LGBTQ+. – devizine.com

Gender-Queered Production of Shakespearean Classic at Bath’s Rondo Theatre Raises Money for Charities

Photo credit: © Rondo Theatre Company / Jazz Hazelwood

A gender-queered production of William Shakespeare’s classic play, ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, will be performed at the Rondo Theatre in Bath this June, as part of Queer Bath and LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, with all profits being donated to charity……

‘The Taming of the Shrew’ is one of Shakespeare’s more challenging plays. The story centres on two siblings: Bianca, who is surrounded by suitors, and the fiercely independent Katherine, whose sharp tongue and violent outbursts have garnered them a fearsome reputation. Bianca cannot marry any of their suitors until Katherine is married – enter Petruchio, who is determined to ‘break’ and marry Katherine.

In this production from the Rondo Theatre Company, which has been the performing arm of the Rondo Theatre since 1982, the play takes on a daring new life where comedy and discomfort intersect. In a world where Petruchio is a boisterous woman and Kate is a shrewish man, this bold reimagining explores the power dynamics at the heart of Shakespeare’s comedy while unpacking how language shapes our understanding of gender and control. The Rondo Theatre Company has flipped the script, and audiences are invited to laugh and reflect on the complexities of gender by re-examining the ways comedy can reveal uncomfortable truths about societal power dynamics.

‘It’s been a fascinating process to get under the skin of these characters in such a refreshing way’, says Alex Oliviere, who plays Petruchio in ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. ‘‘Historically audiences were intended to rejoice in the sight of an outspoken and fiery woman being cowed by a violent and domineering man, and it’s been really interesting to display that power when the positions are reversed. We’ve had a lot of thought-provoking conversations in the rehearsal room about why it feels so different, and we hope that audiences will be prompted to do the same.’

‘The Taming of the Shrew’ is the Rondo Theatre Company’s annual charity production, with all profits being shared between Not A Phase and the Rondo Theatre’s ‘Revamp the Rondo’ fundraiser.

Not A Phase is a trans-led, nationwide charity committed to uplifting and improving the lives of trans+ adults, through awareness campaigning, social projects and funding trans+ lead initiatives.

‘We’re really pleased to donate half of this year’s charity production profits to Not A Phase,’ said Director of ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, Jazz Hazelwood, ‘with everything that is happening in the world right now it’s more important than ever to protect marginalised communities. With ‘Shrew’ we’ve created a space that is inclusive and led from a place of respect and acceptance for all. Not A Phase is a brilliant charity, and the work they do for the trans+ community touches the heart of what we’re doing and the values that this production upholds.’

The Rondo Theatre’s ‘Revamp the Rondo’ fundraiser seeks to replace the auditorium seating, and make other building improvements, at the Rondo which has, since 1989, been a place for nurturing local talent, a home for community theatre groups, and a venue for the best touring theatre, stand-up comedy and music – including recent appearances from Nina Conti, Prue Leith, Andy Parsons, Joe Wilkinson, and Milton Jones.

‘We are one of many local community theatre groups who call the Rondo Theatre home,’ says Alana Wright, Chair of the Rondo Theatre Company, ‘it’s a truly special venue in the city and we’re delighted to be donating half of this year’s charity production profits to the Revamp the Rondo fund, and give this well-loved theatre the boost it needs.’

‘The Taming of the Shrew’ takes place during both Pride Month (1 – 30 June), and Queer Bath (26 May – 30 June), a celebration of LGBTQ+ arts, culture, heritage and history in museums and venues across Bath. Queer Bath is a new citywide campaign – the first of its kind – led in partnership with Bath Arts Collective, WIG, and Bath’s museum & heritage community.

‘The Taming of the Shrew’ will be performed at the Rondo Theatre, St. Saviours Road, Bath BA1 6RT, from Wednesday 18th to Saturday 21st June 2025, 7.30pm.

More information and tickets are available on the Rondo website HERE

Devizes Hosts First Pride

Okay, god knows I need my beauty sleep more than most, and on a promise to attend the wonderful Mantonfest, it was only ever going to be a brief drop-in to Hillworth Park to check out Devizes inaugural Pride, but I’m glad I did.

After an evening of drag queen bingo at the Wyvern Club, people gathered for a picnic styled event at the park with a handful of stalls and attractions. It was only ever going to be a small event, compared to Chippenham’s recent first Pride where they pulled out all stops, but it most certainly was well attended and a landmark in progressing Lgbtq in the town. A huge congratulations should go out to chief organiser Oberon Christmas, drag queen act Miss Lucy Luscious Lips and all in the Devizes LGBTQ group.

Likely the influence of the new Chippenham mayor Declan Baseley, not only the youngest mayor at 27, but first openly gay person too, which accelerated the appeal in Chippenham, hopefully will rub off on neighbouring towns also staging a Pride at varying levels. I’m of the thinking, though, it shouldn’t need the undertaking of someone in both the LGBTQ community and council to assist in staging such events, and town councils could do more to financially support such annual occasions, we all could.

Clashing with town’s annual beer festival was Devizes Pride’s major teething trouble, but it sure is a step in the right direction and wonderful to see the rainbow flags flying out of park as attendees dispersed from the park. What the small group achieved here this weekend was far bigger than the event itself. But as Oberan explained to me, it was a lot of work for them to stage themselves. Pride is not a LGBTQ meeting, but rather an open to all celebration of the common acceptance of equality on many levels, and, personally, I felt this was the vibe at Devizes’ first Pride. From small acorns, I’d really like to see this event sponsered and supported by the town in the coming years. Whatever we can do to help this move forward, Devizine will.

The First Ever Devizes Pride Announced

If establishing Pride events in our cities and larger towns is sooo last decade, darling, we’re both keen and overjoyed to join the newer trend of small towns, even villages hosting Prides, as Devizes LGBTQ+ announce the very first Pride in Devizes on Saturday July 1st….

It was an overexcited notion I put to Devizes LGBTQ+ group organiser, Oberon Christmas when they first started up a couple of years ago, and though taking it onboard as a future possibility I think they figured small acorns to begin with. Understandable, but now, with regular meets and events at The Exchange nightclub, it looks like the time is near to our own Pride here in Devizes.

Pewsey is also hosting a first Pride at the Cooper’s Field on 15th July. Melksham Pride is a couple of years strong now, that’s on 24th June at the Assembly Hall. Calne also pops its Pride cherry with a small event on Castlefields Park on the 4th June. Of course, Pride is well-established in Chippenham, and this year sees our favourites Concrete Prairie on stage at Island Park on 17th June.

Though our details are yet to be revealed, it is a wonderful thing to be able to announce that Devizes is too to travel over the rainbow and join this festive fun. One thing, I see a lot of town councils assisting to get these small town Prides off the ground, and I do hope Devizes Town Council will follow this trend.

Devizes LGBTQ+ Group’s First Big Event

Formed a year ago, the Devizes LGBTQ+ group have organised several meet ups, but the time is nigh for their first big event, Drag Bingo at The Exchange on Thursday 30th June.….

I know this is something the group, and Oberon, better known as Gabriella Christmas, has been trying to organise for a while now. “Yes,” he delights to tell me, “it’s awesome to finally have our first big event.”

An 18+ event, there will also be a raffle with multiple different prizes, including a canal boat trip for two. Tickets are £5, Raffle £1 a strip, £1 for an extra game. Some bingo dabbers will be available to buy on the night, if you need one.

Doors open @ 7:30pm with an estimated finishing time of 10:00pm. There is the potential for music for an hour afterwards.

To buy tickets, please contact the Facebook page or, alternatively, purchase them from Morrisons Devizes. CASH ONLY.

Devizes; an LGBTQ+-Friendly Community, a Devizes Pride?

As a new local Facebook page for the LGBTQ+ community, Devizes Lgbtq+ springs to life, I’m left wondering exactly what social and counsel interactions are readily available in Devizes today. So, I’m chatting with the page’s admin, Oberon, about his group’s aims and goals.

What I think was most interesting about it, while I dug for negativity, I’d suspect will be evident in our local community towards LGBTQ+, Oberon simply didn’t take the bait, and remained positive throughout our friendly chinwag. Sorry if you came here looking for controversy, this is just a plug for the page and hope it’ll strength both the community and opinions of others towards it.

Firstly, someone shared an already existing Facebook group for LGBTQ+ in Devizes. I supposed having a page rather than a group is less exclusive and not as restricted being it can make looser, more general connections. “I agree,” Oberon started, “a page is much broader and will be easier to reach out to a wider range of people, which will make it easier to advertise, make connections and get the word out.”

As I understand it, Devizes School has an excellent program to deal with the issue, but suppose once pupils leave, there’s little else in town, no real places to feel like a community. “I’m very glad Devizes School have a good programme to help their pupils!” he continued. “As far as when they leave goes, as the LGBTQ+ community grows I’d be happy to say that there will be a place to be a community online and, once the community has found its feet, offline and in person too. The sooner the better I say!”

But is a group like this is more important in a smaller town like Devizes, than say, a city, where there’s already more in place to bring together like-minded people? “I do think an LGBTQ+ community is very important in small towns,” Oberon expressed, “just as much as a city. Many people don’t live in cities or grow up in them, myself included. For a small town to be just as proud and just as accepting is important because it helps to reach everyone. Even if there are a smaller group of LGBTQ+ residents in Devizes it helps to create a safe, inclusive space for us and stops the feeling that small towns don’t ‘understand’ or ‘accept’ as much as larger places do. Furthermore, it can show people that aren’t LGBTQ+ what we’re all about and hopefully help them get a greater understanding of who we are.”

And there’s a thing, causing me to mention Pride. Pride is supported by many people outside the LGBTQ+ community, and that’s probably more important than just being there for those who are, because it’s about casting negative opinions of yore aside, especially in a smaller community like here. Because, and here’s the crunch, being honest, I do think there’s a number of insular people here who simply refuse to shake off the old stereotypes, maybe more so than urban environments.

We’ve come a long way even in my own lifetime, I suggested to him, flagrantly showing my age by citing the awareness in the eighties by singers like Boy George, Jimmy Somerville et all! As while they made it a recognisable subject and broke the taboos we now see in our society, at the time people were still hiding in shame, you still wouldn’t have same sex couples on tv shows like you do today.

The fear is, I do however think we’re in danger of letting that progress slip backwards, as all prejudices seem to be at the forefront and a right wing, or far right-wing gains popularity. I mean we only have look at the onslaught of negative comments when Wiltshire Police added a rainbow flag back in February.

Oberon replied admirably, I must say! “Every human being is an individual with their own beliefs and views, my aim isn’t to change people, it’s just to show them a greater understanding of things, and be who we are. I agree, we have come a very long way and, as with everything, there will always be a negative and a positive side of things. I choose to focus on the positive and that’s the light I aim to share.”

Okay, given that, let’s go for it; imagine, a Devizes Pride! At least, some smaller events, or a physical club would be a great start.

“A Devizes Pride would be fantastic and of course that wouldn’t happen overnight,” he replied, which is just as well, as it’s past my bedtime already!

“I aim to start off with smaller events,” Oberon suggested, “community outreach and fundraisers. Physical clubs, meet-ups and youth groups are also something I’d like to get started, as I think they’ll help LGBTQ+ people find one another, in a safe space, and grow a strong community together.”

Still, he didn’t rule out the possibility of a Devizes Pride. “Devizes having its own Pride celebration is an avid goal of mine, amongst others! I believe that the stronger the representation of LGBTQ+ people in Devizes the more that people will have a greater understanding of who we are and what we’re all about. Devizes is a town with a strong community and I am for the LGBTQ+ community to have a ‘louder voice’ as it were.”

But, like any new venture, it would need the support behind it, and all this costs, at this stage is to “like” the page on the Book of Face, and join the separate entity group too, if you wished. It was nice chatting to Oberon, on what can be a touchy subject we need to open up to and address.