising, and it doesn’t alienate any of 

his audience. His delivery is frantic, and the 

gags come at breakneck pace, ensuring that the 

room never quietens down. It’s a wonder he’s 

been snapped up by TV, given that his material 

is pretty un-filmable. 

So, see Jack Whitehall and you won’t be 

disappointed – unless like me you want to hate 

him. But then, I’m just a bitter twat. JD 

Theatre 

Jane Austen’s Guide to 

Pornography 

Zoo Southside 

Australian company Outcast Theatre return 

to the fringe after last year’s critically acclaimed 

sex fuelled debut, ‘The Adventures of Butt Boy 

and Tigger’. 

This year’s show features a playwright fed 

up of specialising in sex scenes, who turns to 

the ghost of Jane Austen for advice on how to 

come up with something altogether more 

romantic. Meanwhile the ghost, perhaps 

predictably, has lost interest in the likes of Mr 

Darcy and wants to produce something fruiter. 

Despite the title, and the publicity material, 

there is very little actual sex here. There is 

some very funny dialogue and a couple of 

surprisingly tender moments. The standard of 

acting is higher than much on the fringe and for 

that the whole cast should be commended. 

This is character comedy that holds the 

attention - even if it lacks any surprises or 

dramatic punch. MW 

Comedy 

Janeane Garofalo 


Janeane Garofalo bounds on stage looking 

like Ugly Betty twenty years on. She begins by 

apologising in advance for any ‘crass’ 

comments, and this commences a litany of 

apologies at more than half of her gags. Either 

because Garofalo felt they were crass, or 

because they failed to raise a laugh from the 

audience. 

I cringed as Garofalo lost her place at least 

six times, resorting either to asking an audience 

member what she was saying or rustling 

through papers she had to help her keep her 

place. I love a bit of ad-libbing, but Garofalo’s 

disjointed and maniacal jumping from topic to 

topic was frankly frustrating. 

Occasionally she’d show promise with a 

few smile inducing gags, but towards the end 

the show descended into chaos as she made 

repetitive statements about being an 

unapologetic alcoholic and lover of antidepressants, 

and apparently forgetting to add 

the punch line. 

All in all, not the best hour of my life and I 

was itching to get out. JF 

Comedy 

Jo Caulfield Won’t Shut Up! 

Stand III 

Jo Caulfield’s likeability as a stand-up is 

second to none. She has a natural charm which 

enamours her audience from the moment she 

takes to the stage. Beginning with a brief 

discussion with members of the audience, she 

never comes across as intimidating, but simply 

charming and lovely – her vitriol is saved for 

things the audience can agree on. 

MPs’ expense claims, Dragon’s Den, and 

young loved-up couples all feel the wrath of 

Caulfield, and because they are all common 

hatreds, the audience is brought along for the 

ride. 

It’s the sort of comedy that when filmed 

would seem quite dull, and the topics quite 

mundane, but this is anything but. Live is 

where Caulfield shines, and this is because she 

is so strong at playing off the attitude of the 

room; at one point even berating me for getting 

in free with a press pass! 

If you like your comedians to be world 

class performers who never let the laughter 

quieten, Jo Caulfield is the woman for you. JD 

Theatre 

Killing Me Softly 


Richard Fry’s follow up to last year’s 

critically acclaimed fringe debut, Bully, explores 

similar themes of masculinity and domestic 

violence. And like Bully it’s a one-man-show 

told entirely in verse. 

It’s not an easy watch. Brutal domestic 

torture is depicted against a backdrop of 80s 

karaoke numbers and dirty Bernhard Manning 

style jokes. It’s hard to feel sympathy for the 

protagonist whose disconnection with other 

human beings is not properly explained or 

understood. 

That said, whilst the darkness of the 

subject matter is uncomfortable, the rhyming is 

mostly sharp and occasionally beautiful. 

Originally conceived as a two-hander, costar 

Lizzie Roper apparently pulled out late due 

to TV commitments. Fry and director Sarah 

Chew should be congratulated for what must 

have been some tricky last second re-working. 

Killing Me Softly feels more theatrical than 

Bully, but it’s less engaging. However, the 

future looks bright for this talented writer / 

performer. MW 

Theatre 

Kosh In The Storeroom 


This is a real contradiction of a 

performance, with moments of magnificent and 

moving brilliance juxtaposed against scenes of 

monotonous self-indulgence. 

This piece of expressive dance theatre tells 

the story of Zoe, a woman betrayed by her 

married lover, who sets her up for the murder 

of his wife. She serves a life sentence, and the 

couple meet again on her release. 

This is the most professionally produced 

performance I’ve seen, with wonderfully 

prepared, extravagant props and glamorous 

costumes. Sian Williams is amazingly 

choreographed, as she moves expertly and 

gracefully in different personas and dance 

styles. The audience is compelled to watch 

each intricate movement of this elegant, 

muscled model of perfection. 

On the down-side, some of the scenes are 

so repetitively long that my attentions started to 

wander to my chipped nail polish. Overall, a 

great show for someone who appreciates the 

beauty of expressive dance. JF 

Theatre 

A Life in Three Acts 

Traverse 

A Life in Three Acts is, without a doubt, 

the highlight of this year’s fringe. The premise 

couldn’t be simpler. Over a period of a few 

weeks, playwright Mark Ravenhill conducted a 

number of conversations with veteran actor 

Bette Bourne in his Notting Hill flat. The 

conversations were recorded, transcribed, 

edited, and are now recreated in the intimate 

setting of the Traverse Theatre’s studio space.




A working-class boy from Stoke 

Newington, Bourne has enjoyed a successful 

career in the theatre, whilst being an active 

force for change as part of the Gay Liberation 

Front. He embraced drag in the 60s, at a time 

when transvestism was not only considered 

outlandish, but was also perilous. He spent a 

number of years in a hedonistic drag commune 

and, appropriately enough, is best remembered 

on the Edinburgh fringe for his brilliant 

portrayal of the flamboyant Quentin Crisp in Tim 

Fountain’s Resident Alien. 

Bourne’s life would make for a fascinating 

autobiographical book, but Ravenhill’s conceit 

in this production is inspired. Sharing these 

three hours with the man himself feels like a 

privilege. Not once falling into the trap of 

sentimentality, Bourne tells his life story with 

such candour and charm that we feel somehow 

directly implicated in his memories. As 

Ravenhill rightly points out in his introduction 

to the playtext, “to get the essence of Bette we 

needed to see him showing off, singing and 

telling stories”. The effect is heightened by the 

photographs from Bourne’s past, projected onto 

the upstage screen throughout their 

conversation. Bourne captures some of the 

vitality of his youth in his anecdotes, and to see 

him perform against backdrop images of his 

former self is a poignant and life-affirming 

experience. 

To fully appreciate the impact of this piece 

you’ll need to see all three acts, each one 

presented as a separate performance. But this 

moving and often hilarious production will be 

one of the best investments of your time in the 

festival. AD 

Theatre 

Little Gem 

Traverse 

Elaine Murphy’s latest play presents three 

women from different generations within a 

Dublin family. Kay (Anita Reeves) is a sexually 

frustrated woman in her early 60s, caring for 

her husband Gem who has been wholly 

dependent on her since his stroke. Lorraine 

(Hilda Fay) is her middle-aged daughter who, 

having experienced something of a breakdown 

at work, is looking for a way to bring excitement 

back into her life. Her teenage daughter Amber 

(Sara Greene) has discovered that she is 

pregnant, and is learning to live with the 

consequences. 

These are familiar challenges in the sphere 

of family life, but the unabashed simplicity of 

Little Gem is also its strength. Director Paul 

Meade has the three women isolated from each 

other by spotlights, each occupying their own 

small space on the stage. They tell their stories 

through direct address, taking turns to offer 

more insights into their private concerns and 

experiences. It’s not the most original of 

concepts, but the form creates the necessary 

degree of intimacy for a play that depends so 

much on audience empathy. 

Hope is burgeoning at the heart of this 

piece. As we see Kay’s husband Gem 

deteriorate, we learn of Amber’s decision to 

name her new baby boy after him; another 

simple idea which sees the mourning Kay 

enlivened by the possibilities of the future. 

Through the simultaneous representation of 

these three generations of women, we can see 

glimpses of where they have been, and where 

they might be going, in the manner of Edward 

Albee’s Three Tall Women. Little Gem is a 

touching reminder of life’s transience, but also 

of its triumphs, and that without our shared 

experiences we can barely live at all. AD 

Theatre 

Little Johnny’s Big Gay Musical 


Scottish theatre company, Random 

Accomplice, present the return of the musical 

spectacular, which was performed to full 

houses in 2007 at Glasgow’s gay arts festival, 

Glasgay! A one-man show, its star Johnny 

McKnight is supported by the gorgeous and 

accomplished vocalist Natalie Toyne, and his 

band: Karen McIver, Marion Christie and Neil 

Cameron. 

McKnight depicts the life of working class 

Scots lad Little Johnny, looking back at the 

formative years. He vibrantly struts, sashays 

and sings his coming out story, with 

enthusiasm, energy and a cheeky grin. 

This show is an absolute delight to watch. 

The real pleasure of it isn’t the camp, the 

honesty, McKnight’s graphic turns of phrase, 

the accomplished dancing, the cracking vocals, 

the band, the costumes, the comedy, the 

beautiful set, or even the surprisingly up front 

depiction of various types of gay sex. No, the 

fact is that this is first and foremost good old 

fashioned entertainment, performed really well, 

which will have you smiling broadly days later 

at its memory. MW 

Comedy 

Lucy Porter - Fool’s Gold 


As a small woman on a big stage, I 

expected Porter to struggle to maintain a 

presence. As soon as she appeared however, it 

became all too clear that this would not be a 

concern. A smile and a wave win her a warm 

reception, and she proceeds to address the 

latecomers in an opening gambit that could not 

have been scripted, a brave move by any 

standards. Porter is so easy to like that it’s all 

the audience can do to forgive her when she 

harasses a minor and accidentally calls 

Somerset “retarded,” both with swift apologies. 

The jokes are a mixed bag, ranging from a 

surreal medical experiment on an audience 

member to cheap shots at Michael Jackson and 

Jade Goody, but Porter has a manner so 

genuine that the weaker material hardly detracts 

from the fun. An accomplished and assured 

performance. ET 

Comedy 

Luke Wright 

- The Petty Concerns of 

Underbelly 

The overused term ‘fringe favourite’ aptly 

applies to stand-up comedian and poet, Luke 

Wright. It’s not that he’s improved with age - his 

ability was clear when I first saw him around 

eight years ago - it’s that every year he has 

consistently produced strong and memorable 

shows. 

In 2009 his theme is ‘petty concerns’, a 

self deprecating look at being a ‘nearly famous’ 

poet who, even though he knows it’s wrong, 

can’t help but ‘Google’ his own name when 

alone. 

There is plenty of comedy to be had from 

the outcome of these searches, in a set that 

would be strong if stand-up comedy were the 

sole attraction. The fact that the gags are 

interspersed with sharp, intelligent, often 

satirical self penned poems serves to enhance 

the show further. 

For those that think poetry is boring, I 

challenge you to see Luke Wright and not be 

thoroughly entertained. MW 

Comedy 

Marcus Brigstocke - God Collar 

Assembly Hall 

Marcus Brigstocke, star of Radio 4’s The 

Now Show and TV’s Argumental and I’ve Never 

Seen Star Wars, is something of a celebrity, and 

I am a big fan. If I have learned anything from 

years of the fringe however, it is that the live 

stand-up us festival-goers know and enjoy and 

the kind of comedy the general population know 

from radio and television are two quite different 

creatures. Just as some of the weird and 

wonderfully funny acts you see here will never 

be commissioned for television, those who 

have made it big won’t always deliver under the 

pressure of a live gig. 

Brigstocke is a wonderfully charming man, 

and while the laughs are there, they’re 

disappointingly infrequent. Don’t get me 

wrong; the man is funny, but he never really 

gets the whole room laughing. His stage 

presence is somewhat placid for a man who 

made his name getting angry, and material 

about his kids and a deceased friend is a bit of a 

downer. If you’re a fan like me, keep watching 

his TV shows, and never meet your idols. ET 

Comedy 

Mark Thomas - The Manifesto 

Stand III 

Anyone on the left will be familiar with 

Mark’s product. He’s a campaigning, 

investigative journalist and writer - his books sit 

alongside Naomi Klein, John Pilger and Tony 

Cliff on the shelves of progressives. But he is 

also a polished and professional stand up 

comedian, and so accessible to the masses. 

In The Manifesto, he seeks to set a new 

political agenda by using policy suggestions 

from the audience. At the end of the show the 

audience votes, and the winning policy - 

alongside those of the other thirteen shows - 

gets to be debated with MSPs at a special 

meeting held as ScotsGay goes to press on 

19/08/09 (check our website for an update). 

Fourteen shows. Fourteen audiences. Fourteen 

policies. An innovative idea. 

Mostly though, Mark and the audience are 

playing it for laughs. “Ban the Labour Party and 

other right wing groups”, and the winner for 

tonight: “Require the Daily Mail to print the 

following on every front page: ‘This is a fictional 

representation of the news. Any resemblance 

to real life is purely coincidental’ ” are typical of 

the fare on offer from us, the audience. Mark’s 

prepared material though, of which there is 

plenty, is exceptionally good stuff. This is 

genuinely hysterical campaigning satire which 

finds the funny in the absurdity of capitalism - 

with multinationals, MPs, the police, Bob 

Geldolf and arms dealers all getting the 

treatment. Where he is different - and better - 

than any other popular satirist around today, is 

that we are left with no doubt about WHAT WE 

CAN DO ABOUT IT. 

This show, laugh for laugh, has to be, for 

me, the best of the best on this fringe. The fact 

that it’s also a call to arms has to mean that five 

stars aren’t enough. MW 

Theatre 

Midsummer (A Play with Songs) 

Traverse 

The sanguine refrain of Midsummer (A 

Play with Songs), “change is possible”, is 

delivered not by some wizened old sage in a 

caftan, but by a ticket machine in Edinburgh’s 

Castle Terrace car park. “It’s funny to have a 

parking machine doling out philosophical 

advice”, remarks Bob, the play’s male character. 

But this isn’t a case of the universe offering 

inspirational maxims by means of modern 

electronic devices (in the manner of the traffic 

sign in Steve Martin’s LA Story). Rather, the 

implication is that we find inspiration through 

the ways in which we choose to interpret the 

world around us. 

It’s strange that such an uplifting notion 

can be found at the heart of a play which is 

otherwise concerned with the inevitability of 

physical decay. Bob shows the audience 

photographs of himself as a child, observing 

that the atoms of his youth have long since 

disintegrated. But even in this most morbid of 

concepts, playwright David Grieg finds humour 

and optimism. 

Midsummer is a story about the onenight-stand 

that doesn’t end. Helena 

approaches Bob in an Edinburgh bar and invites 

him back to her flat. What begins as an 

exercise in sexual gratification soon transforms 

into a heady, romantic tour of Scotland’s 

capital. 

Cora Bissett and Matthew Pidgeon have 

excellent on-stage chemistry, successfully 

conveying all the excitement of a brand new 

relationship and the recklessness that comes 

with it. They both play the acoustic guitar 

throughout, singing Gordon McIntyre’s uplifting 

numbers, all of which brilliantly complement 

the rambunctious, knockabout quality of the 

piece. It may not be a particularly original 

concept, but when a play is this joyous it barely 

matters. AD 

Theatre 

Mother/Son 

Sweet Grassmarket 

This is a beautiful performance that packs 

an emotional punch that will knock you from 

here to the end of the festival. I’m not normally 

one to get a lump in my throat, but I was 

struggling to hold it back by the end. 

Solomon’s portrayal of a mother and son 

struggling to reconcile the fact that he is gay is 

in parts brilliant comedy, in parts stomachchurningly 

sad, and throughout is a wonderful 

tribute to anyone who has ever come out, and 

the family members who have accepted them. 

Solomon plays both the part of Bradley, 

and of his mother. He does this fantastically 

well, adopting the voices and mannerisms with 

great skill. He delves into the deeper issues 

involved in any family accepting someone as 

gay – the denial, the blame, the cure, and then 

the rationalisation. Bradley invites his mother 

to a gay bar; recommends a Parents & Friends 

of Lesbians & Gays Group, and ultimately she 

comes out as a radical pro-gay activist who 

befriends other waifs and strays whose family 

members are not so understanding. 

The biggest achievement of this 

performance is that it injects emotion into gay 

relationships. ‘It’s not just about sex; it’s about 

love and companionship’. So much 

homophobia is borne from a sexualisation of 

gay people, and in this performance Solomon 

very successfully achieves portraying the issue 

of sexuality as a complete non-issue; whilst 

portraying the very sad truth that for so many 

people it really is still an issue. 

This is a play where love conquers all; 

where communication and bravery and using 

one’s voice ultimately lead to a close bond and 

respect that most of us could only dream of. 

This will be one of the most moving hours of 

your life to date – and I challenge you to watch 

it and leave with dry eyes! JF 

Comedy 

Mould & Arrowsmith’s 

Inventions 


Steve Mould and Gemma Arrowsmith are 

a charming double act, and their latest offering, 

“a geeky sketch comedy”, has some very funny 

original ideas. 

They hook their hour on a recurring ‘time 

machine goes wrong’ gag, utilising concepts 

that are deceptively technical in execution. 

There are some wonderfully silly PowerPoint 

skits, and several jokes using advanced maths 

that er, more than add up (sorry). Their off-thecuff 

banter with the audience is a joy. They 

clearly both relish interaction with the 

customers - either one could steal the march on 

any improvised sketch show. 

Only occasionally do they milk an idea for 

a wee bit more than it’s worth, but with comedy 

of this high calibre, no-one cares. 

Sketch shows are all over the fringe this 

year - more than ever. This is one of the very 

best. I recommend Mould & Arrowsmith to you 

without hesitation. MW 

Comedy 

The Noise Next Door 


Improvisational comedy is something I am 

usually very wary of; at constant risk of looking 

contrived, and too regularly requiring the 

comedians to work the unworkable and keep it 

funny. But, despite my initial reservations, The 

Noise Next Door are rare in that they are not 

just a good improv group, but they are a 

brilliant one. All five of them carry their weight, 

and they have clearly been working together for 

a while as they all effortlessly set up some 

brilliant punchlines for each other, which the 

audience appreciates rapturously. 

As I said, the most obvious pit-fall of an 

improv show is it coming across as contrived, 

and too structured, but with The Noise Next 

Door, this is not a problem. Working on the 

incredibly loose narrative that they have landed 

on a mysterious planet, the only obvious 

constant in the show was the nature of the 

games they’d play. 

All in all, it’s a great show that made me 

eat my words about improv. JD 

Theatre 

Once A Catholic 


This play is a mediocre exploration of 

catholic guilt and hypocrisy, as we follow the 

curiosities of seven sexually naïve convent girls. 

Scenes of nuns force-feeding the girls mashed 

potatoes, terrorising them about the evils of 

sex, and the priest hurrying along the 

confessional so he can make the off-license 

before it shuts, are all fairly predictable. 

The girls’ acting is, in general, unemotive 

and fails to make a connection with the 

audience. The shining light of the performance 

comes in the form of Derek, the bad boy who 

lures the girls into sexual promiscuity. His 

acting is phenomenal and he adds a jolt of 

enthusiasm into an otherwise bland production. 

The show over-ran by an achingly long twentyfive 

minutes, by which time I was desperate to 

leave. JF 

Theatre 

Orphans 

Traverse 

Dennis Kelly’s Orphans opens with a 

punch; a quiet evening meal in the suburban 

home of married couple Helen and Danny is 

interrupted by Helen’s brother Liam, whose 

shirt is covered in blood. He seems relatively 

unconcerned, and it takes some coaxing to 

uncover what has happened. Liam’s revelations 

are unconvincing and disingenuous, the sort of 

responses one might expect of a child or, as in 

the case of Liam, a troubled young man whose 

transition to adulthood has been disrupted by 

traumatic events in his past. 

The real story behind the bloody shirt is 

revealed gradually through the course of the 

play. As we edge nearer towards the truth, the 

picture becomes darker and more disturbing, 

particularly when both Helen and Danny begin 

to implicate themselves in Liam’s crime in order 

to protect him from prosecution. 

Kelly has explored similar territory before 

in DNA, his 2007 piece for the National 

Theatre’s Connections series for teenage 

audiences, in which a group of children 

inadvertently kill one of their friends and are 

forced to invent ways to cover up the crime. In 

Orphans the stakes are raised, and the 

consequences are even more unsettling. 

Above all else, Kelly’s play examines the 

implications of social mobility. Helen has 

married into Danny’s middle-class world, and 

due to Liam’s actions is again forced to 

They’re back... 

‘Fabulous’ 

confront the unpleasant realities of her former 

life. This contrast is brilliantly realised in 

Garance Marneur’s evocative set, which 

represents Danny’s Ikea-clad home as a porous 

and vulnerable place; the railings from the 

outside world a constant visible presence 

between gaps in the walls, menacing shadows 

from outside frequently penetrating the florid 

wallpaper within. The effect is suitably 

ominous. 

It is worth noting that Kelly’s workingclass 

characters often seem to lack a moral 

compass, a notion which is slightly off-putting 

and, moreover, experientially unsound. That 

said, this production succeeds on a number of 

levels. The performances by Joe Armstrong, 

Claire-Louise Cordwell and Jonathan 

McGuinness are flawless. Roxana Silbert’s 

direction is taut and perfectly paced. Most 

impressive of all is Kelly’s dialogue, which veers 

from the hard-hitting to the outright hilarious 

without ever feeling contrived. Our 

expectations are repeatedly confounded, and by 

the end it is difficult to know where our 

sympathies should lie. This is visceral and 

uncompromising theatre. AD 

Theatre 

‘Gloriously outrageous’ 

Out of Chaos 

Underbelly 

Retelling various Greek myths, Out of 

Chaos is a superb show, in both concept and 

execution. The myths are retold in an 

accessible, yet intellectually stimulating way 

that is neither dumbed down, nor overly 

academic. 

Also, the acting here is superlative, with all 

six actors working well together to create 

pathos, humour, and energy. Offstage, the 

quality is just as high; Mike Tweddle’s direction 

is slick and imaginative. 

All in all, this is a brilliant production 

which succeeds in bringing physical theatre to a 

wider audience in an unintimidating way. JD 

Scotsman 

Chortle 

‘Witty, sharp and very funny’ 

Times 

‘Has the audience gasping for more’ 

STAND THREE VENUE 12 

tickets 0131 558 7272 

Comedy 

Paul Foot: By the Yard 

Underbelly 

Oxford graduate Paul Foot doesn’t tell 

jokes, as much as have an occasional idea. He 

bumbles on the stage, sees a stool that 

apparently shouldn’t be there, and then with 

fumbling and pin-point accurate observational 

humour makes us all laugh about it for fifteen 

minutes. I say all, perhaps I should say about 

two thirds of this capacity audience. A sizable 

minority sat stony faced during, well, not just 

this routine but the entire show. 

Foot’s appearance is ill-fitting and funny. 

The clothes are wrong. His hair defies 

description. It’s quite old-fashioned, but the 

way he looks and indeed, everything he does, is 

designed to make you laugh. The fact that 

some don’t get it simply makes it funnier. 

Suck it and see. You’ll either become a fan 

for life and join his growing band of 

connoisseurs, or you won’t. MW 

List




Comedy 

Paul Sinha 

- 39 Years of Solitude 

The Stand 

Sinha is a comedian of growing stature, 

making steady progress with his fringe 

audiences building year on year. This year’s 

show focuses on how he, an Asian, gay ex-GP 

at the age of 39, has failed to find love, but 

seeks solace in quizzing. 

The premise of this show must be one of 

the dullest on the fringe. 

Sinha’s strength is in his jokes and their 

delivery. The difficulty is that he seems as 

interested in telling stories that aren’t 

particularly interesting. He rattles through it, 

with audience interaction pretty much nonexistent. 

However, like a good action flick, if we 

forget the unnecessary plot and focus on what 

we’re there for - in this case a damn good laugh 

- a lot of fun can be had. His observational 

comedy is a match for Michael McIntyre, 

though probably owes more to Jack Dee. His 

car accident routine was hilarious. 

To be a great comedian one must be first 

and foremost funny. Sinha is. And when he 

stops trying to join all the dots in his storytelling 

he’ll be big. MW 

Theatre 

The Play About Charlotte 

C Soco 

This performance attempts stylish depth, 

however only achieves a shallow cliché of a 

hundred other mental health storylines. The 

eponymous ‘Charlotte’ is a fiction of the central 

character’s split psyche; a character created 

from the perceived holes in her existence. 

There are moments of philosophy and pop 

psychology, and the elongated explanation of 

why the split personality has occurred 

patronises the audience to the extent of 

removing any empathy. That said, the actors 

are to be credited for their seamless and 

passionate performances. The Play About 

Charlotte is pleasant enough to watch, but don’t 

expect to be challenged or moved. JF 

Comedy 

Reginald D Hunter: 

The Only Apple in the Garden of 

Eden and Niggas 

Underbelly 

Reggie is a laid back comedian with a 

cheeky grin, which doesn’t entirely disguise the 

edgy routine that he peddles to this grateful 

capacity audience. 

His material is often based on jokes that 

build to a punch line that, when delivered, goes 

somewhere quite unexpected. For example, he 

explains, at length, why he isn’t gay. Using the 

stereotypical language of a regular straight male 

comedian, he confides that he likes men, but 

the thought of gay sex has always repelled him. 

“…but then,” he concludes, “I didn’t used to 

like broccoli either.” 

This device is also used deftly to discus 

swearing, sex, women and race. This is self 

deprecating observational humour disguised as 

attack. 

He was described once as a black 

Bernhard Manning. This is preposterous. 

Hunter is much more intelligent and infinitely 

funnier. Where as Manning’s gigs could turn 

into BNP style rallies of hate, Hunter simply 

wants everyone to get along. I’d certainly be 

more than happy to go for a beer and a smoke 

with him. MW 

Comedy 

Richard Herring 

- Hitler Moustache 

Underbelly 

Following recent and utterly stupid 

accusations of racism from the usually sensible 

Guardian, there is a sense that Richard Herring 

has something to prove tonight: and that he 

most certainly did. Playing to a packed room, 

Herring wowed the audience with one of the 

greatest stand-up routines I have seen. 

The premise of the show is itself inspired: 

to reclaim the toothbrush moustache from 

fascists, like the eponymous Hitler, and to give 

it back to comedians, like Charlie Chaplin. So, 

looking dapper in a smart black suit, and with 

his radical facial fuzz, Herring gets underway 

attacking fascism with the best weapon there is 

– laughter. Mocking the BNP in a way that is 

completely original, and beautifully constructed, 

he is able to demonstrate just how 

accomplished a stand-up he is. He brings his 

vast intelligence and wit to the fore, playing the 

audience well, and making off-the-cuff oneliners 

about prejudice in the Roman era. He 

also brings in some wonderfully snide snipes at 

The Guardian for the aforementioned 

defamation. 

Herring has a brilliant eye for seeing how 

the world works, and a small routine about 

Michael Jackson is in no way inappropriate, but 

instead exposes how destructive fame is. And 

it is here where he works best – using his 

natural silliness, and his sharp political streak, 

he is able to make the audience laugh and think 

at the same time. When the hour was up, it 

was a true shame he left the stage, as I – and 

the audience – would happily have watched 

much more. A nigh-on perfect show, which 

borders on the overused accolade of “comedy 

genius”. JD 

Comedy 

Rogue Males 


Adam Riches’ sketch show Rogue Males is 

quite simply brilliant. Firstly, each of his four 

characters are given enough time to develop, 

rather than be crammed into five minutes, 

where they become simple stereotypes. All of 

the inventions are unique and hilarious, with 

Riches proving to be a master of accents and 

audience interaction. 

Normally, in a venue this small, going after 

spectators can be risky, but Riches doesn’t let 

the energy dip, making razor-sharp gags off the 

cuff which involve the audience, rather than 

alienating them. 

This is superb sketch comedy, which I 

highly recommend. JD 

Comedy 

Rosie Wilby: The Science of Sex 


A rather pretty teenage boy in the queue 

asks his mate if Rosie Wilby is really a lesbian. 

“She’s too girly,” he explains, “she must be 

bisexual.” Rather than dismiss this idiot, several 

soon-to-be audience members set about 

debating the issue. Horrified, but also aware 

that I have no idea where Wilby sits on the 

Kinsey Scale, I stay silent. The show is called 

The Science of Sex, so perhaps the subject will 

come up. 

Rosie, it turns out, is a rather attractive, 

and newly single lesbian. She’s also a character 

comedian, and here we’re presented with a 

nutty professor persona, which is just subtle 

enough to avoid the usual stereotype. Using 

diagrams and pretty pictures, she jokes about 

sex with surprisingly few obvious knob, or 

indeed, ahem, fanny gags. 

Although clearly well researched and 

written, she isn’t afraid of a little audience 

interaction, indeed some of her off-the-cuff 

banter with a crazy family in the front row had 

me in stitches. Everybody says that Wilby is ‘on 

the way up’ and has ‘bags of potential’. I can 

only endorse that popular view. MW 

Comedy 

Russell Kane 

- Human Dressage 


The first show of Russell Kane’s fringe run 

kicks off with his trademark energy and 

flamboyance. It’s a winning formula – his overthe-top 

physicality, combined with 

self-deprecatory stories – and one which has 

earned him not only a career in live stand-up, 

but also in television. 

However, his liveliness seems to serve two 

purposes: to encourage the audience to laugh, 

and to hide the lesser material. Whilst a joy to 

watch as he prances around the stage, the 

stories he tells sometimes suffer from a severe 

lack of originality: telling jokes about being 

caught masturbating by a relative get old by the 

time most people are twelve. An overlong 

routine about his right-wing Dad also ends 

predictably. 

That said, there is much to like here when 

you (and Kane) look past the obvious. There 

are some brilliant gags about how people 

devote their lives to their image, but he never 

seems condescending or arrogant about his 

world view. All in all, Kane’s whirlwind delivery 

carries the audience along, and despite 

occasional lapses in material, the laughs keep 

coming. JD 

Comedy 

Scenes of a Sketchual Nature 

C Soco 

The scene that most got my attention in 

this shoddy show was one that involved 

alternate boy/girl conversations about a date. 

This had some intensity, and no corpsing – 

unlike a number of the other sketches. It may 

be something they can do well and should 

develop. Much of the rest of the show was little 

more than classroom improv and is best not 

discussed. TC 

Comedy 

Scott Agnew: Scottish Comedian 

of the Year 2008 

Underbelly 

Imagine the gay son of Amy Winehouse 

and Billy Connelly performing a drug fuelled 

episode of Still Game. Scott Agnew is the 

antidote to Craig Hill's light campery. This is 

working class Scottish gay life. 

Agnew takes us through his upbringing - 

growing up gay in Glasgow to a Catholic family. 

He pulls no punches. East End women, 

gangsters, tramps, chavs, rent boys and 

grandparents’ parents feature. His storytelling 

is crisp, efficient and funny. His 

characterisations are lively and real. 

He's also capable of some lovely oneliners 

and he's more than comfortable 

departing from the script to banter with the 

audience. 

Agnew is an immensely talented 

performer, who at just 27 isn't just showing 

promise, but has already arrived. Catch him 

hosting the New Town Bar festival shows every 

Sunday at the fringe if you want a sneak a peak 

for free. MW 

Music 

Sequins & Shpiel: An Evening 

with New York’s Rachael Sage 

City Edinburgh 

Rachael Sage is an imaginative, versatile, 

jazz singer / songwriter whose performance 

exudes much sex appeal. Her show begins, 

however, with the much quieter twentysomething 

keyboardist / vocalist Seth Glier 

(who wasn’t introduced) alone in support. 

Imagine the voice of a young Art Garfunkel, 

singing about his parents, about feeling 

isolated, about the melancholy and angst we’ve 

we heard so much about from artists in his 

genre. Half way through his set he confides, 

“This is my first time in the UK ever and I’m 

going to move here when I get a career”. We 

only found out his name when, in a rare display 

of interaction, a member of the audience 

demanded to know who he was. 

After half an hour came Sage. Almost her 

entire set was crafted around self penned 

material, taken from across eight albums - 

although her cut down version of ‘The Theme 

Fame’ was a genuine highlight. For the most 

part her performance was brash and ballsy and 

thoroughly enjoyable. 

An over-excited United States audience 

would have lapped this up, no doubt whooping 

constantly. But neither Sage’s stunning vocals, 

her forays into the audience, or the returning 

Glier’s back flips, or the stuff with the kazoo, 

got Edinburgh going. “In New York people 

don’t respect you unless you make a noise,” 

she confides, before adding, “Can somebody 

cough?” 

One suspects that Sage didn’t quite deliver 

the best of herself with this polite audience. 

She is clearly an exceptional performer on her 

way up, but with a show that feeds on 

interaction. Oh, to see her in a jazz club in New 

York! MW 

Theatre 

The Shape of Things 


Adam (Robert Galas) is working in an art 

gallery when Evelyn (Kira Sternbach) strides in, 

“crosses the line”, and advances on a statue, 

determined to spray onto it the penis that 

censors have covered. A relationship begins, 

and Evelyn seems the most sympathetic 

character as she takes Adam out of his 

stuffiness. We meet his friends Jenny (Antonia 

Kinley) and Phillip (Luke Neal) who are 

agonising about getting married. 

I was struck by the concern they showed 

about PDA (Public Displays of Affection) – in 

their own home. In some ways this play gave 

the weird impression of certain Americans as 

Victorians who shag around. Luke Neal as 

Phillip is brilliant at conveying the kind of 

unreconstructed man who can be 

simultaneously friendly, threatening and highly 

irritating. There is real confusion in the 

character and, as Adam’s reconstruction 

progresses, it seems that Phillip is close to 

hitting on him – but this is not developed. 

Adam becomes more generally attractive 

to others as he responds to Evelyn’s 

suggestions. I found myself wishing that the 

character of Jenny could have been more fully 

developed. Kira Sternbach performs a climactic 

scene that is a real tour de force. 

Adam seems rather a cipher at the 

beginning, but ends something a good deal 

stronger, and this development is effectively 

conveyed by Robert Galas. Graduating RADA 

director Caroline Jay Ranger elicits four very 

distinctive and involving performances from her 

cast. 

But what is really going on? Who is being 

manipulated? The play contains many laughs – 

sometimes seeming akin to an episode of 

Friends – but leaves you with more questions to 

think about than would a TV comedy. What 

should be allowed in art? What do we really 

think about art’s empire? And what about art’s 

relationship to capitalism? 

The Shape of Things is billed as a “black 

comedy”. Don’t let that put you off – there is 

really nothing especially dark and disturbing 

here – more a shade of grey. We are invited to 

think that Neil LaBute is “tortured by questions 

of sex, violence and brutality” – well, maybe, 

but not on the evidence of this play. Very 

enjoyable and thought provoking – more a dark 

comedy of manners. TC 

Comedy 

Sketch Crunch 

C Soco 

Typically, sketch comedy is a hasty 

business. That’s its appeal, of course. If one 

particular sketch disappoints, there’s always the 

possibility that the next one will be funnier. And 

so it is with Marigold’s Sketch Crunch, which 

has a frenetic, rapid-fire quality that 

compensates for its weaker moments. It 

doesn’t break any new ground, but the sheer 

vitality of the performers – Huw Beynon, Simon 

Brant and Richard Hanrahan – makes for a 

good hour’s entertainment. 

The opening sketch sees Hanrahan 

bewailing his excess weight to a barely 

sympathetic Benyon. In their embarrassingly 

poor series for the BBC, Horne and Corden 

successfully proved that obesity in itself does 

not provoke laughter, except perhaps amongst 

infants and imbeciles. For a moment, I was 

concerned that Sketch Crunch was going to 

follow a similar track. Thankfully, the sketch 

does not outstay its welcome, and by the end of 

the show it is clear that Marigold have a decent 

range of comic ideas, and the versatility to pull 

them off. 

The show is something of a mixed bag. A 

few scenes are genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. 

There is a terrific sketch in which a man 

proposes to a duck, and the three public school 

boys attempting to feign the stereotypical 

language of the council estate is effective, if not 

especially original. The sketches that fall flat – 

such as the terse, stentorian headmaster, or the 

father who imagines that his son has an 

imaginary friend – feel somewhat half-baked, 

and cry out for further development. 

It’s nothing you haven’t seen before, but 

there are enough laughs here to make it a 

worthwhile way to spend an hour. AD 

Comedy 

The Scottish Falsetto 

Sock Puppet Theatre 

Goes to Hollywood 


There is something about the idea of a one 

man sock puppet show which seems appealing, 

in its own fringe kind of way. It’s the sort of 

thing that should be so bad, it’s funny – so 

aware of how bad it is, that it becomes an ironic 

masterpiece. However, this not the case. 

The show truly is as bad as it sounds. It is 

one man with a sock on each hand, speaking in 

squeaky voices about well known films. The 

novelty irony of how bad the show is wears thin 

after five minutes, and you are just left watching 

a terrible show for the next fifty-five. 

At every opportunity a cringe-worthy pun 

is dropped, and rather than leaving the 

awkward, yet knowing pun alone, he pursues it, 

robbing it of all dignity and humour. If this 

were anything other than socks, people would 

have walked out on the grounds that this is not 

1920s vaudeville. Instead, these people 

laughed throughout, and one even gave a 

standing ovation. People like this should be 

removed from the gene pool. 

One best avoided. JD 

Theatre 

Shakespeare’s Squeaking 

Cleopatras 

Greyfriars Kirk 

I’m sorry to say that this run has finished, 

and you’ve missed a rare treat! 

Just before the show started I turned to 

my friends and said: “This is rather ambitious”. 

Listed in the programme were twelve scenes 

from Shakespeare, some quite substantial. But 

I was in experienced theatrical hands. All would 

be well. 

All of these scenes were very effectively 

conveyed. The comedy especially was 

thrillingly hilarious. The Henry V translation 

scene with Gary Reid and Lloyd Llewellyn- 

Jones was side-splitting. Llewellyn-Jones also 

gave us a wonderfully over the top Cleopatra, 

with Roger Burroughes as an extremely 

prostrate Messenger. David Dalzell was a Lady 

Capulet who clearly had designs on Paris, as I 

have always thought she had. His Lady 

Macbeth seemed about to lose her marbles 

from early on, which was a good touch. 

This was wonderful entertainment overall. 

I was at the front, and everything was very clear 

and involving there. Others told me that they 

found things difficult to hear further back. The 

company apparently struggled manfully with 

the sound system, but it remained imperfect. 

This was a really excellent and most 

enjoyable evening, and very much worth 

catching if it is done again. I look forward to 

seeing more of this very skilful company. TC 

Comedy 

Simon Munnery’s AGM2009 

The Stand 

Simon Munnery’s AGM (Annual General 

Meeting) is like nothing I’ve seen before. For a 

start, accompanying Munnery is the drummer 

Mac, who occasionally breaks into drum solos 

during the set. Then there are the videos 

shown on a big screen that make no point 

whatsoever. There is a bucket which people can 

put motions into, which Simon will discuss, and 

for the ones that there is no time for, he takes 

us to the park after the show to go through 

those. It’s a real fringe event that makes little 

sense, but certainly entertains. 

The stand-up itself is on the blurred line 

between surreal crap and eccentric hilarity, with 

Munnery’s awkward demeanour making it 

impossible to tell where the irony and emphasis 

is. Always inventive, though sometimes 

nonsensical, this is anti-comedy – the kind of 

comedy which experimentally revels in the 

uncertainty of the audience, and Munnery 

seems completely content with this. 

It’s well worth seeing, and whilst the 

comedy content is at times patchy, it is 

nonetheless an experience in the true spirit of 

the fringe. JD 


Soft Murders 

Venue 13 

This multimedia celebration of the arts 

focuses on the lives and paintings of gay 

artists. The first setting mimics the paintings of 

Gilbert and George, bringing to the surface 

through dance their notion of living as one in a 

scene entitled ‘2Ps No Pod’. The suited pair 

seem on the surface reserved, but gradually 

begin to writhe around one another, while the 

angelic looking chorus nervously examine each 

other’s naked torsos. It’s a powerful celebration 

of the male form, reversing typical ideas of 

sexual objectification so that one feels guiltily 

voyeuristic, but compelled to watch. The pair 

construct an uncanny resemblance to the artists 

themselves, moving in joint sequences until the 

climatic explosion of creativity that results in a 

sexual wrestle. Through such imagery, the 

production suggests a link between male sexual 

desire and explosive creativity. 

With the sudden introduction of a techno 

beat and red lighting, the stage is transformed 

into Andy Warhol’s infamous factory. The cast 

appear in sixties underwear, led by Warhol 

himself in his iconic glasses. This is where the 

production has found its balance; dramatically 

switching from the tragic and exploitative to the 

hilarious. 

The final sequence restages the well 

known poses of Marilyn Monroe standing over 

an air vent, reminding us that Warhol made the 

actress far more iconic than her films did. The 

trilogy ends with the strongest piece, acting out 

the violent and brutal images of Francis Bacon, 

including portrayals of his lover George Dyer. 

This is the show’s strongest moment, conjuring 

up the same yearning and despair that we find 

in his paintings. Dyer’s suicide is wonderfully 

portrayed using a technique from the Japanese 

“Noh” theatre, with ribbons flowing from his 

mouth in a stirring confusion of beauty and 

Random Accomplice 

tour de force 

THE HERALD 

sublime 

THE SCOTSMAN 

Saturday 26 September 8pm 

Tickets £12 full price 

£9 concessions / £6 students & under 18s 

* Warning – Not suitable for children. Contains strong language and content of a sexual nature* 

Tickets and Information 01786 466666 

Book Online www.macrobert.org 

tragedy. 

All the performers are completely 

committed in this celebration of physical 

performance. It’s a dark piece, but the potent 

imagery will stay with you long after you leave 

the theatre. VC 

Theatre 

Stefan Golaszewski 

is a Widower 

Traverse 

This follow up to last year’s Fringe First 

winner Stefan Golaszewski Speaks About a Girl 

Written and Performed by Johnny McKnight


He Once Loved is a poignant and witty 

monologue about lost love. Golaszewski has a 

boyish, wide-eyed delivery that immediate 

endears him to the audience, and when he 

recounts his memories of his wife, 

affectionately known as “Pudding”, his 

enthusiasm is such that it feels as though he is 

reliving the moments all over again. 

There are some very touching moments. 

Most notably when Golaszewski conveys his 

sheer sense of incredulity at someone so 

beautiful reciprocating his affections. There is 

another terrific moment when he shows off the 

clothes he bought for his baby boy. The pride 

is simply infectious. “This is the best baby that 

has ever been made,” he tells us. “And I made 

him.” It’s a true testament to the virtues of 

theatricality; in real life, overly proud parents 

can be the most grating of human beings. 

But Golaszewski’s optimistic outlook does 

not last, eventually souring into a cold 

resignation, best encapsulated by his remark: 

“Sometimes people just die and there’s nothing 

you can do about it”. It’s an almost inevitable 

character development from one who is so 

palpably obsessive in his approach to 

everything. This quality is as evident in his 

joyous descriptions of fatherhood and marriage 

as they are in his bitterness upon the discovery 

of his wife’s infidelity. 

But there is something uplifting about this 

piece that remains intact despite Golaszewski’s 

personal tragedies. It’s an impressive 

achievement from an extremely talented young 

writer / performer. AD 

Comedy 

Stephen K Amos 

- The Feelgood Factor 


Buying a ticket to see Stephen K Amos this 

year is like purchasing a compilation CD when 

you’ve already downloaded most of the singles. 

This was a mix of his old jokes, which, perhaps 

due to nostalgia, I enjoyed, and average and 

occasionally offensive filler material. 

Comedy is comedy but does Amos really 

have to make a schoolboy ‘spastic’ face when 

he is describing mental illness or stupidity? 

Amos states at the top of the show that we’re all 

here to feel good and have a laugh. Except 

those with disabilities, then? Joking about 

race, sexuality, disability and religion is all fair 

game. Depends on what the audience are 

laughing at. This year he seems to have 

developed a similar attitude to class. Cue more 

‘spastic’ faces as he delivers jokes about the 

Leith area that are both unfunny and dated. 

Although he frequently focuses on his own 

life, he doesn’t ever let slip the fact he is gay. 

He talks about his race a lot this hour, so why 

not mention his sexuality? 

Two years ago I gave Amos a deserved five 

star review. Can I have that Stephen K Amos 

back please? He really is so, so, so much 

better than this. Feel good I do not. MW 

Theatre 

Stroke of Genius 


A masterstroke of a production! 

Intelligent, articulate and humorous in all the 

right places. 

This performance manages to detail the 

history of eugenics (genetic tweaking) in the 

form of a light-hearted plotline which sees a 

lonely librarian mastermind a plot to steal 

sperm from a genius in order to create an 

‘exceptional’ child. 

It’s easy to watch, with fascinating, well 

researched scientific nuggets interspersed 

throughout. This performance deconstructs the 

complicated subject of genetics and natural 

selection and makes it accessible to all without 

being patronising. 

The actors are energetic, fluent and 

convincing, with Dora the librarian particularly 

excelling in her hilarious portrayal of the staid 

librarian. If you enjoy a show which stimulates 

the mind while deeply entertaining you, this is a 

must-see! JF 


The Sugar Dandies: 

Ladies Not Required 


Created and performed by champion 

same-sex ballroom dancers Sören and Bradley, 

this lively duo present us with the story of their 

unconventional dance careers. Their show is an 

honest and genuinely insightful look at being a 

gay couple, dancing as a pair, as they challenge 

the heterosexist ballroom dance world. 

The story of fear, fight and eventual 

acceptance will be recognised by anyone 

growing up gay, or different in any way. The 

dancing is great, and spans a number of 

genres. The poodle foxtrot was a real highlight. 

As a whole, the show was let down a little 

by some terrible puns from the compere, Philip 

Rescorla, who seemed to be doing his best to 

put the audience to sleep whilst the boys were 

changing costumes. It is too generous to state 

that his material was underwritten - it caused 

much bum shuffling in seats whilst we yearned 

for the dancers to come back on. 

Ultimately though, Sören and Bradley 

more than make up for this in an entertaining 

and enlightening fifty minutes of ballroom fun. 

MW 

Comedy 

Susan Calman 

- The Last Woman on Earth 

Underbelly 

As the room falls into darkness, the 

introduction to Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s 

Two Tribes is played. An air attack warning, a 

Siren, a high energy rhythm, and Susan Calman 

bounces on to the stage. 

“We’re all stuck in here - if you leave the 

room, you will die,” she proclaims, “but it’s OK, 

I’m here to keep you entertained.” Very quickly 

it becomes clear that, despite the apocalypse 

outside, things with this very mixed, close to 

capacity Underbelly audience is more than just 

okay. 

Calman is attempting to rebuild our 

society by giving various audience members 

post apocalyptic roles. Categories include 

‘stud’, ‘worrier’ and ‘food’. Calman’s skill is to 

enable the audience to participate, and 

occasionally make up their own jokes, whilst 

never losing control. 

Rarely, if ever, have I observed an 

audience uniformly laugh so much and so hard. 

Sitting at the front, I turn and look at each face 

in the room. Not only is absolutely every 

person laughing, but they are falling about. And 

they don’t stop for the entire hour. 

Kate Copstick has apparently said that 

women aren’t capable of being as funny as 

men. I beg to differ. MW 

Music 

Tell It Like It Is - Barb Jungr 

Sings Songs of War and Peace 

The Queens Hall 

Having been voted top Cabaret show 2008 

and following a highly successful series of 

concerts in New York’s ‘Cafe’ Carlyle’, Barb 

returns to this year’s Festival Fringe, turning her 

attention to a collection of war and peace songs 

from some of the best contemporary 

singer/songwriters of the last 50 years. 

Jungr herself freely admits that this time 

round the songs that she has chosen are fairly 

dark and depressing, but yet so relevant in 

today’s world. 

Her uncanny ability to unravel each song, 

giving it, its own unique style; is done so with 

such enthusiasm, passion and intelligence. It 

allows the audience to savour each word, 

without making them feel uneasy as they listen 

to the likes of Leonard Cohen’s ‘The Partisan’ 

and Dory Previns ‘Doppelgangers’. In part this 

is due to the funny anecdotes Barb tells 

throughout the show. In particular; Rod Stewart 

on a beach Devon, had the audience in stitches. 

A must see for anyone who appreciates a 

superbly talented songstress with a comedic 

charm. 

Comedy 

Thankless Child 


An hour of slapstick sketches, which 

mainly consist of tediously protracted clichés 

like ‘crying over spilt milk’ and ‘don’t put all 

your eggs in one basket’. 

The show is well produced, the 

performances are well rehearsed, and the duo 

have great stage presence and interaction. 

However, the show just lacks any real comedy 

depth. The sketches are bland and predictable, 

and at times verge on irritating. The ‘blind 

mice’ sketch squawked on for so long that I 

wanted to grab the carving knife from the 

farmer’s wife and mutilate them myself. It 

failed to raise more than a few guffaws. Despite 

the occasional funny moment, this is one to 

avoid. JF 

Theatre 

The Timekeepers 


Israeli theatre company Ocean Of Sugar 

have toured this play across their own country 

to great acclaim. 

It concerns a pair of watch menders: Hans, 

a pink-triangle-wearing German homosexual, 

and Benjamin, a yellow-star-adorned elderly 

Jew - thrown together into the Sachsenhausen 

concentration camp. As you might imagine, the 

two have little in common. Benjamin initially 

rejects Hans’ advances of friendship, but over 

time they begin to work together and finally 

support each other. 

The key to their friendship is resistance to 

the common enemy, represented by a greenstarred 

German criminal, who is given authority 

by the Nazis to subjugate the watchmakers. 

This is familiar territory: two rival 

protagonists eventually becoming friends as 

they combat a common enemy. However, this 

is an old story told very well, with a strong 

script and three quality actors. Well worth an 

hour of your time. MW 

Comedy 

Topping and Butch - Twisted! 

Stand III 

They are back, thank God. Topping and 

Butch are a comedy double act like no other, 

and so it’s a huge relief to see them here at the 

fringe with their own show - their first since 

2006. They have lost none of their satirical 

edge. And although the boys have spurned the 

red S&M leather uniforms of old, they are still 

delightfully queer. 

T&B have simply hit upon a formula that 

works; camp bitchiness directed at worthy 

targets. The lyrics of their signature song, 

Never Mind - updated daily to reflect the news - 

cover the Iraq war, MPs’ expenses and even the 

Edinburgh trams fiasco. The Lilly Allen routine 

was as biting as it was joyous. They also find 

time for some self deprecating moments too 

and some reflecting, comically of course, on the 

nature of the gay love. 

And who else would end an act taking the 

piss out of… well buy a ticket and see for 

yourself. It’s a real show stopper. MW 

Musicals & Opera 

Vision 

Sweet ECA 

Jesus once said: “Suffer the little children 

to come unto me”. But he didn’t have to sit 

through Vision by St Ives Youth Theatre. If he 

had, he might have reached a different 

conclusion. 

For a company that claims to have no 

religious affiliation, this musical retelling of the 

story of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes seems an 

odd choice. The songwriting is patchy, the 

dialogue embarrassingly weak. It’s the kind of 

show that would be passable for a provincial 

amateur production in a church hall, but its 

inclusion in an arts festival seems utterly 

incongruous. And at £10 a ticket, there really 

can be no excuse. 

You might think it cruel to criticise a group 

of teenagers for their efforts. Maybe so. But if 

you found a cute little kitten dying at the side of 

the road, the responsible thing to do would be 

to swiftly apply the heel of your boot to its furry 

face. 

The main problem with Vision is that the 

premise is overly didactic. Two fourteen-yearold 

backpacking lads happen upon a youth 

hostel in Lourdes, having been out the previous 

night “getting mashed”. (This is the first of 

many grating playground colloquialisms in the 

piece, presumably to remind us that Christianity 

doesn’t have to be stuffy and old-fashioned.) 

The residents of the hostel discover that these 

boys are “Lourdes virgins”, and proceed to act 

out the story of Bernadette in musical form. By 

the end of this excruciating display, one of the 

boys has decided to stay with the hostellers so 

he can sing and dance some more in 

celebration of this long-dead hallucinating 

adolescent. He assures his friend that he still 

enjoys getting drunk and hanging out with girls, 

but that there’s also a place for religion in his 

life. You see? Christianity can be cool. 

The kids aren’t to blame, really. If you’re 

going to bring a group of young people up to 

Edinburgh to perform for a month, you need to 

prepare them properly for the run. I saw this 

show on day six of the festival, and already 

some of the principals were showing signs of 

losing their voices. They desperately needed 

some vocal coaching, preferably months in 

advance, to ensure that their voices were 

properly supported. 

And it’s not as though the adults in the 

orchestra are any better. If musical instruments 

are going to be out of tune, they should at least 

be out of tune in the same way. But when one 

violin is a semitone flat, and the other is a 

semitone sharp, those ballads begin to sound 

like Freddy Krueger caressing a blackboard. 

I realise that watching a group of singing, 

dancing, smiling kids should be a joyous, 

inspiring experience. But all I could think was: 

where’s Ian Huntley when you need him? AD 

Grab your next copy by calling 

0906 1100256 

calls charged at £1.50 per min 

scotsgay.co.uk


Comedy 

Warren & Hanbury – All To Bare 


You would be hard pushed to find a more 

inept show on the fringe. Warren and Hanbury 

are desperately unfunny, and they lack the wit 

or panache to improvise, which they insist on 

doing in any case. This is car-crash comedy of 

the most excruciating kind, as this double act 

embarrass themselves, and everybody else 

present, with a series of sketches so uninspired 

that you would think you were watching a 

student revue thrown together in half an hour. 

In their publicity, Warren and Hanbury 

describe themselves as surreal, which suggests 

that they have no understanding of what 

surrealism actually is. Anarchic comedy is very 

difficult to pull off, and requires a level of 

discipline and comedic expertise far beyond this 

pair. It’s not even a case of being so bad it’s 

good. I have never seen an audience so bored 

in all my life. This is tedious, cringe-making, 

wretched stuff. That they have the audacity to 

charge an entrance fee is utterly reprehensible. 

Run for the hills. VC 

Comedy 

William Andrews - Nitwit 


William Andrews is an oddball. Audiences 

should know this before seeing him. Audiences 

should know that if they don’t like oddball acts, 

they shouldn’t go and see them. I have this 

gripe because after watching William Andrews, 

and spending the whole hour near hysterics, I 

realised that I was one of only a few going for it. 

It’s the Murphy’s Law of comedy; the night 

it goes a bit flat is the night the critics are in, 

but despite some of the audience’s 

reservations, this is a superb show. The 

probably insane mind of Andrews is fully 

enabled in a show which has no real theme 

other than silliness - but this does not mean it’s 

stupid or unchallenging. In fact, there are 

plenty of intelligent gags, and they are 

relentless. Andrews’ timing is also superb, not 

rushing the punchline one iota, which 

compliments his material perfectly. 

Speaking to friends who saw his show on 

various other nights, they said he stormed it 

and everyone was belly-laughing throughout. 

So if you heard from anyone in the audience on 

my night that he’s not worth seeing, you should 

tell them to shut up and find an opinion worth 

caring about – William Andrews is hilarious and 

not to be missed. JD 

Comedy 

Zoe Lyons - Miss Machismo 


Zoe Lyons has the audience on her side 

from the very beginning, because rather than 

starting with a joke - something fast becoming 

a cliché - she opens a fire exit door to let some 

air in to the already sweltering room. Then, as 

if we’re not already enamoured by her, she 

sharply dispatches a filthy drunk heckler in the 

front row. 

So, with the perfect opening, she has a lot 

to live up to when she actually gets to the 

scripted jokes – and they don’t disappoint. 

Taking on cheap hotels, Kerry Katona, and 

celebrity fragrances, she could be accused of 

choosing obvious targets. However, whilst the 

subjects are fairly unoriginal, the material 

certainly is not, and this is strengthened by her 

charming stage presence and her relentless 

energy. 

It’s a brilliant show that doesn’t simply 

pander to typical lesbian stereotypes, and 

shouldn’t be missed. JD 

Little Johnny’s 30, still 

single and still singing! 

Johnny McKnight returns to the macrobert stage with this hilarious account of 

one man’s search for Mr Right! 

After the success of Little Johnny’s Big Gay Adventure in 2006, macrobert are 

delighted to welcome Random Accomplice theatre company back with this 

one man show. 

Little Johnny’s Big Gay Musical is a show-stopping comedy extravaganza. 

Join Little Johnny as he celebrates all his life’s failures in their heart 

wrenching, gold sequinned glory. Joined by a fabulous live band, Little 

Johnny sashays, taps and vogues his way through this hilarious one man 

musical. A witty and confessional take on his own personal strive for 

perfection – Little Johnny is 30, single and singing! 

http://randomaccomplice.com/ 

Next on our list... 

Micaela Leon - Kabarett Berlin 

at C Chambers Street 

Queer at Augustine’s 

Dragged, Kicked and Screaming 

at The Vault 

My Queer Valentine at 

Universal Arts 

SHUSH! at Fingers Piano Bar 

Julian Clary - Lord of the Mince 

at The Underbelly 

Win Free 

Tickets to see 

Topping and Butch! 

One pair of tickets for every 

performance starting Sun 23rd Aug through to Sun 30th 

Aug. 

They bots are also offering 2 x runners up prizes of 2 for 1 

tickets for each 

performance. 

Entries should be sent to: toppingandbutch@hotmail.com 

and must say 

SCOTSGAY COMPETITION 

Until 30th Aug, Pleasance King Dome 

EDINBURGH 

3rd Sep, Carnegie Hall 

DUNFERMLINE 

4th-5th Sep, Howden Park Centre 

LIVINGSTON 

9th-12th Sep, Tron Theatre 

GLASGOW 

18th-19th Sep, Eden Court 

INVERNESS 

25th Sep, Byre Theatre 

ST ANDREWS 

26th Sep, macrobert Arts Centre 

STIRLING 

1st Oct, Paisley Arts Centre 

PAISLEY 

2nd Oct, Brunton Theatre 

MUSSELBURGH 

3rd Oct, Lemon Tree 

ABERDEEN 

Are you interested in 

community-led 

research? 

Get involved in a research 

initiative led by people 

living with HIV to measure 

stigma in the UK. 

GET INVOLVED: 

GIVE STIGMA THE INDEX FINGER! 

Are you living 

with HIV? 

Join others around 

the world in a global 

initiative to address 

stigma and 

discrimination. 

Interviews will be conducted in a number of sites around Scotland 

throughout August and September - for dates see www.stigmaindex.org 

Participants will be offered £20 (inclusive of travel expenses) for 

completing the questionnaire. 

Contact the Stigma Index team by email UKstigmaindex@ippf.org 

or phone 0207 1270017 to get involved. 

The UK Stigma Index Team are pleased to be working in Soctland with the following organisations:

FREEE STAND UP COMEDY! 

STA 

UP COMEDY! 

One Catholic. One Muslim. One Jew. 

“VERY YY SLICK… 

K…K… 

SHARP AND CONFIDENT” 

N 

“VERY SLICK… 

SLICK…… 

SHARP AND CONFIDENT” NT” 

– BBC ONLINE 

– BBC ONLINE 

“EXQUISITE COMIC TIMING” 

– BRITISH THEATRE 

GUIDE 

“CREATES A BUZZ OF 

EXCITEMENT IN THE ROOM” 

– CHORTLE 

8TH – 29TH AUGUST 

(not 19th) 

5.15pm 

MADOGS (venue 368) 

38A Georgee Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2LE

Calls cost 10p per minute. Mobile charges may vary. 88211 costs 50p to send txts, 25p to receive profi les, 50p to respond to profiles & 25p to receive responses to your profile. 

Your first £5 is FREE, then billed £5 in segments. Customer Service Helpline: 0844 243 0071. Service Provided by All Points North Publications. 

OR JUST TEXT SCOTS TO 88211 

08712 

24 38 89 

ONLY 

10 

10P 

PER MIN 

SCOTTISH 

LADS 

Chat & Date

Hand-fastings, Funeral 

ministry and Healing. Contact 

Bishop Alistair CCP on 07817 

767445. 

E-mail: alistair_bate 

@hotmail.com 

www.revalistairbate.com 

METROPOLITAN 

COMMUNITY CHURCH: 

An inclusive church of the 

LGBT community open to all 

irrespective of sexuality. 

Services: Every Sun at 6pm 

(11am during Aug) at 

Augustine United Church, 41 

George IV Bridge, Edinburgh. 

Relationship blessings 

conducted by arrangement. 

Tel: 0131-226 1691. Write: 

Metropolitan Community 

Church, 41 George IV Bridge, 

Edinburgh. EH1 1EL. 

E-mail: mail@ 

mccedinburgh.com 

www.mccedinburgh.com 

METROPOLITAN 

COMMUNITY CHURCH IN 

GLASGOW: 

A church of the LGBT 

communities welcoming all 

people. Meets for worship Sun 

3pm at Ibrox Parish Church, 

67 Clifford Street. Tel or Text: 

07972 139128. 

E-mail: info 

@mccinglasgow.co.uk 

www.mccinglasgow.co.uk 

QUAKER LESBIAN AND GAY 

FELLOWSHIP: 

A welcoming and supportive 

national group for people of all 

sexual orientations and their 

friends. Write: Ruth (SG), 46 

The Avenue, Starbeck, 

Harrogate. HG1 4QD. 

E-mail: publicity@qlgf.org.uk 

www.qlgf.org.uk 

QUEST: 

Organisation for lesbian and 

gay Catholics. Monthly 

meetings are held in different 

regional groups throughout 

Britain. Scottish meetings held 

in Glasgow. Quest Linkline - 

The Helpline for Gay and 

Lesbian Catholics - Tel: 

(Freephone) 0808 808 0234. 

Write: BM Box 2585, 

LONDON. WC1N 3XX. 

E-mail: quest 

@questgaycatholic.org.uk 

www.questgaycatholic 

.org.uk 

ROMAN CATHOLIC CAUCUS 

OF THE LESBIAN & GAY 

CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT: 

Write: RC Caucus, PO Box 

24632, London. E9 6XF. Tel: 

020-7226 0847. 

E-mail: lgcm_rccaucus 

@hotmail.com 

SGI-UK (SCOTLAND): 

Buddhist organisation 

established in more than 190 

countries throughout the 

world. Their belief and practice 

direct people to respect that 

which is of ultimate value: life 

itself. Through their faith and 

practice, members transform 

their inner lives and develop 

the qualities needed to bring 

about personal fulfillment and 

contribute to the positive 

development of society. SGI- 

UK has participated in Pride 

events throughout the world 

and is now known as Rainbow 

activities. 

E-mail: 

juan@sgiedinburgh.org.uk 

www.sgi-uk.org 

BIKERS 

GROUPS 

ScotsGay Listings are FREE. Send your group’s details and logo to listings@scotsgay.co.uk 

For bang up-to-date info visit www.scotsgay.co.uk/listings 

SALTIREBLUE MOTORCYCLE 

CLUB: 

Scotland’s motorcycle club for 

LGBT bikers. Active 

membership who arrange 

regular bike runs with each 

other at short notice via e-mail, 

and SMS. 

E-mail: info@saltireblue.com 

www.saltireblue.com 

CULTURAL 

EDINBURGH GAY MEN'S 

CHORUS: 

A new venture aiming to bring 

together individuals interested 

in singing a fun repertoire, 

including pop, rock and songs 

from the shows and movies. 

Now is a great time to get 

involved, whether you're a 

closet shower singer or have 

some experience. Rehearses 

Tue eves in Central Edinburgh. 

For full details and to sign-up: 

www.egmc.co.uk 

GLASGAY!: 

Scotland's annual celebration 

of queer culture. Next dates: 

8th Oct - 8th Nov 2009. 

Q! Gallery is Glasgay's new 

year-round gallery dedicated to 

queer art and artists. Mon-Sat 

11am-5pm. The Stud!o is an 

adjacent performance/ 

research/workshop and 

holistic arts space. 

The Q! Gallery, 87-91 

Saltmarket, Glasgow. G1 5LE. 

Tel/Fax: 0141-552 7575.Text: 

07762 722460. 

E-mail: info 

@glasgay.co.uk 

www.glasgay.co.uk 

INTERNATIONAL KILT 

APPRECIATION SOCIETY 

(IKAS): 

Contact and social group for 

guys interested in 

viewing/wearing kilts. Regular 

newsletter. Write: Mervyn 

Tacy, 'Ziveli', 20 Ordsall Park 

Road, Retford. DN22 7PA. 

Please enclose sae. 

Tel: 01777 708270. 

E-mail: IKILTas@aol.com 

www.freewebs.com/ikas 

LGBT HISTORY MONTH 

SCOTLAND: 

Increasing the awareness of 

LGBT people’s lives, histories 

and experiences. The website 

provides listings for cultural 

opportunities, events, news 

items, and resources. If you 

would like to be involved, 

volunteer or add information, 

contact LGBT History Month, 

39-40 Commerce Street, 

Edinburgh. EH6 6HD. 

E-mail: 

info@lgbthistory.org.uk 

www.lgbthistory.org.uk 

LOUD & PROUD: 

Scotland's original choir for 

LGBT singers is made up of 

approximately 45 singers and 

holds regular concerts in the 

Central Belt. The repertoire, 

which is sung a capella in 

varying numbers of parts, 

includes simple rounds, 

popular music, traditional 

music, light classics, festive 

and seasonal songs, 

lesbian/gay anthems, and 

show tunes. Meets weekly for 

rehearsals in Edinburgh. 

E-mail: info 

@loudandproudchoir.org 

www.loudandproudchoir.org 

LUVVIES THEATRE 

COMPANY: 

Edinburgh based LGBT theatre 

company, which aims to give 

LGBT people the opportunity 

to act, direct, produce or 

organise theatre or take part in 

any aspect of the creative 

process. No previous 

experience is necessary. 

Tel: 07854 836605. 

E-mail: info@theluvvies.org 

www.theluvvies.org 

OURSTORY SCOTLAND: 

A charity which works to 

collect, archive and present the 

life stories and experiences of 

the LGBT Community in 

Scotland. If you have a story to 

tell or experiences to share, or 

would like to find out more 

about their upcoming 

programme of events, then 

please contact them. 

Write: OurStory Scotland, 

Archives and Special 

Collections, The Mitchell 

Library, North Street, Glasgow. 

G3 7DN. 

E-mail: info 

@ourstoryscotland.org.uk 

www.ourstoryscotland 

.org.uk 

REMEMBER WHEN 

PROJECT: 

Documenting the collective 

history of Edinburgh's LGBT 

communities, recording lifestories 

and personal 

memories across the 

generations, and celebrating 

our rich and varied 

contributions to the quality of 

life in the city. The culmination 

of this work was an exhibition 

entitled 'Rainbow City: Stories 

from Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual 

and Transgender Edinburgh' 

held at the City Art Centre, 

Edinburgh in 2006. Write: 

Remember When Project, c/o 

The Living Memory 

Association, The 

Reminiscence Centre, 101 St 

Leonards Street, Edinburgh, 

EH8 9QY. Tel: 0131-667 0761, 

and leave a message, stating 

clearly that it is for Remember 

When. 

E-mail: miles 

@livingmemory.org.uk 

SCOTTISH BORDERS GAY 

FILM GROUP: 

Meets monthly during autumn 

through to the spring, and 

views video/DVDs with a gay 

theme or character. For more 

details please contact Alastair 

on Galashiels (01896) 757861 

or 

E-mail: alastairlings 

@yahoo.co.uk 

HEALTH AND 

ABILITIES 

AL-ANON: 

Fellowship of relatives and 

friends of alcoholics who 

share their experience, 

strength and hope in order to 

solve their common problem. 

Anyone affected by another 

person’s drinking is welcome. 

LGBT & Friends Group meets 

Thu 6.30-7.45pm at LGBT 

Centre for Health & Wellbeing, 

9 Howe Street, Edinburgh. Tel: 

Catherine on 07940 473150. 

www.al-anonuk.org.uk 

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: 

Whilst AA runs the f ollowing 

LGBT meetings in Edinburgh 

and Glasgow, please note that 

it is a non restrictive 

organisation and LGBT people 

are welcome at any meeting. 

AA Edinburgh: 

Tue 8pm (Edinburgh Peace 

And Justice Resource Centre, 

St John’s Church, Princes 

Street). Please note that the 

last meeting of the month is 

open to non AA members. 

AA Glasgow: 

Tue & Thu 7.30pm (Nye Bevan 

House, 20 India Street), Fri 

7.30pm (The Ogilvie Centre, 

25 Rose Street). 

AA National: 

Helpline: 0845 7697555 (24 

hours). Northern Service 

Office: 0141-226 2214. 

www.alcoholicsanonymous.org.uk 

ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY 

LGBT SUPPORT GROUP: 

Trained and skilled volunteers 

able to offer understanding 

and a listening ear to LGBT 

people affected by Alzheimer’s 

disease or any other form of 

dementia.To contact: 

Tel the Alzheimer's Helpline on 

0845 300 0336 

or write to Alzheimer's Society 

LGBT Support Group, 

Alzheimer's Society, Devon 

House, 58 Saint Katharine's 

Way, London. E1W 1JX. or 

E-mail: gaycarers 

@alzheimers.org.uk 

www.alzheimers.org.uk 

/Gay_Carers/index.htm 

BODY POSITIVE (TAYSIDE): 

1st Floor, 31 Hawkhill, Dundee. 

DD1 5DH. A charity that exists 

to empower HIV and HepC 

positive people and those 

affected thereby to eliminate 

the stigma and isolation they 

experience. Tel: Dundee 

(01382) 226860. Fax: Dundee 

(01382) 322606. Tue-Thu 

(Drop In) Noon-3.30pm. 

E-mail: admin 

@bodypositivetayside.org 

www.bodypositive 

tayside.org 

BROWNLEE CENTRE 

(GLASGOW): 

Gartnavel General Hospital, 

1053 Great Western Road, 

Glasgow. G12 0YN. 

Confidential information, 

advice, counselling and direct 

access testing for HIV and 

Hepatitis.The Centre provides 

ongoing medical and social 

care plus psychological and 

emotional support for people 

living with HIV infection and 

one to one counselling for 

people at risk of HIV. 

Tel: 0141-211 1089. 

Fax: 0141-211 1097. 

Mon-Thu 9am-5pm, 

Tue 5-7pm, Fri 9am-4.30pm. 

BROWNLEE COMMUNITY 

TEAM: 

Gartnavel General Hospital, 

1053 Great Western Road, 

Glasgow. G12 0YN. Social 

work service for people with 

HIV/AIDS providing intensive 

community based support. 

General advice and 

information on community 

care and housing needs also 

provided. 

Tel: 0141-211 1090. 

FIFE MEN: 

5 South Fergus Place, 

Kirkcaldy. KY1 1YA. (Behind 

Sheriff Court). Information, 

advice and support on gay and 

health issues, free condoms, 

and much more! Mon-Thu 1- 

4pm. Tel: Kirkcaldy (01592) 

265666. Fax: Kirkcaldy 

(01592) 643866. 

E-mail: enquiries 

@fifemen.org.uk 

www.fifemen.org.uk 

GAY MEN'S HEALTH 

EDINBURGH: 

10a Union Street, Edinburgh. 

EH1 3LU. A community led 

Lothian wide project for gay 

and bisexual men. 

Wide ranging volunteering 

opportunities which provide 

services including support and 

counselling, scene work, peer 

education and training, 

provision of condoms, lube 

and Safer Sex information. 

Tel: 0131-558 9444. 

Fax: 0131-558 9060. 

E-mail: info@gmh.org.uk 

www.gmh.org.uk 


GLASGOW: 

5th Floor, 48 Albion Street, 

Glasgow. G1 1LH. Tel: 0141- 

552 0112. A community led 

project across the Greater 

Glasgow and Clyde Health 

Board Area for gay and 

bisexual men. Wide ranging 

volunteering opportunities 

which provide services 

including support, scene work, 

peer education and training, 

provision of condoms, lube 

and Safer Sex information. 

E-mail: glasgow 

@gmh.org.uk 



TAYSIDE: 

Exists to promote the sexual 

and holistic health of gay and 

bi men living in Angus, 

Dundee and Perth & Kinross 

(including men who have sex 

with men but who do not 

identify as gay or bi), reduce 

the spread of HIV within those 

communities and challenge 

the discrimination, health 

inequalities and social 

exclusion that can be faced by 

gay and bi men, including HIV 

positive gay and bi men, and 

those affected by HIV. Tel: 

Dundee (01382) 424070. Fax: 

Dundee (01382) 424090. 

E-mail: info 

@gaymenshealth 

tayside.com 

www.gaymenshealth 

tayside.com 

HEALTHY GAY SCOTLAND: 

A national HIV prevention & 

sexual health promotion 

programme for gay and 

bisexual men. Offers a range 

of services including info on its 

website, campaigns and 

resources and a free condoms 

by post scheme. 

www.healthygayscotland.com 

HIV-AIDS CARERS AND 

FAMILIES SERVICE 

PROVIDER SCOTLAND: 

10 Elderpark Workspace, 100 

Elderpark Street, Glasgow. 

G51 3TR. Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. 

Telephone Support Service 

Mon-Fri 7pm-10pm. Tel: 

0141-445 8797. Fax: 0141- 

445 8798. 

E-mail: hiv-aids_carers 

@lineone.net 

www.hiv-aids-carers 

.org.uk 

HIV SCOTLAND: 

Suite 2, 27 Beaverhall Road, 

Edinburgh. EH7 4JE. Tel: 

0131-558 3713. Fax: 0131- 

558 9887. The independent 

voice for HIV in Scotland, this 

charity is a policy and strategic 

body and runs Healthy Gay 

Scotland and Black Minority 

Ethnic-related HIV work. 

E-mail: info 

@hivscotland.com 

www.hivscotland.com 

THE JANEK LATOSINSKI 

CHARITABLE TRUST: 

Provides free complementary 

therapies and psychotherapy 

to all peopole living with HIV in 

Glasgow and the West of 

Scotland. 

E-mail: austen@tjlct.org.uk 

www.tjlct.org.uk 

LANARKSHIRE HIV, AIDS 

AND HEPATITIS CENTRE: 

Counselling Service, 

Monklands Hospital, Monks 

Court Avenue, Airdrie. ML6 

0JS. One stop shop for HIV 

and Hepatitis health services. 

Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Also Tue & 

Thu 7-9.30pm (appointments 

only). Also runs support group 

for HIV Positive men. Tel: 

Airdrie (01236) 712247. Fax: 

Airdrie (01236) 712449. 

E-mail: liz.mccann 

@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk 

LGBT CENTRE FOR HEALTH 

& WELLBEING: 

9 Howe Street, Edinburgh. 

EH3 6TE. This unique Centre 

exists to improve the physical, 

mental and social wellbeing of 

LGBT people living in, working 

in and travelling to Edinburgh. 

Runs events, workshops and 

courses promoting healthy 

lifestyles, provides a wide 

range of information on health 

and LGBT topics, and 

supports community groups. 

Tel: 0131-523 1100. 

E-mail: admin 

@lgbthealth.org.uk 

www.lgbthealth.org.uk 

POSITIVE HELP: 

13a Great King Street, 

Edinburgh. EH3 6QW. 

Practical help for people who 

are infected or affected by HIV 

and AIDS in Edinburgh, their 

families and carers. 

Tel: 0131-558 1122. 

Fax: 0131-558 3636. 

E-mail: posihelp 

@onetel.com 

POSITIVE MIXTURE : 

A self help group offering 

support and assistance for 

individuals with HIV/AIDS in 

the Grampian area. Contact 

THT, 246 George Street, 

Aberdeen. AB25 1HN. 

E-mail: info.aberdeen 

@tht.org.uk 

ROAM OUTREACH: 

Part of the Harm Reduction 

Team within Lothian NHS. 

Offers a confidential and 

anonymous service for men 

who have sex with men, 

including male sex workers 

throughout Edinburgh and the 

Lothians. Provides a wide 

range of services including 

sexual health and safer sex 

advice, information and advice 

on drug use, personal safety, 

police and legal advice, 

including operating in the 

Remote Reporting Scheme. A 

great deal of their work is done 

on an outreach basis in Public 

Sex Environments and venues 

as well as on-line as part of the 

SNN group. They run an 'Out 

of Hours' Testing Service Mon 

5-7.30pm at "The Exchange", 

Lady Lawson Street, 

Edinburgh where you can 

have a full SEXUAL HEALTH 

check up including Hep A & B 

vaccinations. No appointments 

necessary. For further 

information or to receive 

condom and lube supplies 

contact Vaughan or Del on Tel: 

0131-537 8300 or 07774 

628227. 

E-mail: enquiries 

@roam-outreach.com 

www.roam-outreach.com 

THE SANDYFORD: 

2-6 Sandyford Place (old Eye 

Infirmary), Glasgow. G3 7NB. 

Glasgow's main sexual, 

reproductive and emotional 

health centre. Free web access 

and health library with large 

LGBT lending collection. 

Specialist services for gay men 

(See separate ScotsGay 

Listing for Steve Retson 

Project) and lesbians (See 

separate ScotsGay listing for 

The Sandyford under 

Women). Self-referal sexual 

health service with open 

access clinic each weekday 

with registration from 8.30- 

10am or book on 0141-211 

8130. 

E-mail: helpsandyford 

@ggc.scot.nhs.uk 

www.sandyford.org 

SEX ADDICTS ANONYMOUS: 

Sex Addicts Anonymous is a 

twelve-step recovery 

programme. Our primary 

purpose is to stop our 

addictive sexual behavior and 

to help others recover from 

their sexual addiction. Our 

members define their own 

sexual boundaries with the 

guidance of their Higher 

Power, their sponsors and 

other group members. We 

encourage our members to 

discover and explore what 

healthy sexuality means to 

them. Meetings in Edinburgh 

& Glasgow. Tel: Scottish 

Helpline on 0141-552 0154 

(24 hours). 

E-mail: info 

@saa-recovery.org 

www.saa-recovery.org 

SEXUAL HEALTH LINE: 

Freephone 0800 567123. 24 

hours. Confidential advice and 

information. Minicom: 

Freephone 0800 521361. 

www.playingsafely.co.uk 

STEVE RETSON PROJECT: 

The Sandyford, 2-6 Sandyford 

Place (old Eye Infirmary), 

Glasgow. G3 7NB. A free 

sexual health screening and 

counselling service for gay and 

bisexual men. Clinics run Tue, 

Wed & Thu 5.30-8.30pm. 

Same-day HIV test Tue 

morning 8.30-10am. Tel: 

0141-211 8130. 

www.sandyford.org/srp 

TERRENCE HIGGINS TRUST 

SCOTLAND - NATIONAL 

OFFICE - GLASGOW: 

134 Douglas Street, Glasgow. 

G2 4HF. HIV prevention and 

support services in 

Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran, 

Argyll & Bute, the Glasgow 

area and Western Central 

Scotland. Support & Advocacy 

Service provides a full range of 

welfare rights advice and 

representation as well as 

community service volunteers 

(buddies). Also provides a 

range of health promotion 

services for gay and bisexual 

men throughout the West of 

Scotland. Contact for further 

details. Volunteers welcome! 

Tel: 0141-332 3838. 

Fax: 0141-332 3755. Helpline: 

THT Direct 0845 1221200 

Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat-Sun 

Noon-6pm. 

E-mail: info.scotland 

@tht.org.uk 

www.tht.org.uk 


SCOTLAND - ABERDEEN 

OFFICE: 

246 George Street, Aberdeen. 

AB25 1HN. HIV prevention 

and support services in 

Grampian including 

Community Support, Group 

Support and LGBT groups. 

Also provides a range of health 

promotion services for Gay 

and Bisexual men throughout 

Grampian. Please contact for 

further details. Volunteers 

welcome! Tel: 0845 2412151. 

Helpline: THT Direct 0845 

1221200 Mon-Fri 10am- 

10pm, Sat-Sun Noon-6pm. 

E-mail: info.aberdeen 

@tht.org.uk 

www.tht.org.uk and www. 

thtscotland-highlandservices. 

blogspot.com 


SCOTLAND - 

HIGHLAND SERVICES: 

34 Waterloo Place, Inverness. 

IV1 1NB. LGBT Support and 

activities. Tel: Inverness 

(01463) 711585. Fax: 

Inverness (01463) 711793. 

Helpline: THT Direct 0845 

1221200 Mon-Fri 10am- 

10pm, Sat-Sun Noon-6pm. 

E-mail: info.highland 

@tht.org.uk 

www.tht.org.uk 

TOGETHER: 

Social/support 

/information group for men 

living with HIV. Meets 1st Sun 

of each month from 2-4pm at 

GMH, 5th Floor, 48 Albion 

Street. Tel: 0141-552 0112. 

E-mail: together 

@gmh.org.uk 


/together 

WAVERLEY CARE: 

3 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh. 

EH3 6NB. Scotland's leading 

charity providing care and 

support to people affected by 

HIV and Hepatitis C. Whether 

someone is living with HIV or 

Hepatitis C or are the partner 

or family member of someone 

affected by these conditions, 

Waverley Care has services 

that can support them and 

provide up to date, accurate 

information and resources. 

Services include: Short-term 

Residential Intensive Support, 

Support Services for all, 

including specialist services 

for gay men, Community 

Support and Outreach 

Services (including Advocacy 

and Information, Arts Project, 

Befriending/Buddying, Care at 

Home, Spiritual and Pastoral 

Care, Complementary 

Therapies, Counselling, 

Crusaid Hardship Fund 

Administration, Health 

Promotion), Prevention and 

Awareness Raising. Tel: Neil - 

Gay Men's Support Worker on 

07962 909730 or Tel: 0131- 

558 1425 Mon-Fri 9-5pm or 

Tel: 0131-441 6989 24hrs, 7 

days per week. 

E-mail: 

gmsupport@waverleycare.org 

or info @waverleycare.org 

www.waverleycare.org 

OLDER GAYS 

CAFFMOS: 

Nationwide Social and 

Contacts Club for the older gay 

gentleman and his admirers, 

both young and old. Scottish 

group meets from 1-4pm at 

Habana in Edinburgh on Sun 

23rd Aug & 20th Sep. Write: 

PO Box 2087, Blackpool. FY4 

1WL. Tel: Blackpool (01253) 

318327. 

E-mail: Caffmos2@aol.com 

Edward (Scottish Contact): 

E-mail: ebsc18624 

@blueyonder.co.uk 

www.caffmoscommunity.com 

PRIME TIME: 

Informal social group for men 

over 40. Meets LGBT Centre 

for Health & Wellbeing, 9 

Howe Street, Edinburgh, every 

2nd Sun from 2-4pm - 23rd 

Aug. Tel: John on 0131-556 

1309 or Steve on 0131-558 

9444. 

E-mail: j.thompson39 


www.primetime.uk.net 

PRIMETIME (GLASGOW): 

Social group for men 40+. 

Meets 1st and 3rd Fri of each 

month from 5.30-7pm at the 

GMH Office, 5th Floor, 48 

Albion Street.Tel: 0141-552 

0112. 

E-mail: criz@gmh.org.uk 

ORDER OF 

PERPETUAL 

INDULGENCE 

The Sisters and Brothers of 

the OPI are part of a world 

wide order of queer men and 

women of all sexualities which 

is open to all who feel the 

habit. Its tenets are: The 

expiation of stigmatic guilt and 

the promulgation of universal 

joy through habitual 

manifestation and perpetual 

perpetration. 

www.thesisters.org.uk 

OPI CONVENT OF DUNN 

EIDEANN: 

The Edinburgh convent. Write: 

Mistress of Communications, 

c/o PO Box 666, Edinburgh. 

EH7 5YW. 

E-mail: opi 

@drink.demon.co.uk 

OPI CONVENT OF MORAVIA: 

The North Eastern convent. 

Write: Sister Bobby OPI, 

Cairnglass, St Combs, 

Fraserburgh. AB43 8UT. Tel: 

Inverallochy (01346) 583145. 

E-mail: 

circushighschool@gmail.com 

OUTDOOR 

PURSUITS 

FREEDOM CLUB: 

UK and Europe Wide LGBT 

Caravan and Camping Club. 

Aims to provide a means 

whereby gay people can meet 

up for weekends, weeks or 

even longer rallies throughout 

the UK and sometimes into 

Ireland and Europe. Tel: Eddie 

on Cheltenham (01242) 

526826. 

E-mail: enquiry 

@freedomclub.co.uk 

www.freedomclub.co..uk 

GAY BIRDERS CLUB: 

For LGBT Birdwatchers. Write: 

Gay Birders Club, GeeBeeCee, 

BCM-Mono, London. WC1N 

3XX. 

Tel: Annie on 0131-552 6333. 

E-mail: info 

@gbc-online.org.uk 

www.gbc-online.org.uk 

GAY CARAVAN & CAMPING 

CLUB: 

For men and women. Regular 

meets throughout the UK. Tel: 

Marc on 07977 317872. 

E-mail: info 

@gaycaravanclub.com 

www.gaycaravan 

club.com 

GAY OUTDOOR CLUB: 

Holds regular events including 

walking, skiing, cycling, 

climbing, mountain-biking, 

kayaking, mountaineering, 

camping, youth-hostelling, 

badminton, running and 

swimming. For more 

information, vist website or 

send an A5 sae to PO Box 

637, Skellingthorpe, Lincoln, 

LN6 5XD. Or Tel: 0844 

8700462. 

www.gocscotland.org 

GLASGOW GAY RAMBLERS 

GROUP: 

Leisurely walks in the 

countryside. Bring sensible 

footwear/clothing and packed 

lunch. 2nd Sat of each month. 

Meet at Mitchell Library, 

Berkeley Street. No 

membership - just turn up. 

Cars normally shared. Tel: 

Robert on 0141-950 1081. 

E-mail: robert@ 

gocscotland.org 

OUT DOOR LADS: 

A UK-Wide, web-based 

organisation, offering a wide 

range of activities: from 

camping, hostelling, hillwalking 

and indoor climbing, 

to the more extreme activities 

like gorge scrambling, ice 

climbing, technical mountain 

biking and many more. 

There's something for 

everyone, no matter what your 

interest. Core membership is 

Gay and Bi-sexual lads, aged 

18-35, but OutdoorLads does 

not discriminate on any 

grounds including age, 

sexuality, disability or sex, and 

welcomes anyone who agrees 

with the group's aims and 

objectives. 

www.outdoorlads.com 

PARENTS 

GAY DADS SCOTLAND: 

Support group for gay fathers. 

Meets on last Thu of each 

month in a private room in 

Edinburgh LGBT Centre, 58a 

Broughton Street. Gay dads 

from all over Scotland 

welcome. Tel: 07791 188742. 

E-mail: info 

@gaydadsscotland.org.uk 

www.gaydadsscotland.org.uk 

PARENTS' ENQUIRY 

SCOTLAND: 

Coming out? Information and 

support for parents of LGBT 

people. Helpline and admin: 

Tel: 0131-556 6047 before 

10pm. Write: c/o ScotsGay 

Magazine, PO Box 666, 

Edinburgh. EH7 5YW. 

E-mail: parentsenquiry 

@hotmail.com 

www.parentsenquiry 

scotland.org 

POLITICAL 

LIBERAL PARTY LESBIAN 

AND GAY CAMPAIGN: 

Tel: 0151-259 5935 

(Telephone Answering 

Machine). Write: 41 Sutton 

Street, Liverpool, L13 7EG. 

E-mail: libgay 

@libparty.demon.co.uk 

www.liberal.org.uk 

SCOTTISH LIBERAL 

DEMOCRATS FOR LGBT 

EQUALITY: 

Tel: 0131-337 2314. Write: 4 

Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh. 

EH12 5DR. 

E-mail: info 

@scotlibdems.org.uk 

www.scotlibdems.org.uk 

www.twitter.com/scotlibdems 

PRISONERS 

FREE MAGAZINES FOR 

PRISONERS: 

Copies of ScotsGay are sent 

free of charge to prisoners in 

UK prisons and institutions. 

Please contact us if you wish 

to be added to the mailing list. 

REAL ALE 

LESBIAN AND GAY 

REAL ALE 

DRINKERS: 

The Edinburgh group of 

CAMRA's Task Group for 

LGBT real ale and cider fans. 

Meets in The Regent on the 

1st Mon of each month from 

9pm to sample the brewers' 

art - Aug 2nd Mon (to avoid 

GBBF). Tel: Karen on 0131- 

557 8790. 

E-mail: lagrad 

@drink.demon.co.uk 

www.lagrad-edinburgh.org. 

uk 

and 

www.lagrad.org.uk 

RESIDENTIAL 

EVENTS 

EDWARD CARPENTER 

COMMUNITY OF GAY MEN: 

Committed to principles of 

caring, trusting, personal 

growth, sharing, and creativity 

aimed at nurturing 

'community' as an alternative 

to the commercial scene. 

Organises Gay Men's Weeks 

and shorter events each year 

in SW Scotland, the English 

Lake District and other venues 

across the UK. Write: Edward 

Carpenter Community, BM 

ECC, London. WC1N 3XX. Tel: 

08703 215121. 

E-mail: contact_ecc 

@edwardcarpenter 

community.org.uk 

www.gaycommunity 

.org.uk 

THE FINDHORN 

FOUNDATION: 

Spiritual community, 

ecovillage and education 

centre. Offers regular 

residential workshops and 

retreats for gay men and 

lesbians at Findhorn in the 

North East of Scotland, and at 

its retreat house on the 

peaceful island of Iona. Tel: 

Findhorn (01309) 690311. 

E-mail:enquiries@findhorn.org 

http://bit.ly/findhorn-lgbt for all 

Findhorn Foundation gay and 

lesbian workshops, or 

http://www.findhorn.org/ for 

information about all the 

Foundation’s activities. 

SPORTS 

CALEDONIAN THEBANS RFC: 

Caledonian Thebans Rugby 

Football Club is Scotland's first 

gay/bi friendly rugby club. 

Offers gay/bi/trans men the 

chance to learn the game and 

play rugby in a safe and 

supportive environment. 

Continually welcomes new 

players (+18) at whatever level 

or experience and new 

supporters to the club. If 

you're interested in playing or 

supporting gay rugby in 

Scotland, please get in touch. 

Come along and get fit! 

Tel: 07758 668784 or Text 

"thebans" to 60300. 

E-mail: membership 

@thebans-rfc.co.uk 

www.thebans-rfc.co.uk 

EDINBURGH GOC 

SWIMMING & GYM GROUP: 

Meets 8pm prompt each Mon 

at the Royal Commonwealth 

Pool, Dalkeith Road in the 

main entrance area and 

afterwards in the Blue Moon 

Café from 9.15pm. 

EDINBURGH LGB RUNNING 

GROUP: 

Meets 6pm prompt Wed at the 

Jawbones, The Meadows. 

Everybody made welcome 

from complete beginners to 

the more experienced. Get in 

contact so that we can expect 

you, in case we need to make 

changes to time or venue. Tel: 

Robert on 07738 939836. 

E-mail: robert.cole 

@gocscotland.org 

GLASGOW GAY AND 

LESBIAN BADMINTON CLUB: 

Meets each Thu from 8-10pm. 

Come along and have fun and 

enjoy meeting the other 

members for a friendly game. 

All welcome. Tel: Paul on 

07708 514676 (6-11pm). 

GAY FOOTBALL 

SUPPORTERS NETWORK: 

Write: GFSN Membership 

Secretary, PO Box 7424, 

Milton Keynes. MK8 9WQ. Tel: 

Barry on Milton Keynes 

(01908) 564085. Scottish 

Contact: Kevin Rowe - Tel/Text: 

07808 263173 or 

E-mail: kevrowe72 

@yahoo.co.uk 

www.gfsn.org.uk 

GRANITE CITY 

STORMERS FC: 

New gay football team 

meeting regularly to play, train 

and for social events. Based in 

Aberdeen and open to people 

of all ages, experience and 

ability. Always on the lookout 

for volunteers, so if you can 

help out with organising 

training, fundraising, coaching, 

arranging kick abouts or 

socials or contributing in any 

way, please get in touch! 

E-mail: info 

@stormersfc.co.uk 

www.stormersfc.co.uk, 

HOTSCOTS: 

Scotland's very first LGBT 

group for football players and 

fans alike. Currently organises 

regular socials and kick-abouts 

every Fri evening at 

Meadowbank and would love 

to hear from anyone anywhere 

in Scotland who would like to 

take part. Now competing in 

the UK national gay league and 

playing 12 competitive fixtures 

in the 2008/9 season as part of 

that. However, all ability levels 

are welcome, and the social 

side is just as important as the 

playing - so what are you 

waiting for? Text "Football" to 

60300 for more information 

(texts cost 25p) or 

E-mail: mail@hotscotsfc.com 

www.hotscotsfc.com 

RACQUETEERS BADMINTON 

GROUP: 

Edinburgh based gay and 

lesbian badminton club meets 

Thu 7-9pm at Meadowbank 

Stadium. Spaces are limited. 

E-mail: info 

@theracqueteers.co.uk 

www.theracqueteers.co.uk 

TEAM SCOTLAND 

BADMINTON CLUB: 

Glasgow based gay and 

lesbian badminton club meets 

twice weekly for competitive 

games. International 

tournaments and matches 

against clubs in London and 

Europe are held annually. 

Sorry - no beginners. Tel: 

Raymond on 0141-778 9220. 

E-mail: teamscotland 

@gaysport.info 

www.gaysport.info 

/teamscotland 

STUDENTS 

Many Universities and 

Colleges have Lesbian, Gay, 

Bisexual and Transgendered 

Societies. Contact these via 

your Student Union or Student 

Association. ScotsGay also 

links to a number of LGBT Soc 

websites from our own web 

page at www.scotsgay.co.uk 

Many LGBT Socs are open to 

non-students living in the area. 

Tel: NUS Scotland LGBT 

Officer on 0131-556 6598. 

Fax: 0131-557 5679. Write: 

Stiofán Mcfadden, , LGBT 

Officer, NUS Scotland, 29 

Forth Street, Edinburgh. EH1 

3LE. 

E-mail: lgbt 

@nus-scotland.org.uk or 

mail@nus-scotland.org.uk 

TRANS 

NATIONAL: 

Transmen Scotland: 

A national support group for 

all female to male transgender 

people. Holds regular monthly 

meetings in Edinburgh (2nd 

Sat of each month from 7.30- 

9pm - contact for details of 

venue). For further info Tel/Text 

07948 735179 or 

E-mail: admin 

@transmenscotland.org.uk 

www.transmenscotland 

.org.uk 

BUCHLYVIE: 

TV/TS Group: 

Meets last Sat of each month 

at 5pm. Tel: Kira on 07808 

564626 (Mon-Thu 6-9pm), 

Gladys or Michelle on 

Buchlyvie (01360) 850516 or 

07743 936157. 

E-mail: gladyspaterson2 

@yahoo.co.uk 

DUNBLANE: 

TV/TS Group: 

Meets 2nd Sat of each month 

7-10pm in the Braeport 

Centre. Tel: Margaret Whyte 

on Stirling (01786) 472862. 

DUNDEE: 

Diversitay: T With Biscuits: 

New Trans Group meets 

monthly. For more 

information, Tel: Diversitay on 

Dundee (01382) 202620 

(Mon 7-9pm). 

EDINBURGH: 

Edinburgh Trans Women: 

Support group for transsexual 

women. Meets 1st Sat of each 

month 7.30-9.30pm in LGBT 

Centre for Health and 

Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. 

E-mail: 

info@edinburghtranswomen. 

org.uk 

www.edinburghtranswomen. 

org.uk 

Polygender Scotland: 

Provides support and 

friendship to all people who 

identify as genderqueer, 

androgyne, third gender, 

polygender or any other 

gender other than male or 

female. Meets 2nd Thu of each 

month (contact for details of 

venue). Tel: Kelli Neil on 0131- 

523 1100. Tel: Lewis on 

0131-477 0525. 

E-mail: admin 

@androgyny.org.uk 

www.androgyny.org.uk 

T-Time: 

Informal social for all 

transgender people, their 

partners, family and friends, 

held the 3rd Sat of each month 

(contact for details of venue). 

A friendly, safe and relaxed 

environment where there's 

also space to change. Tel: 

0131-523 1100. 

E-mail: admin 

@lgbthealth.org.uk 

GLASGOW: 

Crosslynx TV/TS/TG: 

Group meets 2nd Wed of each 

month from 7-10pm (contact 

for details of venue). Tel: 

Crosslynx Helpline on 0141- 

847 0787 (Mon 

7.30-9.30pm). 

www.crosslynx.org 

Sandyford Trans Women's 

Support Group: 

Meets at the Counselling and 

Support Services Group 

Room, Sandyford, 2-6 

Sandyford Place (old Eye 

Infirmary), on 1st Wed of each 

month from 7pm and at the 

Peach Room, Sandyford on 

3rd Sat of each month from 

Noon. Tel: Colin MacKillop 

(Community Access Coordinator) 

on 0141-232 8417. 

E-mail: colinmackillop 

@nhs.net 

INVERNESS: 

Swans Of Scotland: 

Meets last Thu of each month 

from 7-9pm at Beaufort Hotel, 

11 Culduthel Road. 

E-mail: 

swansofscotland@gmail.com 

www.spanglefish.com/ 

SwansofScotland 

Terrence Higgins Trust 

Scotland - Highland T Group 

(and activities): 

Tel: Inverness (01463) 711585 

E-mail: agnes.boes@tht.org.uk 

http://groups.yahoo.com/ 

group/highlandstrasngender 

WORKPLACE 

EIS GAY AND LESBIAN 

NETWORK: 

Write: Veronica Rankin, 

National Officer (Education 

and Equality), 46 Moray Place, 

Edinburgh. EH3 6BH. 

Tel: Veronica Rankin on 0131- 

225 6244. 

E-mail: vrankin@eis.org.uk 

FIRE BRIGADES UNION 

LGBT SUPPORT GROUP: 

For firefighters and control 

staff. Write: c/o Pat Carberry, 

FBU, 68 Coombe Road, 

Kingston upon Thames, 

Surrey. KT2 7SE. Tel: 07725 

602524 or 020-8541 1765. 

E-mail: PCarberry@fbu.org.uk 

www.fbulgbt.org.uk 

GAY POLICE ASSOCIATION 

IN SCOTLAND: 

Membership is open to all 

police officers and police staff, 

serving or retired. Write: Chief 

Inspector David Lyle, Lothian 

& Borders Police, 7 Chambers 

Street, Edinburgh. EH1 1HR. 

Tel: 0131-247 4844. 

E-mail: david.lyle 

@lbp.pnn.police.uk, 

central@gpascotland.com 

(Central Scotland Police), 

dg@gpascotland.com 

(Dumfries and Galloway 

Constabulary), 

fife@gpascotland.com (Fife 

Constabulary), 

grampian@gpascotland.com 

(Grampian Police), 

lbp@gpascotland.com 

(Lothian and Borders Police), 

northern@gpascotland.com 

(Northern Constabulary), 

spc@gpascotland.com 

(Scottish Police College), 

strathclyde@gpascotland.com 

(Strathclyde Police), 

tayside@gpascotland.com 

(Tayside Police), 

www.gpascotland.com 

GMB SCOTLAND EQUAL 

RIGHTS GROUP: 

Write: Regional Equal Rights 

Officer, GMB Scotland, 

Fountain House, 1/3 Woodside 

Crescent, Glasgow. G3 7UJ. 

Tel: 0141-352 8109. 

E-mail: louise.gilmour 

@gmb.org.uk 

PUBLIC AND COMMERCIAL 

SERVICES UNION - 

PROUD GROUP 

Write: PCS Proud 

Membership Secretary 

(Confidential), c/o Equalities 

Health & Safety Department, 

PCS, 160 Falcon Road, 

London. SW11 2LN. 

E-mail: pcsproud@live.co.uk 

www.pcsproud.org.uk 

UNISON: 

Glasgow City LGBT Group. 

Meets pay day Tue at 5pm in 

Glasgow City Unison Offices, 

4th Floor, 18 Albion Street. 

All LGBT members welcome. 

YOUTH GROUPS 

ABERDEEN: 

Y@THT: 

LGBT group for people aged 

under 26. Meets 2nd Sat of 

each month Noon-3pm. Tel: 

0845 2412151. 

E-mail: youth.aberdeen 

@tht.org.uk 

DUNDEE: 

ALLSORTS: 

Meets everyTue 6-8pm. Tel: 

0131-555 3940. Text: 07781 

481788. 

E-mail: info@lgbtyouth.org.uk 

DV8: 

Youth group for young people 

25 and under who have issues 

with their sexuality or with the 

sexuality of a member of their 

family. Meets Sat 4-6pm in 

Eighteen And Under, 1 Victoria 

Road, Dundee. Offers a safe 

and friendly environment to 

meet and discuss issues 

affecting the LGBT community 

and our families. Tel: Shaun on 

Dundee (01382) 206222. 

E-mail: dv8_dundee 

@yahoo.co.uk 

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY: 

LGBT Youth D&G: 

Groups, volunteering and 

support for LGBT people 

under 26 from Dumfries and 

Galloway. Write: 26 Brewery 

Street, Dumfries. DG1 2RP. 

Tel: Dumfries (01387) 739888. 

Text: 07785 274147. 

E-mail: DandG 

@lgbtyouth.org.uk 

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk 

Q-20: 

Meets Wed 7-9pm at LGBT 

Centre, 26 Brewery Street, 

Dumfries. Run by and for 

LGBT people aged between 20 

and 29. Has been set up to be 

a safe place where people can 

meet others and make friends, 

have fun, socialise and raise 

issues! They have lots of 

exciting plans they want YOU 

to be a part of so why not 

come along and find out 

more? 


/Q20group 

EDINBURGH: 

LGBT YOUTH SCOTLAND: 

The Citadel, 39/40 Commercial 

Street, Edinburgh. EH6 6JD. 

Provides services and 

opportunities for lesbian, gay, 

bisexual and transgender 

young people (13-25) in 

Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife, 

Borders, Tayside and Dumfries 

& Galloway. The groups 

include drop-ins at their 

Edinburgh offices for under- 

18's (Wed) and for over 18's 

(Thu).They also have a range 

of different opportunities to get 

involved with, including 

volunteering and projects 

involving video and arts work, 

and they offer training 

services. Nationally, they run 

regular events for young 

people to get involved in local 

and national decision-making, 

and to make new pals and 

have a laugh. 

Confidential Youthline Tel: 

0845 113 0005 (Tue 7.30- 

9pm). Office Tel: 0131-555 

3940 (Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm). 

E-mail: info@lgbtyouth.org.uk 


The website has details of 

Youth Groups throughout 

Scotland. 

GLASGOW: 

LGBT YOUTH SCOTLAND 

YOUTH PROGRAMMES: 

Glasgow Head Office, 38 

Queen Street, Glasgow. G1 

3DX. Tel: 0141-548 8121. 

VIVID YOUTH: 

For young LGBT people aged 

13-25. Group for 13-18 year 

olds: Tue 7-9.30pm. Group for 

18-25 year olds: Thu 7- 

9.30pm. Contact for venue 

details.Tel: 0141-548 8121. 

E-mail: info 



INVERNESS: 


Scotland - Highland Services 

Youth Group (and activities): 




group/lgbtnorthscotland 

MORAY: 

LGBT YOUTH GROUP: 

For under 26 year olds. Tel: 

0845 2412151. 

E-mail: andi.watson 

@tht.org.uk 

PERTH: 

LGBT Youth Group: 

Last Wed of each month. Tel: 

0141-548 8121. Text: 07781 

481788. 

E-mail: info@lgbtyouth.org.uk

charlie.coventry@yahoo.co 

.uk. [0] 

TD MONTHLY 

A contact ads publication 

for gay and bisexual men, 

18+, who enjoy all forms 

of male-to-male discipline! 

Contacts, Stories, CP Pictures, 

CP Videos & DVDs, 

News, CP Clubs and 

Events. SAE for details or 

E-mail. Write: TD Monthly, 

PO Box 310, Manchester. 

M15 6WT. E-mail: tdmonthlymagazine@btinternet.com. 

Web: 

www.tdmonthly.net [0] 

BACK RUBS 

Advertising Pays 

ScotsGay charges just £20 

a month for an ad here 

with your picture! E-mail: 

backrubsads@scotsgay.co 

.uk or Tel: 0131-539 0666. 

Edinburgh City Centre 

Muscular, black, friendly, 

discreet, very well endowed 

30, 6ft professional 

bloke offers oil massages 

from £50, tantric nude oil 

massage from £80. In/out 

calls. Phil 07740 066600 

Web: www.holisticfingers.com 

(93) 

‘Fuckalicious’ 

Needing pleasured? Good 

looking, defined, versatile 

escort. Incalls based at 

Partick or hotel/home visits 

with immediate availabilty 

and excellent rates. 

Call now 07554 235391. 

Robert. [93] 

Glasgow Black Escort 

Beefy, thick set black guy, 

vwe, 25 years old, versatile 

open minded eager to 

please. New in town. 

In/out calls. Robin. Tel: 

07536 672908. [93] 

Hi! 

Horni versatile sexi slim 

guy in Glasgow city centre. 

Services from vanilla to 

sleaze u decide also available 

with a range off other 

sexi escorts for duo work 

or alone - u decide. For the 

best appointment in Glasgow, 

tanned toned and 

hung, call 07979 098389. 

Uniforms, leather, trackies, 

army wear. [93] 

Island Boy Massage 

Kick back, relax and let 

Tony bring some 

Caribbean harmony to you 

for only £40. Enjoy a relaxing 

hot oil full body massage 

from a well trained 

masseur from the 

Caribbean offering home 

visit for the same price - if 

you live in or around Edinburgh 

city centre. Call 

Tony 07722868248for 

more details. [93] 

Massagalicious 

Top 2 Toe sensual hot 

cream body massage. 

Showering facilities available. 

Available 9am-10pm, 

7 days. Based West End, 

Glasgow. Discretion assured 

and expected. 6’1”, 

28”w, passive/versatile 28 

year old. Web: www.massagalicious.co.uk 

Tel: 

07838 217109. [93] 

Massage For Guys - Edinburgh 

Experience a full body 

Swedish Massage using 

deep tissue manipulation 

using sensual Tantric techniques 

- guaranteed to 

make you feel relaxed. Offered 

by fully qualified and 

friendly guy based in Edinburgh 

near Holy Corner. 

Sessions last just over an 

hour. No out calls. Reasonable 

rates - £30 (£15) for 

students. Phone 07983 

422652 or E-mail: Massage-for-Men-Edinburgh@hotmail.co.uk 

[95] 

Massage For Men - Edinburgh 

Enjoy a fantastic, affirming 

chill out guys, with a 

deeply relaxing, holistic, 

sensual, tantric, full body 

pampering massage. City 

Centre - nurturing masculine 

environment. Qualified, 

experienced, caring 

gay therapist. £20 per session. 

£15 students. Excellent 

value. Tel: Jim on 

0131-557 4643. [94] 

Indian Hot Oils Sensual 

Massage - Edinburgh 

Full body Tantric ancient 

classic sensual techniques 

to realx mind and body 

with hot oils. Unique experience. 

7 days a week. Experienced 

fit musculine 

discreet masseur. City 

Centre. Free parking. 

In/out. 07551 321545. 

[93] 

Massage Services 

Good looking experienced 

masseur based in Glasgow 

area offers his services. 

Full body oil massage. 

Deep tissue massage. Re- 

laxation massage. Aromatherapy 

massage. Good 

rates. In and Out calls. 

Possible massage by two 

masseurs at same time. 

Discretion assured. Please 

Call 07972 853367. [93] 

Rex 

Built to please. Your place 

or mine. “Open air”. 24/7. 

UK travel only, sorry. Tel: 

07879 836467. [93] 

WHERE TO 

STAY 

All New, All Gay Guesthouses 

- Edinburgh 

Two great locations. Exclusively 

gay. Easy walk to 

nightlife. Stylish rooms, all 

with TV and video (tapes 

available). Shared and private 

bathrooms. Breakfast 

available till noon. Nonsmoking 

houses. Easy 

parking. Room rates: £29- 

£49 per night. Call 0131- 

558 1382 or Fax 0131-556 

8279. Web: www.gayscotland.com/alvahouse 

[93] 

B&B On Loch Ness - 4 

Star 

Friendly B&B, overlooking 

Loch Ness, just 8 Miles 

from Inverness. Winner of 

“Customer Care” category 

at the Highlands Tourism 

awards, voted in top 5 

B&Bs in Europe on Trip 

Advisor. Phone John or 

Glen on Inverness (01463) 

751267. Web: www.potteryhouse.co.uk 

[100] 

Edinburgh City Centre Accommodation 

Apartments City Centre in 

Gay Scene. Luxury self 

catering accommodation. 

Contact 07966 938055 

and visit www.edinburghrentalapartments.co 

m [99] 

Inverness (Croy) 

200 year old holiday cottage 

set in 1 acre. All mod 

cons. Sleeps 4. Weekly 

lets from £250-£400. Tel 

Inverness (01463) 

798205. (96) 

Penzance - Cornwall 

Small, gay-friendly, period 

hotel situated with own 

parking in town centre. 

Rooms available en-suite. 

Web: 

www.cliffhotelpz.co.uk Tel: 

Penzance (01736) 368888. 

[0] 

Quality 4 Star Rated B&B 

Near To Inverness 

Located on the Black Isle, 

its quiet rural location is 

just perfect for walking cycling 

and touring the Highlands, 

or even just 

relaxing. Telephone Chris 

or Paul on 01463 811779. 

Web: www.kinneskie.co.uk 

[94] 

CONTACTS BY 

PHONE 

PERSON to PERSON 

for ONE to ONE 

MEN 

It's completely FREE to place 

your ad by phone on 

0800 138 4 1-2-1 

We'll not only print your ad in our 

next few issues, but it will also be 

available for phone callers to 

browse on 

09068 556612 

Advertisers get their own private 

voice mailbox and can pick up 

replies on 

09068 556612 

Calls to 09068 numbers cost 60p per minute at all times. 

Conditions of service: All participants must be 18 or over. 

Ads will run for up to 3 issues. 

It will not be possible to reply to advertisers who have not 

collected replies for more than 28 days. 

Service supplied by BizOrg, PO Box 425, PE24 5FN. 

E-mail: admin@bizorg.co.uk. 

Helpline (10am - 4pm weekdays) 

Tel: 0870 121 1210. 

Glasgow Good Times 

This male to female preop 

transsexual is looking 

for a bisexual guy or 

transsexual for good times 

in the Glasgow area. Any 

age. Phone 09068 556612 - 

Number 7393. 

Couple Wanted 

Inexperienced, 

attractive, very fit, shaven, 

honest male, 50 years old 

is looking for an open 

minded friendly couple 30- 

55 years old, for fun and 

laughs. Lives Tayside. Can 

travel. Phone 09068 

556612 - Number 7395. 

Passive-Type Robert 

Robert is a 30's vintage 

male who enjoys 

retrospective music, 

wildlife and 

World/European cinema. 

He describes himself as 

being very calming and 

affectionate. He is looking 

for intimacy and love in an 

open way with a very 

similar, graduate male. 

"So, if you're an educated, 

professional and passivetype 

male - you're the type 

of person I'm looking for". 

Phone 09068 556612 - 

Number 7399. 

Smooth Seeks Hairy 

Smooth, big-busted 

Edinburgh guy in his late 

fifties is looking for a hairybodied 

active friend 40+. "I 

love the feeling of body hair 

against my smooth skin". 

Phone 09068 556612 - 

Number 7383. 

Roleplay And Spanking 

This young at heart 53 

year old male who is into 

roleplay and likes a bit of 

spanking fun is looking for 

a friend. He lives in West 

Lothian, can travel and 

sometimes accommodate. 

He enjoys swimming, 

eating out and in, boating, 

the country and holidays 

abroad. Phone 09068 

556612 - Number 7366. 

Anything Goes In Aberdeen 

Aberdeen area, 47 years 

old, "anything goes", 

looking for older guys 50+. 

Phone 09068 556612 - 

Number 7340. 

Colour Coding 

This 46 year old guy says 

he is "looking for guys who 

are into yellow and brown". 

Phone 09068 556612 - 

Number 7341. 

Servicing In Edinburgh 

58 year old Edinburgh 

guy says he is in need of 

occasional discipline, firmhand 

spanking or leather 

belt on bare buttocks. He is 

free during the day so is 

available for workmen, 

service engineers, etc. who 

make house calls. "Guys 

45+ who know they are 

doing only please". Phone 

09068 556612 - Number 

7352. 

Autumn Colours 

This slim guy in his 40's 

from Glasgow/Central 

Scotland area says he is 

"into autumn colours". 

Phone 09068 556612 - 

Number 7323. 

Chubby 

Chubby, Bi male, 44 

years old is looking for an 

older top male for fun and 

friendship. Phone 09068 

556612 - Number 7331. 

The Answer? 

"Are you a hairy 

Pakistani, Arab, Turkish, 

West Bengali, Kurdish or 

North African guy? Bi-, 

straight, married or single 

who longs for an occasional 

relaxing --, but just can't 

ask the wife or girlfriend for 

it? I am the answer. I'm 

mid-fifties with my own 

place in Edinburgh and 

willing to relieve you of all 

your tensions. I am very 

discreet and am only 

interested in guys 35 years 

upwards". Phone 09068 

556612 - Number 7301. 

Glasgow Skin 

40 years old slim Skin 

from Glasgow is looking for 

similar. Can accommodate 

or travel. Phone 09068 

556612 - Number 7211. 

Over The Knee Spanking 

"I am a guy in his late 

40's from the north-east of 

Scotland who is looking for 

someone older, 60+ if 

possible, to put me over his 

knee on a regular basis to 

be spanked. I would prefer 

it to be someone of a 

professional disposition: 

someone who wears a suit 

if possible. Or an ex 

teacher". Phone 09068 

556612 - Number 6854. 

Local To Tayside? 

Tayside guy is looking for 

local guys. Phone 09068 

556612 - Number 6726. 

Belting 

North East Scotland 

looking for genuine, retired 

former teacher to give me 

the belt. "I have been given 

the belt before and am 

looking to make new 

contacts". Phone 09068 

556612 - Number 6645. 

Green Flash 

40 years old guy from 

Aberdeen is looking for 

others who are into jogging 

suit bottoms, Converse 

baseball boots and Dunlop 

Green Flash trainers. "If 

you would like to leave a 

reply, I will get back to you 

as soon as possible. I can 

travel as far as Edinburgh 

or Inverness". Phone 09068 

556612 - Number 6531. 

Wellies, Wellies, Wellies 

Scotland/anywhere. 

Horny 40 year old would 

like to meet guys who are 

into black wellies, waders 

or riding boots - muddy or 

clean. "Phone with details. 

Can travel anywhere". 

Phone 09068 556612 - 

Number 6446. 

Slave Seeks Master 

Slave from Glasgow 

looking for a master. "I will 

do anything my master 

wishes". Phone 09068 

556612 - Number 6069. 

Horny Uncle 

Horny uncle type seeking 

nephew for hot, horny fun 

with no strings attached. 

He is 40 years old, 5'7" tall 

with a 30" waist and 40" 

chest. "No camps, 

effeminates or fatties". Can 

accommodate or travel in 

the Glasgow area. Phone 

09068 556612 - Number 

5701. 

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 556612 - 

Number 5252. 

GROUPS 

ScotsGay Listings are FREE. Send your group’s details and logo to listings@scotsgay.co.uk 

For bang up-to-date info visit www.scotsgay.co.uk/listings 

PUBLICATIONS 

SCOTSGAY: 

Monthly magazine edited, 

printed and published in 

Scotland since 1994. All of the 

words from the magazine can 

be found on our website as 

well as interactive Meet Market 

and our Listings which are 

frequently updated. Sample 

copy available by phoning 

0906 1100256 (calls cost no 

more than £2). Tel: 0845 

1208062 (+44 131-539 0666). 

Fax: 0131-539 2999. Write: 

PO Box 666, Edinburgh. EH7 

5YW. 

E-mail: publisher 

@scotsgay.co.uk 

www.scotsgay.co.uk 

Lock Up Your Daughters: 

Queer alternative DIY 

magazine for women. 

E-mail: 

info@lockupyourdaughtersma 

gazine.co.uk 

www.lockupyourdaughtersma 

gazine.co.uk 

QS: 

Scottish gay lifestyle magazine 

launched in March 2008.Tel: 

0845 643 9663. Write: 258/4 

Easter Road, Edinburgh. EH6 

8LD. 

E-mail: info@qsmag.co.uk 

www.qsmag.co.uk 

NATIONAL 

ORGANISATIONS 

OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND: 

Scotland's oldest lesbian, gay, 


rights organisation. It was 

founded in 1969 as the 

Scottish Minorities Group, 

later became the Scottish 

Homosexual Rights Group 

and changed its name to 

OUTRIGHT SCOTLAND in 

December 1992. Currently 

hibernating. 

EQUALITY NETWORK: 

Working for lesbian, gay, 


equality in Scotland. Write: 30 

Bernard Street, Edinburgh. 

EH6 6PR. Tel: 07020 933952. 

Fax: 07020 933954. 

E-mail: en 

@equality-network.org 

www.equality-network.org and 

http://equalitynetwork.invisionzone.com 

Weekly e-mail and quarterly 

paper newsletters on LGBT 

equality campaigns and 

developments. Regular 

conferences, forums, and 

other events. E-mail or write to 

join the network. 

LESBIAN ARCHIVE AND 

INFORMATION CENTRE: 

The UK's largest and most 

significant collection of 

materials relating to lesbian 

lives. LAIC (at Glasgow 

Women's Library) 2nd Floor, 

81 Parnie Street, Glasgow. G1 

5RH. Tel/Fax: 0141-552 8345. 

Closed to the public until 

Autumn 2008. 

E-mail: info 

@womenslibrary.org.uk 

www.womenslibrary.org.uk/ 

laic/laic.html 

PRIDE SCOTIA: 

Now busily organising Pride 

Scotia 2010! Tel: 0131-556 

9471. Write: 58a Broughton 

Street, Edinburgh. EH1 3SA. 

E-mail: edinburgh 

@pride-scotia.org 

www.pride-scotia.org 

STONEWALL SCOTLAND: 

Campaigns for equality and 

justice for gay, lesbian, 


people living in Scotland. 

Write: 9 Howe Street, 

Edinburgh. EH3 6TE. Tel: 

0131-557 3679. 

E-mail: info@ 

stonewallscotland.org.uk 

www.stonewallscotland 

.org.uk 

LOCAL 

ORGANISATIONS 

AYRSHIRE: 

Ayrshire Social & Sexuality 

Support Group: Meets 3rd 

Wed of each month at 7pm in 

Irvine. Details of venue from 

David Bingham on 0141-332 

3838 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm). 

E-mail: david.bingham 

@tht.org.uk 

BORDERS: 

Scottish Borders LGBT 

Equality Forum: 

Aims to provide advice and act 

as a consulting body to all 

community planning partner 

organisations, develop a range 

of social and recreational 

activities, and provide a 

befriending service to LGBT 

people. 

www.borderslgbt.org.uk 

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY: 

Dumfries & Galloway 

LGBT Centre: 

Runs services including 

groups, social events, dropins, 

support and volunteering 

for young people and adults. 

26 Brewery Street, Dumfries. 

DG1 2RP. Tel: Dumfries 

(01387) 739888. Text: 07785 

274147. 

E-mail: DandG 


DUNDEE: 

right abOUT NOW: 

Local newsletter. Available 

from: Diversitay (LGBT 

Group), PO Box 53, Dundee, 

DD1 3YG. 

DUNFERMLINE: 

FifeFLAGS: 

Fife Free Lesbian and Gay 

Society. Based in Dunfermline, 

provides a welcoming and 

safe meeting space and dropin 

centre near the town centre 

for the LGBT community, our 

friends, family and supporters. 

Regular social group meets on 

Mon 7-11.30pm. Generally 

has a nice friendly mixed 

crowd most nights across the 

age range so come along and 

join the fun. Internet access, 

mini pool table or just hang 

out and meet new friends over 

coffee and biscuits. Safer sex 

information and supplies 

available as part of the Fife 

Health Board condom 

distribution scheme. Tel: 

Dunfermline (01383) 738517. 

E-mail: Info@ 

FifeFLAGS.org.uk 

www.fifeflags.org.uk 

EDINBURGH: 

Edinburgh LGBT Centre: 

Owned and managed by 

Lesbian Gay and Bisexual 

Community Project Limited, 

which is registered as a 

Scottish Charity and as a 

Scottish Company. Bought in 

1974 by the Scottish 

Minorities Group, it is the only 

LGBT-owned LGBT Centre in 

the UK and is also the oldest 

LGBT Centre in Europe if not 

the world. Write: Edinburgh 

LGBT Centre, 58a-60 

Broughton Street, Edinburgh. 

EH1 3SA. Tel: 0131-556 9471. 

Meeting Room Booking Tel: 

07817 533337. 

E-mail: hello 

@edinburghlgbtcentre.org.uk 

www.edinburghlgbtcentre.org. 

uk 

Icebreakers: 

Social group for guys and gals 

who want to make friendships 

and feel more at ease in the 

company of other gay people. 

Run by Switchboard 

volunteers. Takes place from 

7.30-9pm in CC Blooms on 

2nd & 4th Wed of each 

month. If you're recently out 

or new to Edinburgh or just 

feel a bit cut off and want a 

break, come along. A 

welcoming and nonthreatening 

environment. First 

timers can be met outside. 

Phone Lothian Switchboard 

for details. 

GLASGOW: 

Icebreakers Group: 

For lesbians, gays and 

bisexuals new to the scene. 

Details from Strathclyde 

Switchboard. 

Pride Glasgow: 

Previously Pride Scotia 

(Glasgow). Currently 

recovering from Pride 

Glasgow 2008. Tel: 0141-416 

2300. 

E-mail: pride 

@prideglasgow.co.uk 

www.prideglasgow.co.uk 

Spectrum: 

Group for gay and bisexual 

men from Black and Minority 

Ethnic (BME) communities. 

Meets on 1st and 3rd Tue of 

each month at 6.30pm in 

GMH Office, 5th Floor, 48 

Albion Street, Glasgow. G1 

1LH. 

INVERCLYDE: 

Clyde Men: 

Social and support group for 

Gay and Bi men. Meet 1st Sat 

of each month at Noon in 

Greenock. Tel: 0141-552 

0112. 

E-mail: 

clydemen@gmh.org.uk 

INVERNESS: 

Highland Lesbian, Gay, 

Bisexual, Transgender 

Forum: 

PO Box 5735, Inverness. IV1 

9DB. 

E-mail: forum 

@gay-ness.org.uk 

www.gay-ness.org.uk 

Highland LGBT Social Group: 

Regular events and discos in 

Inverness. Tel: 07017 611111. 

E-mail: forum 



/events.html 



Gay Men's Group (and 

activities): 





LANARKSHIRE: 

LGBT Group: 

For people living/working in 

Lanarkshire. Meets fortnightly 

Thu 7-9pm at the Hamilton 

Town House. Get together for 

social activities, themed 

discussions, speakers and to 

celebrate being LGBT in rural 

areas. For more information, 

contact Chris Kimber at 

Terrence Higgins Trust. Tel: 

0141-332 3838. 

E-mail: chris.kimber 

@tht.org.uk 

STIRLING: 

Stirling Gay Men's 

Social Group 

Meets monthly from Sep-Jun 

(generally 3rd Fri) in private 

houses. 

E-mail: 

mensgroup@talktalk.net 

WOMEN'S 

LISTINGS 

ABERDEEN: 

Granite Sisters: 

Aberdeen based group for 

older lesbians throughout 

Scotland. There are no social 

events planned for the near 

future and the website is the 

main link at this time for gay 

women to gain information, 

etc. Although under 

construction at the moment it 

will be completed ASAP. 

E-mail: 13@clara.co.uk 

www.13.clara.co.uk 

EDINBURGH: 

AD Group: 

Ancient Dykes is a long 

established Edinburgh based 

social group for lesbians aged 

40+ organised by women for 

women. Holds monthly 

meetings and frequent social 

events such as days out and 

about. Meets on first Sat of 

each month during the 

afternoon. Tel: Ruth on 0131- 

554 7256 or phone Edinburgh 

Lesbian Line. 

Connect-Ed: 

Scottish Charity providing 

counselling service to LBT 

women in the Lothians. The 

kind of issues they expect to 

be contacted about may 

include: relationship 

difficulties, sexual problems, 

drug or alcohol use, abuse, 

loss, self esteem, bullying, 

mental health issues, 

anxiety/depression. All 

counselling sessions last for 

one hour and you may attend 

for counselling for a short time 

or longer depending on your 

needs. All Connect-Ed 

counsellors are lesbian or 

bisexual. Presently has to 

charge on a sliding scale to 

pay their counsellors and will 

discuss this when you contact 

them. Tel: 07906 178220. 

Lesbian Book Group: Meets 

monthly (Wed 7.30-9.30pm). 

Contact Kerry for further 

details / next book by 

E-mail: kjmcdoll@yahoo.co.uk 

Lesbian Social Group: Meets 

3rd Wed of each month at 

7.30pm in The Regent, 2 

Montrose Terrace. 

GLASGOW: 

The Sandyford: Counselling 

and Support Services at 

Sandyford Place (old Eye 

Infirmary), Glasgow. G3 7NB. 

Tel: 0141-211 6700. Minicom: 

0141-211 6703. Fax: 0141- 

211 6702. Sappho @ The 

Sandyford promotes positive 

health for lesbians and easier 

access to sexual, reproductive 

and women's health services. 

A well-woman clinic and 

screening service is provided 

in a lesbian friendly setting. Tel: 

0141-211 8130 for 

appointment. Counselling 

takes place fortnightly on Tue 

eve. There is a crêche within 

Sandyford - Tel: 0141-211 

8647 for info. 

www.sandyford.org 

Glasgow Women's Library: 

2nd Floor, 81 Parnie Street, 

Glasgow. G1 5RH. Tel/Fax: 

0141-552 8345. Collection in 

storage until Autumn 2010. 

Lifelong Learning Programme, 

Adult Literacy and Numeracy 

provision and Black and 

Minority Ethnic Women's 

Project all running in the 

meantime. Check the website 

for more information. Library 

houses a Lending and 

reference library - books, 

magazines, journals, videos, 

leaflets and information. UK 

and overseas feminist and 

lesbian publications. Contains 

the Lesbian Archive and 

Information Centre - a unique 

national collection of 

publications, journals and 

ephemera by and for lesbians. 

E-mail: info@ 

womenslibrary.org.uk 

www.womenslibrary.org.uk 

OLGA - Older Lesbians Get 

Around: 

Meets monthly on 2nd Sat of 

each month at 2.30pm in 

Glasgow LGBT Centre, 84 Bell 

Street. 

INVERNESS: 

GirlZone: 

Friendly, informal social group 

for LBT and friends - all 

welcome. Meets 1st Sat and 

3rd Fri of each month. 

Tel: Joanne on 07792 223 687 

for details and venue. 

E-mail: girlzone 



Highland Lesbian Group: 

A friendly lesbian social group 

which offers support and 

information. Organises 

fundraisers for Womankind 

Worldwide: 

E-mail: High_Les 

@bigfoot.com 

www.womankind.org.uk 

www.freewebs.com 

/highlandlesbiangroup 


Scotland-Highland Services 

Lesbian Group (and 

activities): 





NATIONAL: 

LESBIAN INFORMATION 

SERVICE: 

www.lesbianinformation 

service.org 

OUT-SKIRTS: 

A monthly e-newsletter for 

lesbian and bi women in 

Tayside, Fife and beyond. 

E-mail: 

ionafiesta@yahoo.co.uk 

SCOTTISH NETWORK FOR 

LESBIAN STRENGTH: 

To further lesbian issues, 

follow a lesbian agenda and 

foster lesbian visibility. 

E-mail: High_Les 

@bigfoot.com 

YOUNG LESBIANS: 

See our Youth Groups listings. 

BISEXUALS 

BISCOTLAND: 

Support and social network for 

people who are bisexual or 

questioning their sexuality. 

Also organises training and 

activist activities in support of 

bisexual visibility and pride. 

Informal 'safe space' meetings 

are held on 1st Wed of each 

month in Glasgow (Contact for 

venue details) and 3rd Wed of 

each month in Edinburgh 

(8pm in the LGBT Centre for 

Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe 

Street). Meetings (open to all 

bi or questioning people) are 

usually followed by social 

gatherings which are open to 

partners or friends. 

Information line: 07963 

960321. 

E-mail: info@biscotland.org 

www.biscotland.org 

INVERNESS: 



Bisexual Group (and 

activities): 





ABUSE 

BROKEN RAINBOW LGBT 

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE 

SERVICE (UK): 

Works to change the situation 

for LGBT people facing 

domestic violence. Runs a 

helpline for lesbian, gay, 


people, their family, friends, 

and agencies to support LGBT 

people around domestic 

violence. Mon & Thu 2-8pm, 

Wed 10am-1pm. Tel: 0300 

999 5428. 

E-mail: mail 

@broken-rainbow.org.uk 

www.broken-rainbow.org.uk 

MEN AGAINST SEXUAL 

ABUSE: 

1-2-1 counselling for adult 

male survivors of childhood 

sexual abuse, male rape, male 

domestic abuse and under 

18's. Tel: 0141-550 2048. 

E-mail: masacounseling 

@aol.com 

www.masa-listens.com 

RAPE AND ABUSE LINE: 

For male and female survivors. 

Female Support Workers 

answer Freephone 0808 

8000123 most evenings and 

Male Support Workers answer 

Freephone 0808 8000122 on 

selected evenings. The 

Helpline hours are advised on 

both answering services. 

Callers are welcome to phone 

either line. Write: PO Box 10, 

Dingwall. IV15 9HA. 

www.rapeandabuseline.co.uk 

RAPE CRISIS SCOTLAND 

HELPLINE: 

Scotland-wide telephone 

service providing support to 

women and men experiencing 

sexual violence, as well as their 

friends and families. Tel: 

Freephone 0808 8010302 

(6pm-Midnight). Minicom 

available. 

www.rapecrisisscotland 

.org.uk 

THRIVE: 

Counselling service for male 

survivors of childhood sexual 

abuse. Write: The Sandyford 

Initiative, 4 Sandyford Place, 

Glasgow. G3 7NB. Tel: 0141- 

211 8133. 

E-mail: thrive 

@ggc.scot.nhs.uk 

ATHEISTS AND 

HUMANISTS 

GAY AND LESBIAN 

HUMANIST ASSOCIATION: 

GALHA is a membership 

organisation promoting a gayfriendly 

Humanist outlook and 

LGBT rights as human rights. 

Membership is open to 

supporters worldwide and 

gives access to a range of 

events. Write: GALHA, 1 

Gower Street, London. WC1E 

6HD. Tel: 0844 800 3067. 

E-mail: secretary 

@galha.org 

www.galha.org 

PINK TRIANGLE TRUST: 

PTT is a gay Humanist charity 

which can arrange nonreligious 

ceremonies of love 

and commitment for lesbian 

and gay couples at very 

reasonable rates in most parts 

of Scotland. Write: 34 Spring 

Lane, Kenilworth, 

Warwickshire. CV8 2HB. Tel: 

Kenilworth (01926) 858450. 

E-mail: ceremonies 

@pinktriangle.org.uk 

www.pinktriangle.org.uk 

Lively Blog at 

www.pinktriangle.org.uk/ 

ptt/blog.html 

Internet Magazine at 

www.gayandlesbianhumanist. 

org 

BDSM 

MSC SCOTLAND: 

A club for men interested in 

Leather, Rubber, Uniform. 

Meets in Edinburgh from 

10pm downstairs in the New 

Town Bar on the 1st Fri and 

3rd Sat of each month. Write: 

PO Box 28, Edinburgh. EH3 

5JL. 

E-mail: president 

@msc-scotland.net 

www.msc-scotland.net 

SCOTSSKINS: 

Information Site for Scottish 

Gay Skinheads. ScotsSkins 

meet informally in The 

Claremont in Edinburgh on the 

2nd Sat of each month. 

E-mail: scotsskins 


http://scotsskins 

.bravehost.com 

SM GAYS: 

www.smgays.org 

BEARS 

BEARGLASGOW: 

New and refreshing social 

group for Bears, Cubs and 

Admirers of all shapes and 

sizes based in Glasgow. 

E-mail: 

emailinfo@bearglasgow.co.uk 

www.bearglasgow.co.uk 

BEARSCOTS: 

The national group for bears, 

big boys, their friends and 

admirers in Scotland. 

Edinburgh Bear Weekend, 2nd 

Sat of each month: Bear 

Sauna, Steamworks, Sat 2- 

8pm. Bears In The Basement, 

New Town Bar, Sat 10pm- 

2am. Bear-ly Awake Brunch, 

New Town Bar, Sun 12.30- 

2.30pm. Check website for 

details of events around 

Scotland including annual BBQ 

in the Highlands (15th Aug), 

news of forthcoming events in 

Stirling, Dundee, Aberdeen 

and Glasgow and annual 

BearScotFest-09: 9th-11th 

Oct. 

E-mail: info 

@bearscots.org.uk 

www.bearscots.org.uk 

BELIEVERS 

AFFIRMATION SCOTLAND: 

Network in the Church of 

Scotland of lesbian, gay, 


Christians, their friends and 

supporters. Formed in 2006 in 

response to the issue of 

ministers and deacons being 

able to conduct ceremonies to 

mark civil partnerships without 

fear of censure. Write: Monica 

Stewart, 37 Main Street, 

Invergowrie. DD2 5AB. 

E-mail: monicastewart 


www.affirmationscotland 

.org.uk 

AL-JANNAH: 

Online social community for 

LGBT Muslims. 

E-mail: admin@ 

al-jannah.co.uk 

www.al-jannah.co.uk 

EDINBURGH QUAKER 

LESBIAN AND GAY 

FELLOWSHIP: 

Meets on the 3rd Wed of each 

month at 7pm in the Glasite 

Meeting House, 33 Barony 

Street. Members of the LGBT 

Community and their friends 

are most welcome. 

E-mail: edinburgh.qlgf 

@gmail.com 

EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP 

FOR LESBIAN & GAY 

CHRISTIANS: 

Lesbian, gay or bisexual? 

From an Evangelical tradition? 

So are we. Tel: Andrew on Mid 

Calder (01506) 499926. Write: 

c/o 123 Byron Road, 

Chelmsford. CM2 6HJ. 

E-mail: info@eflgc.org.uk 

www.eflgc.org.uk 

LIBERAL CATHOLIC 

APOSTOLIC CHURCH: 

A small gay friendly fellowship 

in the Old Catholic tradition. 

Monthly public service in 

Edinburgh as well as private 

Masses and other sacraments. 

Also Relationship Blessings,

CONTACTS BY 

POST/E-MAIL 

To reply to a contact ad, 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 outwith the UK, an International 

Reply Coupon (IRC) should be enclosed for each reply 

instead of postage stamps. International Reply Coupons are available 

from Post Offices throughout the world. We are unable to 

send on replies without postage stamps or IRCs. 

Replies to : ScotsGay, PO Box 666, Edinburgh EH7 5YW. 

REMEMBER: You can also 

place and answer personal 

ads free online at 

www.scotsgay.co.uk 

WOMEN 

Sexy Single Girl Waiting 

For You 

Hi! My name’s Mandy. I’m 

a 21 year old student from 

Glasgow. I have mid length 

brown hair, blue eyes, 5’5”, 

slim, looking for friends 

and dating 

perhaps more if the right 

girl comes along. I’m into 

clubbing and hanging out 

on the scene but go to 

straight bars too, so which 

ever you 

prefer. Hoping to hear from 

you soon, Mandy. Box 

SG93015. 

Wanted - Female Friends 

I am a caring attentive female 

who is genuine, fun 

loving and honest. I would 

like to meet women aged 

37+ who are interested in 

making new friends. I am 

not into the “scene” and 

struggling to meet like 

minded women to connect 

with. Box SG93016. 

Strict Older Female 

Wanted 

Aberdeen lass, 19, looking 

to meet a female who I can 

experiment with. Am easy 

going and willing to try 

other things. Get back if 

you’re interested. Box 

SG93017. 

MEN 

Looking For Casual Relaxing 

Fun With Younger 

Guy(s) 

Just looking for fun with 

guy(s) aged 16-26 - probably 

at my place in Central 

Edinburgh. Nothing complicated: 

love not required 

although mutual respect is 

a must. One off is good, so 

is longer term fuck buddy. 

I’m mostly active but can 

be versatile if that’s what 

really works for you. Safer 

fun only - no barebacking. 

And a kiss or cuddle can 

be just as good as (or better 

than) anything else - so 

there are a lot of options. 

What have you got to lose 

by replying and seeing if 

our needs/desires are 

compatible? Other than 

your virginity which is 

soon gone with this poof! 

Box SG93004. 

Good Looking Attractive 

Sporty Lad 

Glasgow straight 

acting/looking casual 

dressed. OHAC. Honest 

caring person. Hobbies: 

gym, driving, footie, pubs, 

clubs. Can accommodate 

or travel. Age 25 but look 

younger. Looking for casual 

sex relationship. 16- 

34. Box SG93006. 

Ayrshire 

Genuine, youthful, slim, 

59, straight smart appearance, 

non scene guy, 


ScotsGay Magazine 

PO Box 666 

Edinburgh EH7 5YW 

Personal Ad: FREE! 

Postal Subscriptions to ScotsGay 

SG93 

We accept Mastercard / VISA - Make cheques/POs payable to ScotsGay 

WLTM discreet active mature 

guy for fun times, 

maybe relationship. Likes 

cuddles, kissing, spanking, 

willing to please. Box 

SG93007. 

Toilet Slave 

26 year old toilet slave boy 

looking for 16-30 year old 

master. I’m slim, very 

good looking, got my own 

place near Edinburgh (East 

Lothian). I’m into yellow 

(watersports) and brown 

fun (scat). I want to be 

used as a toilet by my 

master. I will take brown 

and yellow and I would 

enjoy being farted on too. I 

can accommodate. I will 

send you my face pic by 

MMS if you are interested. 

If you want to be my master 

and have me worshipping 

your arse 24/7, text 

me on 07936 488454. Box 

SG93008 

Sub Guy Needs Training 

Early 50’s hairy masculine 

type seeks teacher to train 

and discipline me. I’ll be 

ever so grateful, Sur! No 

age limit: the older the better. 

Glasgow area. Box 

SG93009. 

Badminton And Swimming 

Club - Aberdeen 

New badminton and swimming 

gay club in Aberdeen 

is loooking for new members. 

Also outdoor activities. 

Intere4sted? Send 

your contact details and 

telephone number. Thank 

you. Box SG93010. 

Aberdeen Safe Fun 

Looking for top/ver men, 

group sessions, 3somes. 

All races welcome: Black, 

Scottish, Eastern European. 

Meet weekly. New. 

All letters answered. Own 

place. Men only. Box 

SG93011. 

Footballer 

Looking for someone to 

teach me some footy 

skills! So am not that good 

and would benefit from a 

teacher who knows ball 

skils, lol! Seriously not 

seeking sexual encounters 

just someone patient who 

can give me back self esteem! 

Age not important, I 

am in early 40’s. Box 

SG93012. 

Relationship Wanted 

I moved down to Manchester 

in 1994. Seeking 

new friends and potential 

BF back up in Scotland. 

You must be 16-35, non 

scene and monogamous. I 

am 37. Box SG93013. 

Ugly But Tight And Willing 

I am 55, bald, ugly, 

chubby, let’s be honest: 

FAT, I live and work in Edinburgh. 

I am very sub. I 

have tattoos, a small cut 

dick with a PA and a very 

tight ass. Looking for a 

dominant top, straight acting 

or total queen, to 

loosen me up a bit. Preferably 

over 40 but age is not 

important to me. I have 

some experience of light 

CP and bondage and a 

strong interest in all things 

fetish. I am married, bi, 

cannot accommodate and 

discretion is a must. Box 

SG93014. 

Wanted Penpals 

Decent mature pen pals 

wanted, not really looking 

for sexual activities. Just 

good old fashioned communications, 

which would 

hopefully lead to lasting 

friendship. All nationalties 

welcome. I am not a meal 

ticket though, been hurt 

emotionally and physically 

and just need to have self 

esteem and faith in men 

restored! Box SG93018. 

Go On! 

You know I want it. If you 

do too, you know what to 

do... Tall blonds especially 

welcome! Box SG93019. 

Kinky Knickers 

Pleasant gay male early 

50’s, mature, broad 

minded, clean shaven etc 

has GSOH, non smoking, 

5’11”, average build, likes 

wearing lingerie etc., seeks 

guys into same for fun and 

friendship. Unattached gay 

or bi’s preffered, clean, 

discrete, aged 18-70, clean 

shaven essential. One to 

one relationship possible. 

Send photo for mine via e- 

mail for quick response. 

Also likes mild sub dom 

games, nothing heavy just 

nice panty fun! Can accommodate 

or travel. 

Photo essential. Box 

SG93020. 

Anyone Fancy A Cuddle? 

I love lying in bed with a 

guy, holding him to me. 

We talk, laugh, fall asleep - 

I just want a cuddle. 

Maybe a bit of wanking but 

no pressure; Friendship, 

cuddling is the main thing. 

Sound nice? I’m late 30’s, 

ordinary-looks, chubby, 

bearded, masculine, can 

be a bit dominant. Looking 

for slim-normal (not 

chubby - sorry) and under 

50. Any nice guys out 

there who really do just 

like a nice bear hug in 

bed? Edinburgh. ALA. Box 

SG93021. 

Young For Older 

Older guy (early 50’s), near 

Edinburgh centre, looking 

for young guy (18-20), 

younger the better, for sex 

companion/plaything, to 

be with me, to pet, stroke, 

suck me and willing to do 

anything I ask. Clean (no 

STDs), genuine. Will you 

contact me and be my pet? 

Can accommodate for as 

long as you can stay. Reply 

ASAP if interested. Box 

SG93022. 

Groups 

Polish and Eastern European 

Group meets in Glasgow 

area. For details, Tel 

Kilsyth (01236) 825656. 

Box SG93023. 

Fun And Companionship 

Friendly gay guy, 58, 

wishes to meet other gay, 

any age, for fun and companionship. 

I live in the 

Cumbernald area. Box 

SG93024. 

Ginger Minger Seeks 

Young, Smooth Guy 

Small (5’6”), fat (15st), old 

(51), balding red hair and 

beard, very hairy body, 

looking for fun and friendship 

with young (16-22) 

guy. You: No piercings 

(self mutilation is not good 

or clever), preferably a full 

head of hair (no shaved 

heads - why do you want 

to be bald at your age?), 

smooth chest (shaved is 

good, naturally smooth is 

better), no facial hair, not 

anorexic (I like a bit of 

plump - although slim is 

OK). I’m probably far too 

picky - but then I bet most 

suitable guys are too! I can 

accommodate (Edinburgh) 

or will travel. Box 

SG93025. 

44 Year Old 

Gay man, 44, would like to 

meet a mature Scottish 

business man. I need discretion 

and privacy for me 

and the person I meet (I 

live with Mum). Write to 

me carefully. I am not a 

queen and I am clean. I 

have a moustache. Box 

SG93026. 

London 

Handsome black guy living 

in London, 33, 5’9”, good 

built body, caring, honest, 

seeks mature man for 

friendship and relationship. 

No time wasters. Box 

SG93027. 

BISEXUAL 

Bi Curious? 

There has to be a first time 

for everything! Aged 16- 

21? Get in touch? Considerate, 

experienced, 

versatile, older guy will talk 

you through things at your 

own pace before getting 

down to some safe fun. 

Your limits respected. Total 

discretion assured. Live in 

Edinburgh and can accommodate 

but may travel if 

required. Box SG93001. 

Retired Hippy 

51, looking for some love 

and affection from women 

and men of all ages. Box 

SG93002. 

Looking For A Gay/Bi 

Male Friend! 

Educated lady (40’s), emotionally 

bisexual and in a 

close relationship with a 

woman, I am seeking a 

gay/bi man or gay couple 

for friendship and regular 

MMF threesomes with me 

in the voyeuristic role. No 

crossdressers please. 

Must stay in Invernessshire 

or be happy to travel 

up here. Box SG93005. 

STRAIGHT 

Silver Bear 

Edinburgh based 50something 

guy seeks morally relaxed 

women of all ages 

for fun and friendship. Box 

SG93003. 

FRIENDS 

ABROAD 

INTERGAY 

Penpal contacts with gay 

men all over the world. 

Over 120 subscribers in 30 

countries. To join is free: 

send your ad. Only subscribers 

get the booklet 

with all data and addresses 

by enclosing £5. INTER- 

GAY, Voorstraat 12-A, 

4033 AD Lienden, Netherlands. 

TO LET 

Inverness - Close to City 

Centre. 

1 B/R to let 5 minutes 

drive from town centre. 

Tel: Inverness (01463) 

229662. 

JOBS 

OFFERED 

Job Offered In Highland 

Perthshire 

Is there a kind gay horny 

guy out there who would 

provide lots of hands on 

TLC and loving assistance 

and company for a partially 

disabled single man? Part 

time: 28.5 hours weekly. 

Dressing and undressing 

and other light household 

duties. Free accommodation, 

electricity, gay and 

Council Tax. On main bus 

route and near railway station. 

Handy for Pitlochry 

and Perth. Wage £9.62 per 

hour (weekly gross 

£274.17). Please apply 

with full particulars to Box 

SG93005. 

Cash For Your Body 

Photogenic guys can earn 

£100 cash posing for Mike 

Arlen who has had 14 

glossy magazines published 

called Mike Arlen’s 

Guys. Send snapshots of 

your magnificent body to 

him: Mike Arlen, Wetherby 

Studios, 23 Wetherby 

Mansions, Earls Court 

Square, London. SW5 9BH 

or Phone: 020-7373 1107. 

E-mail: mikearlen@btopenworld.com 

[0] 

Looking For Staff 

Seeking salespeople for 

Spanish property shows in 

Aberdeen, Edinburgh and 

Inverness areas. Sundays 

only. Do you have transport, 

access to PC, someone 

to work with? 

Commission only. £700 a 

day expected with approximately 

15 week delay of 

payments. Full training 

given to right person. Contact 

Sales Manager: 0141- 

229 1693. [0] 

SERVICES 

Uniform Dating - Free 

Membership For Every 

ScotsGay Reader 

Fancy a date in uniform? 

Here’s your chance! With 

thousands of registered 

firemen, nurses, pilots, 

military, police officers and 

singles from other professional 

uniformed services, 

Uniform Dating offers the 

most unique online dating 

experience. It is now open 

to those who are not in 

uniform. Uniform Dating 

has been made available to 

readers of the ScotsGay 

Magazine, with thousands 

of registered members just 

waiting to be contacted. 

And, thanks to this offer, 

membership of this fantastic 

website is absolutely 

FREE. To take advantage of 

10 day’s free membership, 

visit Web: www.uniformdating.com 

and create 

your free profile. Then in 

the ‘Upgrade’ area, enter 

the promotional code: 

SGM. [0] 

CAFFMOS 

Contacts and friendships 

for men over sixty. The organisation 

for the more 

mature gentleman and his 

admirers. Write to: 

CAFFMOS, PO Box 2087, 

Blackpool. FY4 1WL. Or 

phone Blackpool (01253) 

318327 for info. [0] 

Limited Companies 

Only £90 for your own 

Limited Company. PLCs, 

Guarantee, Charitable and 

Unlimited Companies also 

available. Freephone 0800 

526421. E-mail: info@cosunformations.co.uk. 

Web: 

www.cosunformations.co. 

uk [0] 

Proofreading And Tuition 

In English (including 

TEFL), French, Latin, Greek 

and Gaelic, Typing Services, 

Historical and Genealogical 

Research. 

Charles S Coventry, 303/3 

Colinton Road, Edinburgh. 

EH13 0NR. Tel: 0131-441 

7898. E-mail:

A COMMUNITY MAGAZINE EDITED, PRINTED and PUBLISHED IN SCOTLAND SINCE 1994 • DISTRIBUTED IN LGBT AND OTHER SELECTED VENUES 


scotsgay.co.uk £1.50 WHERE SOLD • ISSUE 93

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