Latest 7 magazine

Andrew Kay sings for his supper at Bom-Bane’s in Kemp Town

Life, being what it is, can all become a bit serious. Even for me in my role as roly-poly fat man at large for Latest 7. I am only too aware that my waxing lyrical on the joys of food and drink can border on the indulgent at one extreme and the straightforward rant at the other. There are days when, to be really honest, all I want is a fish finger butty with Heinz salad cream.

I shouldn’t moan, one friend openly admonishes me for complaining about what she describes as a charmed life with a charmed job. And from time to time an invite pops in which certainly lifts my spirits.

One such invite arrived at the end of the festival. Dinner at Bom-Bane’s for Bom-Bane’s: The Musical.

‘‘Good food, loads of organic wine, great music, humour, sadness, lunacy and an epic mountain of chocolate-draped freshly cooked waffles’’

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Jess Weixler, the star of controversial new horror Teeth, talks to Latest 7 about taking on such a unique role

You can’t exactly go out and meet other women who suffer from vagina dentata. How the hell do you go about researching this kind of role?
Well that’s why I liked the part. Because there were no rules for how to play the game. Look at this girl Dawn, realise she came from this place of total innocence – she’s very human, someone who doesn’t know their body and hasn’t opened up yet. And then she gets to learn about life as it sort of attacks her. So she has a very dangerous sexual experience, then instinct kicks in and her body essentially protects her until she learns how to use the teeth. And that’s something I had to come to.

In Teeth, you play a woman who has problems communicating with men. Do you find this a common trait in your own dealings with the opposite sex?
I wouldn’t say personally that I have problems communicating with men – though I’m not sure what the men would say, (laughs). I haven’t actually thought about how they’re similar. To me, Dawn comes from such a pure place and is so shocked to find this stuff inside of her – figuratively and literally – and then sort of grows into a woman who really owns it.

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Simon Amstell has had a haircut. His signature huge mop of floppy curls has been cut back. Luckily Simon is no Samson and his cutting humour and vert funny cruel quips have not accompanied his curls onto the floor.

Telling tales of identity, from his own sexuality and self-absorption in relationships to the influence of celebrity – including his own – this was a far more interactive show than Amstell had bargained on. More than heckling and less than conversation, surprisingly this only added to the enjoyment of the show. Great fun.

The Dome, 13 June
5/5

Victoria Nangle

Martlets Hospice to benefit from evening of poptastic Abba Gold

It’s 34 years since Abba blazed to glory on the stage of the Brighton Dome in the Eurovision Song Contest, but their popularity lives on in the hearts of thousands of fans worldwide. Unlike most winners though, Abba proved to be the exception to the ‘one hit wonder’ rule that usually applies and went on to carve out an amazing career as pop performers and songwriters of excellence. And even though they have not performed together for many years, the legend lives on in recording and also with tribute bands.

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