Recent Developments and New Works, Plans, and Things

'Marlene and Me' dress rehearsal video still for Dundee Fringe Festival, '22

The last 6 weeks have been challenging, with all sorts of things happening: mostly good, but the Solstice was spent being hit by a chest infection as well as the need for emergency eye surgery. However, back on track again and to summarize everything:

21st May: Scottish TransPride in Paisley, Scotland:

June ('til present): submitting work (prose poem entitled 'Ravensong') to Cthulhu Books anthology call-out: Making Kin - Institute for Postnatural Studies The work is inspired by my studies of Old Norse and Old English literature, mythology and poetry.

1st June: a last-minute support slot at the Hunter S Thompson saw me premiering live one of my early 'lockdown poems', as well as an old standard:

15th June: performing brand new spoken word piece 'Stevie Nicks' (again at the Hunter S) which was directly inspired by the raw, emotional and very personal work of the headline act on the 1st of June:

18th June: public presentation of 'Welcome?', a BRAW Bursary recipient (in collaboration with ShaperCaper) in Dundee. My work consisted of a printed poster and 3 A5 flyers discussing international trans rights.

8th July: Presented paper 'Pornographics as Queer Method : Using Adult Online Entertainment as a Strategy for Developing Non-Binary Gender and Being' at the SGSAH 'Prospectives 22' online symposium. I'd planned to be away in Manchester that weekend hence the pre-recorded talk, but elected to stay home to better monitor my eye health, which allowed me to take part in the live Q & A:

In between all this action I was also able to rehearse and record the second instalment of my three-part 'Weimar Cycle', a tribute to the decadent era of German art of 100 years ago, as well as the cabaret tradition and the general air of sexual and gender liberation which flourished at that time. This is 'Marlene and Me':

I have submitted proposals to perform this cycle live at both Buzzcut '23 in Glasgow, and (as a 2-part work in progress) at the upcoming Dundee Fringe in September. I've also submitted a handful of films to the 'Queer Art Now' open call in London.