FORM-Idea

Just in 2015 the US supreme court ruled in the historic Obergefell v. Hodges decision that American states were now legally bound to issue marriage licences to same sex couples and recognise those who were already married. That evening the Obama White House was, lit in the colours of the rainbow flag.  An historic moment in American history, of queer inclusion. But fast forward a mere seven years and we now find ourselves in a very different world.  One in which many in the queer and transgender communities genuinely feel under threat by religious movements and a far-right, which appear to be growing unchecked around the world.  Not only is this happening in countries which have had a long history of homophobia, such as Uganda which is now making being queer a capital offence, but now also in the west.  With some states in America at the forefront of this disturbing trend with one governor, even proudly proclaiming that she was only interested in those who were “cis – meaning heterosexual” visiting her state.  In this current toxic climate, the UK’s glorious Flare film festival makes a welcome return.  And in this year’s edition there were two films which stood out for me.

The delightful Korean XX + XY is not just my favourite film from the entire festival it is also one of my favourite films of the year so far.  It’s in fact not really a film at all but a new Korean television series which Flare has presented in its entirety.  And what a joy it is, a comedy drama which looks at the life of a Korean teenager, the puzzled Jay, who was born with both genders, female and male.  Their enlightened adoptive parents – a gay man and a female obstetrician who has decided marriage is not for her – choose when they adopt Jay to let Jay decide which gender they want to be themselves; declining offers by doctors for medical intervention.

The series opens with Jay, now a teenager, starting their first day at a prestigious secondary school.  Having been home school Jay has been protected from the world, they now find that they are entering alien territory.  It’s not long before this world proves to be even more puzzling to Jay than they had originally anticipated it would be.  With both Jay’s childhood friend Sarah, who is aware that Jay is intersex, declaring her love for them and deciding that it is Jay who she wants to give her virginity to. A handsome boy at school also declaring his love, Jay’s life becomes very complicated very quickly.

If that was not enough Jay finds that they are now experiencing both male and female puberty.  Jay’s classmates meanwhile, assume Jay is a boy, since although Jay never says which sex they are, they choose to wear boys clothing.  Misunderstandings and confusions mount until the truth is eventually revealed, it’s interesting to note that the students’ response to Jay’s gender is not what anyone would have ever expected.

XX + XY is both life affirming and hopeful in its view of the world and demonstrates that long after adults have finished tying themselves into knots about trans rights their kids are much further along, suggesting that most teenagers no longer care about the gender of those they know but simply value a good friend.

Another gem in the festival which highlighted gender identity was Mars a beautiful short which looks at the life of a black British trans teenage girl who loves astronomy and perhaps feels that its only in space where they can find acceptance.  Beautifully filmed and acted Mars also has a life-affirming conclusion. The short though also hints at how these events could have had a very different outcome and highlights the fact that in our current hostile environment many trans teenagers are now finding themselves very much alone.

Away from the Flare festival the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London hosted the premier of STARS An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey.  A collaboration between Tamasha Theatre and the ICA.  The piece is a wonderfully mad and surreal exploration of an older black woman’s sexual life with a mixed tape played throughout.  The central character is also obsessed with the idea of space travel but less as a place of escape but rather a place of discovery since Mrs (the character’s only name) is convinced that if she can manage to travel to the stars she would in fact find sexual fulfilment. 

Over the course of the evening, we discover the sometimes-grim details of Mrs life, played brilliantly by Debra Michaels. However, she is determined to find some shred of happiness before she dies so Mrs explores different sexualities and even discovers the real identity of her best friend who is happily married.  Mrs gradually realises that her personal happiness and fulfilment lies in her own hands and the piece ends with a glorious conclusion.

If you want to book a ticket for this summer, here is the link: https://tamasha.org.uk/projects/stars/#

The final celebration of Queer identity which, opened this spring is my own personal favourite and is called Tom, co-created and staged by dance and music duo Bullyache at London’s Yard Theatre. Tom is part of the theatre’s Now 23 festival. The dance company Bullyache, could best be described, as a mix between dance legend Michael Clark and 90’s techno heroes The Prodigy.

Tom their new show, is a meditation on class, queerness and the Greek myth of Orpheus combined with an exploration of gender fluidity along the way. Throw in the Japanese tradition of Butoh dance in the mix and you may just have some idea what Tom is. But all of this might make Tom sound worthy and impenetrable which it most certainly is not, the production is simply sublime. Watching it was like seeing one of the films of the great French surrealist director Jean Cocteau come to life.  It’s interesting to note that he too directed a movie which explored the Orpheus myth.

There are few shows, which days later you can still clearly see images they created fresh in your mind. Images which are both haunting and beautiful. The company was founded by co-directors Courtney Deyn & Jacob Samuel, who are the current Barbican artists in residence as well as being the current immersive artists in residence for Britten Pears. Deyn also appears in Tom alongside an exceptional and committed cast, which includes Belén Leroux, James Olivo, Yen-Ching Lin, Lewis Walker & Ed Mitchell.  You feel watching this performance that Bullyache are on the cusp of big things, they have the same appeal (if very different content) of 90’s juggernauts the legendary Argentinian company De La Guarda.  And like De La Guarda I suspect in a very short space of time they will be incredibly famous.