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News and Articles
News and articles about BN and the wonderful world of Naturism
Find out more and book your place at www.rosslynglamping.com or www.facebook.com/rosslynglamping
On the evening of Saturday 11th, there is a visit to the award-winning contemporary art gallery the Towner Art Gallery in the centre of the town. Clothes for visitors are optional.
On Sunday the 12th there will be a day out at the Naturist beach at Norman's Bay.
Other activities for the weekend are being planned.
Find out more and buy your tickets for the gallery now
Library photo by kevin laminto on Unsplash
The event is packed with activities on the park and nude visits to local places with music and entertainment every night. A 5 or 10K naked run takes place on the second weekend and you don’t have to be staying at Nudefest to compete.
Read more at nudefest.co.uk.
BN have since been courted by other media outlets (a nice one for example in The Guardian) and have taken the opportunity on behalf of all Naturists and wannabe Naturists (of whom there are many more in this hot weather seeing the complete sense of taking it all off so as to cool down) to put the record straight.
Being naked in a public place can only be a crime if the naked person undressed with the intention of causing alarm and distress.
Are we clear on that? There is no need to 'warn' your neighbours that you are sunbathing naked (or even topless, as one article had it - we're in the 21st Century, did you know that?) in the same way that you wouldn't consider warning them about the wafting smells from your soon-to-be-lit BBQ, embarking on playing noisily with your kids or anticipating cheering loudly for all the street to hear when Harry Kane scores his seventh in Russia.
Let's grow up. We're all naked underneath, in all our various shapes and sizes. It's only social convention that suggests certain body parts must always be covered up. It's right to challenge that, to reclaim our humanity and to realise that the world doesn't end if someone sees a nipple or backside when they didn't expect to. It's a wonderful feeling to be naked in the sunshine and fresh air. Try it, and you never know, the neighbours might decide to join you.
Photo by Blake Wheeler on Unsplash
Come as you are! Fully dressed, partially dressed or completely naked – you choose.
Skin Deep is a musical all about self-image, body confidence, bullying, marketing, cosmetic surgery, inner demons, shopping for clothes, size’ism, self-worth, diets, weight, exercise. Song and dance sketches – comedy but with an underlying poignant message!
Who hasn’t tried a lifestyle change, or attempted some potentially harmful technique in order to “improve” when in reality they’re already beautifully unique and wonderful? Who really acknowledges their inner beauty already outshines the naked surface?
Our boys in the show lead up to their famous naked finale where they feel empowered to strip off to celebrate their body confidence. It’s the Full Monty, but the lights stay on for just that little bit longer!
Buy tickets for all performances here (the clothing-optional one is only on the 21st August
Picture from PBG studios
The evening was so much better than our evening at Bunyadi, the naked pop up restaurant in London two years ago. The food was tastier and in greater supply. It was also a far more sociable occasion with diners able to mix freely. Sarah and her staff had not catered for a Naturist group before and they enjoyed the event as well. Before the evening had ended Sarah was suggesting themes for the next nude dining evening.
In the last eight months I have attended a naked bike ride, naked theatre, naked art gallery and now a naked restaurant in the region. It's all beginning to seem quite natural... the way it should be.
Andy Wyman
Main Photo by Calum Lewis on Unsplash
As you can imagine the lawns were soon dotted with, mainly naked, bodies enjoying the peace and beauty of these lovely gardens and the Coy Carp Café was kept busy all day serving tea/coffee and a slice of cake
Will the next clothes-optional day at Abbey House Gardens on July 22nd match this wonderful day?
Or perhaps she's using a modicum of common sense? When it's cold, it's intuitive - and socially acceptable - to keep putting on layers until you are warm enough. So, on days like today when it's sweltering and we are sweating in our clothes, feeling mighty uncomfortable, irritable and unable to concentrate, it should be equally acceptable to do the opposite; remove layers until you feel cool again. That probably means all layers, until all that protects you is your own skin. Surely it's not just Naturists that see the sense in that?
Sadly, decades of social conditioning about what's 'right' or is 'appropriate behaviour' (and what's not) in our society possibly mean that the woman in the picture consciously kept her underwear on when it would have been more sensible to take it off too. We're all (broadly) the same underneath and yet we cling to small strips of fabric even when we don't need to for the sake of 'modesty'. The purpose of clothes is to keep us warm and dry, and you don't need either aspect during a heatwave. You may be reading this and thinking of the social status conferred by what we wear, but do you really need that artificial boost to the ego when you are relaxing in the sun?
Naturism is also perfectly legal and we've also just published this article that shows how we've worked with the police to make the situation even clearer. Sunbathing naked in your garden is an easy way to start - and so what if the neighbours can see? How can anyone argue with your desire to cool off in the most sensible way?
There's plenty going on in Naturism in the UK and there's a lot more activity than just sunbathing. Check out our event pages and places to go and find your perfect way to celebrate the sun - and yourself. Millions of people around the world have discovered the wonderful feeling that comes from spending time without clothes, come and join them. Nothing's better!
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
When the former site owner Bernard Clarke passed away last August, there was some doubt in members minds as to whether the site would continue, but Tilly, Bernard’s daughter, along with volunteers have worked tirelessly to provide a beautiful venue with level pitches, hook-ups and excellent facilities and is a real gem. The word is “We are open and thriving”
20 members attended the rally coming from Wales to Wilshire, Devon and Cornwall. We occupied 11 pitches for the complete weekend of sunshine, with BBQ’s, garden darts and a Cornish Cream tea (cream on top!) to celebrate BN’s Ladies Day and to finish a brilliant weekend.
Nudefest was a regular topic of conversation with many saying they hadn’t attended before or not since we changed sites, we expect some booking from those keen to meet up again.
Check out Lower Poulza Post website.
Colin wrote in about his day at Studland:
My partner Anne and I went to the BN beach day at Studland and despite cloudy weather forecasts we had bright sunshine most of the day. It was Anne’s first visit to Studland or in fact any BN event and she was pleased to see how good the beach is. Great to be welcomed with a coffee at the BN gazebo.
Thanks to Colin and Anne for the picture too.
The Great British Skinny Dip takes place every year in #septembare, and we’re always looking for venues. Please let us know if you can help.
Do something exhilarating…
It’s a pleasure to now bring you the news that long, hard work and negotiation over many years between BN’s legal team and the authorities has generated a wonderful result - for all Naturists.
Firstly, here are some extracts from the House of Lords amendment 343A of the Bill which the Government accepted and placed into law as Section 66 of the SOA. It was made plain that it was to deal with flashing.
Baroness Walmsley:
My concern in this part of the Bill has always been to protect naturists going about their perfectly harmless business and to prevent their falling foul of over-zealous police officers and magistrates. My amendment should also protect naturists from mischievous members of the public who might seek to use Clause 70 as a defence against accusations of voyeurism.
Lord Lucas:
We are here trying to deal with flashers - disgusting characters they are. We are not trying to deal with someone who for some other reason exposes his genitals. I would especially cite in this context the streaker. I do not want someone who streaks at a Lord’s cricket match stuffed on the sex offenders’ register. That is not a sexual offence; it may be due to a bit of alcohol and exuberance, but has nothing whatever to do with intentionally offending the public and ... we should require that someone knows and intends that someone should be caused alarm and distress. Just because your maiden aunt, whom you know shrieks at the sight of a naked ankle, happens to see you and you know that she happens to be around should not stop you sunbathing in the nude in your own garden if that is what you want to do.
In summing up the position for the Government, Lord Falconer made the situation abundantly plain:
Do we intend to catch the streaker? No, we do not.
Do we intend to catch the Naturist? No, we do not.
Sexual Offences Act 2003 - The failures in policing
So, it had been made clear by Parliament that Section 66 of the Act was to deal with ‘flashing’. Streaking and Naturism were specifically excluded. Unexpectedly, however, the Police interpreted any call to them from the public prompted simply by the sight of someone naked, as the caller being caused by ‘alarm or distress’. If that didn’t work, they sometimes fell back on section 5 of The Public Order Act 1986, where no intent, nor motive, nor guilty mind is required.
Public Order Act 1986 – Wrongly targeted
Section 5 of The Public Order Act was created to deal with people who joined in riots without forethought, possibly people who who wouldn’t ordinarily become involved in violence or theft, and for hooligans running amok creating a climate of fear. They have no motive for their actions and here lay a difficulty in prosecuting these plainly criminal actions because the law requires mens rea, in other words a motive to complete the conditions for a crime to be committed, and the Act addressed this loophole - and rightly so. But should it include Naturists? Naturism was never mentioned, never included nor ever intended by Parliament to be addressed by this Act.
In 2010 we (Peter and Christine) were ourselves tackled by our local police over garden naturism following complaints to us by an intrusive and bigoted neighbour, but we persuaded the police to accept that Naturism, along with simply being seen by someone when naked was, in fact, lawful. EC members were aware of our success and later requested that we assist a rambler who had been walking naked across the fells in the Leeds area in 2012. In this case the judge in the initial hearing decided that the walker was guilty under section 5, but we worked with him and his barrister on his appeal which was successful. He was fortunate in having extremely skilled representation. The outcome of this case gave us our first insights into how we could address errant policing. We recognised the procedural errors being made by the force and considered how we could reach every police officer in the land, which at that time wasn’t possible.
We considered other ways and came up with two. One lay in campaigning to change public attitudes so that people didn’t immediately call the police when seeing a naked person and we worked on all branches of the media with the Campaigns team. The other strategy was to stop arrests if we could, but if not, then perhaps we could ensure cases didn’t go to court by preventing charges being raised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). BN sent a letter to The Director of Public Prosecutions with a request for him to review the situation and, once he had appreciated the erroneous arrests being made, he issued guidance to Prosecutors. Much of that letter was taken verbatim and is used today as the formal CPS guidance in England and Wales. It made a significant change in charging and policing. We attended several cases in 2012-15, often accompanied and supported by BN member Andrew Calow. Since September 2013 when the guidance was issued arrests for Naturism have virtually disappeared.
A hiccough along the way
In 2014 the government set about reforming the Anti-social Behaviour laws. This was nothing surprising as the existing law hadn’t been working properly and ‘ASBOs’ were being mocked. Anyone could buy an ‘ASBO’ from a card shop or market stall for almost anything: failing to wash dishes, staying out late, whatever. In truth this was the measure of the Act itself. There wasn’t anything in it that wasn’t already dealt with under The Public Order Act 1986 or other existing law.
The draft of the new Act was vague and introduced strange new ideas such as action being taken if matters were thought to be ‘just and convenient’ which is absolutely meaningless in daily life. According to The Human Rights Conventions anyone must be aware that they are committing a crime before they do so and must also be aware of the scale of penalty they will face if they go ahead. Testing whether something was ‘just and convenient’ meant that people would be judged after they had done something to find out if the law had had been broken or not! Another attempt was made by seeking to use the wording ‘nuisance or annoyance’. Well, let’s face it, we can all think of things we find a nuisance or annoyance - it doesn’t and shouldn’t make them criminal. We worked with members of both Houses of Parliament and were instrumental in changing the law on tackling anti-social behaviour and it must be demonstrable that it addresses a harm categorised as ‘harassment, alarm or distress’. This legal phrase is longstanding, has a particular meaning within the law and is well tried and tested in the courts so prosecutors, defending solicitors and barristers and police officers all know what it means. Under Anti-social Behaviour Act it is possible to issue a Community Protection Notice (CPN), but it would seem to be structurally impossible against Naturism as Section 66 of The Sexual Offences Act was predicated upon the proposition that the human body does not create ‘Alarm or Distress’ of itself.
Over the next four years there were only occasional cases. Often they were in more unusual circumstances like doing home maintenance at the front of the house, or driving across a town. When anything reached court we liaised with barristers and attended court proceedings making clear that British Naturism was following the proceedings very closely. We realised that The Equalities Act of 2010 afforded Naturists with a protected status, as much as say Buddhists and Pagans who have communities, land and follow a “Philosophical Belief” though they have no deity, and included this as an element in cases. The prosecutions all failed so we reasoned that we were in a position to take our findings to the Justice System itself and hold discussions on the general procedures for policing.
In the Dark
We felt that often it was a training issue; a police officer who rarely if ever encountered Naturism was using his or her own judgement and common sense when dealing with a complaint, because he or she was not aware of what the law says in this tiny and unfamiliar area. The Government had created a College of Policing during the passage of earlier legislation and this seemed to be the natural place for updating any training issues. Getting an updated briefing into the Policing Manual now seemed a good way forward, so we arranged a meeting with the highest ranking officer in the College of Policing.
That meeting was very positive and constructive. There was a clear understanding at the highest level of what had gone wrong and why, and a recognition of the need for training improvements for frontline officers and control room staff in order that complaints could be responded to appropriately. Months of delicate negotiation followed, where we presented possible approaches to training and they were run past various committees and their legal department. This kind of thing always takes much patience and time. However, in April this year we reached a mutually satisfactory solution, and the resultant preamble and “decision tree” for dealing with complaints about public nudity has been uploaded to the Police Training manuals. A successful and amicable conclusion!
Harnessing the Internet
The BN membership card carries the link to a ‘Policing’ page on the BN website which takes a Police Officer/duty solicitor straight to the Police website where there is “chapter and verse” on public nudity and which makes it abundantly clear that no further action need be taken in cases where someone is being a Naturist or where there is no inappropriate behaviour. It differentiates the passive nudity of Naturism from that of sexual offenders, people trying to cause trouble for others, or those who may have mental health issues, and details appropriate police responses to fit each case.
The Changes
The police have agreed that intentional and active use of genitals to aid abusive behaviours falls under Section 4A of the Public Order Act. They are intentional acts which require no interpretation. They also agree that Naturists must be treated equally with others. This is of considerable benefit to police officers as they are called to complaints by the public and rightfully expect that there is some mischief to which they will have to attend; normally unpleasant. Until now they have had no guidance, training or resource to rely upon and have ended up in confrontations which sometimes have gone to court only to find that the case is lost and the state has been obliged to repay all legal costs.
Much of our work has been in addressing Section 5 (the section without intent) of the Public Order Act, and obtaining recognition that this cannot be applicable to Naturism as there is no activity that is directed towards anyone. In consequence, consideration of Naturism by police officers under Section 5 has been removed from the training system. At last, it's recognised that Section 5 of the Public Order Act simply doesn't apply to Naturists!
It has taken many years, and there MAY still be occasional mistakes; to err is be human after all. But we are reassured that we can deal with any error quickly and probably on the spot via web links and smartphones. We hope that this initiative will give rise to much greater security provided that members are sensible, sensitive to others and their personal space, and never accept that Naturism is wrong nor accept a Caution for it!
Peter and Christine Wright, BN legal team
Blog: https://www.bn.org.uk/blogs/entry/1560-policing-2018-onwards/
Thanks to Donna and John for the picture illustrating the simple - and lawful - pleasure of being naked in the open air
Activities included a BBQ at the site owner’s (rather splendid) house along the beach, where we swam in a huge pool; an early morning stretch session accompanied by relaxing music and bird-song; a trip to the other-worldly Roman remains and modern sculptures on the hilltop plateau at Aléria; a drive into the mountains where pink villages decorate the dark green hillsides; and a morning at Naturist resort Riva Bella where we met donkeys and llamas before a stroll on the beach. During the days we swam in the clear sea with sand underfoot, walking along the sandy beach or taking a stroll along meandering countryside tracks - where walking without clothes was possible. Some also chose to relax with a massage from Marielle on the beach, who was accompanied by her beautiful companion Max, a pure white Labrador who sat quietly by her side. We dined as a group most evenings, enjoying quizzes and card games - and great company. This was a gentle, relaxing, captivating week of escape that we were all very sad to leave.
There are more BN Members’ holidays to come this year, check them out!
Get fit, get naked - we take a look at the many different opportunities there are to keep fit - from cycling to Yoga to Tai-Chi, there's a whole new world out there!
A review of our Bournemouth and Blackpool weekends
Naturism in Northern Ireland - getting busier…
Naked Dining - Bristol organiser Will tells us how his venture came about - and it may just whet your appetite for some of the other similar ventures that are happening this year!
Naked Theatre - we review the recent production of Skin Deep that was clothing-optional for the audience
Naturism and veganism - is there a correlation? Jane discusses.
Looking for holiday ideas? Check out our reviews of recent group holidays to El Portus, and our Austrian ski-ing trip - as well as member reviews from Portugal, Croatia, Kos and Montenegro.
Judith Stinchcombe looks back over her time as BN Chair, and remembers some of the highlights of her time.
Comprehensive listings of clubs, swims and events
…and much more besides.
BN Magazine is available to members only and issued four times a year as part of your annual subscription. If you are not a member, you can join us and get your own copy and other benefits as well.
NKD is British Naturism’s youth and family festival and welcomed around 150 guests over the weekend. The weather was amazing, three days of splendid sunshine
There was loads to do from the Holi-style paint fight to the massive 25m long slip ‘n’ slide, campfire sing-a-longs to laughter yoga. There was a great night out at Splashdown waterpark. Everyone got involved.
The best thing about NKD though was the people. A new, younger community was forged, families bonded, we laughed, played and sang together.
The NKD spirit is truly alive and will return May 24th - 27th 2019.
Get it in your diary now!
See the pics! BN Members can access galleries of images from all events, including NKD and Splashdown (log in required)
At this lovely hotel we either enjoyed sitting on the verandas or dipping into the super large pool, both with stunning views of the sea, or we joined in the plentiful hotel activities; pétanque, archery, shuffleboard to name a few. We ran our own BN aqua class in the afternoons with lots of ‘noodle’ fun, and had several ‘BN only' group trips including one to the local village Chora Sfakion where we enjoyed a lunch at our host’s family taverna. One morning we ventured further afield to the ancient parts of Anopolis followed by a splendid and plentiful lunch with raki that didn’t stop flowing, and on another day to a war museum followed by delicious tastings at a winery.
The more adventurous of our group ventured out with the hotel party for challenging spectacular gorge walks and a jeep safari. The hotel entertainment ran every night with even a little Greek dancing thrown into the mix. On a couple of early evenings we were kept guessing with Andrew’s quizzes while drinking some excellent local wine.
The week went quickly, but the memories will last.
Fancy a group holiday? Find out all about those to come this summer and beyond
It's one of the busiest weekends of the year for Naturists in the UK - what will you do?
May 25 - May 28 - Dorset
NEW for 2018! NKD, youth and family clothes-free festival
May 25 - June 1 - Yorkshire
Nudestock IX - camping and activity weekend, now in its ninth year
May 26 - Dorset
Naked night at Splashdown Waterpark, Poole
May 27 - Somerset
Naked dining in a Pullman carriage. Optional camping nearby.
Check out our calendar and see this map for ALL the naked activities this weekend and throughout the year…
I understand for many Naturists that just ‘being naked’ is what they crave, and to do everyday activities in the nude. I don’t feel that need - for me clothes can be preferable on many occasions. The reason I choose the clothes-free option to swim and do other activities is because it makes sense. I hope that looking at it from this perspective may help others outside who struggle with their own nakedness to see that there are sensible reasons not to wear clothes on occasion, reasons that seem to have been forgotten by the clothed community in this country.
Comfort
You don’t know until you try. All my childhood and adult life until these latter years I struggled with tight uncomfortable swimming costumes. Some are even padded which is odd when you think about what a ‘swimming’ costume is for, and they are often uncomfortable when being dragged by water or when sitting in a sauna. Being in a sauna means sweat, lots of it, all being soaked up in that tight clingy cloth and padding! It is far more comfortable and sensible to get back to basics, and not put that costume on in the first place.
Cleanliness
We all know that viruses, yeast, and bacteria love to live in warm, moist places. Keeping on a wet costume means it’s rubbing up against all the bits you have covered and can lead to infections. You may notice when abroad that some people seem to wear costumes as all round clothing options; going from beach, to the pool and drying in the sun, then slipping on a sarong or shorts over it to go to lunch or the shops, picking up everything in the atmosphere along the way and then back down to that costume for another dip in the pool later…. let’s not stop to think too much about what is then being dragged through the water alongside the bodies! For us, we take the clothes off, have a quick douse before slipping in the water to swim - and into cleaner pools because of it.
Cost
I know I am really lucky to have a Naturist club near to me, but when I sat down and worked the finance out, I realised my membership of the club, where I generally swim twice a week, works out far cheaper than swimming in the local public pool. It really is what some would term as a ‘no brainer’.
Space
When on holiday at a Spanish Naturist resort recently we wandered from ‘our’ beach to another on the ‘clothed side’. It was a sunny weekend admittedly, but that beach was packed and noisy. You could not put a pin between people and sunbeds and all their ‘stuff’. I could not wait to retreat to the tranquility, back to the more comfortable side where I could reach out and touch the space, feel the calm, hear the sea and breathe in the experience.
Ambience
Not only do we benefit from space, but also from that lovely relaxed atmosphere that envelopes us at our chosen resorts, beaches, clubs. There is usually a physical natural beauty combined with the sense of well-being that seems to surround us in these environments. It is as though we have found the complete escape from the stresses of everyday life.
Safety
This one comes as a double whammy.
Personal safety - I can be stark naked around stark naked men and women and I have never felt safer in my life. The community is respectful and considerate. When everything is laid bare, there is nowhere to hide. That brings a sense of comfort and even freedom. It does seem surprising really. Why would being naked make you feel safe? I think it is because in a naked state everyone is equal and no one appears dominant or threatening. You could also say everyone is equally vulnerable. Whichever way you look at it, it leads to a safer place to be.
Security - I am far more easygoing when mixing within the community about belongings. Perhaps it is because we mix freely, talk to each other and feel comfortable with each other, but I certainly never worry that anything will go missing. Quite the opposite, people look out for each other. Obviously ‘no pockets’ means there is nowhere for anything to be hidden! Whatever the reason, I do not worry about theft or about my belongings when I am within the community, which I certainly do when I am away from it.
‘You are brave’ my friend said, ‘I still couldn't do it’. ‘Not brave’ I said, ‘it really is just better.’ I hadn’t mentioned the ‘Naturist’ word once. My friend may not choose to try a naked dip, but at least she understands why I do. You don’t need to use the often misunderstood ‘Naturist’ label when common sense and a logical, sensible approach speaks for itself.
Sheryn
Photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash
Ay carumba! Naked dining - it’s all the rage! Following success in Bristol, we now gather for a wonderful unclothed Mexican restaurant experience in Datchworth, Hertfordshire, between Stevenage and Welwyn, on Saturday 16th June, starting at 7:00 pm.
It's the same day as the Cambridge World Naked Bike Ride with plenty of time for riders to finish the ride and make their way and extend the nude time...
Check out the details including how to book. Places are limited, so please don’t delay.
A few of us had walked down to the sea around three-quarters of a mile out. 'Concerned' members of the public had called the police and the powers that be decided to send a couple of officers to have a chat with us. They were brilliant. Very much on our side and told us they were aware of our event. When we originally met with the council and police a couple of years ago they said they would inform officers when we were meeting. Good to know it's still working. They left with a copy of the BN Public Place Naturism Guide, but they both declined an invitation to our swim that night. We also had a visit from a reporter from Andy Mitchell from Radio Wave and the Blackpool Gazette.
Let's see if we can get even more attendees at our next beach picnic on the second of June!
A slightly sun kissed George
Photo by Jan Romero on Unsplash
Hundreds of guests over the years have now put Dunoon firmly on the Naturist circuit and most importantly the local community now accept Naturists as welcomed and respected tourists enjoying boat trips, garden visits and walks in the countryside - without clothes, and without hassle.
Guests will enjoy a packed programme of activities both in and out of the event’s base, the Glenmorag hotel, including evening entertainment and the now traditional Burns in the Buff dinner.
https://www.bn.org.uk/calendar/event/3768-the-gathering/
BN Members can follow the action as it unfolds on the BN Members' forum
Between Bath, Bristol and Wells lays The Old Station Inn and Carriage restaurant. The Hotel, originally commissioned for the now closed Hallatrow Railway station was built in the 1920s and is a fine example of the architecture of the period.
With obvious links to the railways it also features an old Pullman carriage as its restaurant, which has been lovingly restored to all its former glory. This was modelled on the iconic Royal Scotsman's dining car and is both elegant and welcoming.
Places are selling fast, so book your place now! Make a weekend of it and stay nearby at Cam Bridge Barn.
Sunday 27th May from 7.00pm
Find out all the details including how to book
A good number of families showed up too, and Waterworld doesn’t disappoint with a great mix of slides, play areas and 'tough mudder’-esque monkey bars and leaping lillypads! There really is something for everyone including those who just want to relax and enjoy a drink and food from the poolside bar.
If you missed out we are back at Waterworld later in the year for the finale of The Great British Skinny Dip on the 29th September.
If you can’t wait till then and love a waterpark then you are in luck – Splashdown happens the late bank holiday weekend in May (May 26th) in Poole, Dorset. Buy your tickets now!
It’s also the subject of a documentary being made for Channel 4. Burning Bright Productions are looking for women to speak about what being a woman is to them, told through their life experiences and their bodies.
If you think you have an interesting story or view point you would like to be included then please email your interest to womanhood@BBprod.co.uk and a member of the team will be in touch to talk through what it involves.
It was with some trepidation that I approached the clothes optional performance of SKIN DEEP at the Stockwell Playhouse. I have reviewed shows at some very peculiar venues and sat on all kinds of seating including sandbags, but I have always worn clothes. How would I manage with my notebook without a good lap to rest it on? In the event, of course, I undressed and sat on a theatre seat and wrote in my notebook as usual. The theatre holds 181 people and was almost full on the 27 April which was the only night when nudity was encouraged. Most of the audience was completely nude with just a few in some kind of clothing. Many in the audience are BN members and when I spoke to them they came from a variety of places. One had come from Birmingham specially to see the show, others are members of clubs and a lot just read about it on social media or via the BN members’ forum. It was good to see a scattering of females although the audience was substantially male – young and middle-aged, just a couple of seniors around. I was delighted to observe a long queue for the Gents toilets as I waltzed straight into the Ladies’!
And so …on to the show. There are four young men, William Frazer, Adam O’Shea, Nick Brittain and Daniel Timoney, together with a well-endowed and attractive young woman known as Diana played by Shani Cantor, who examine our attitude to our bodies. The patter and songs look at issues covering body image. They talk about when they were young – one of the young men had severe spots, another speaks about not being chosen for the football team while one complains about being too fat.
There are some very good songs which illustrate the performers’ concerns. I particularly liked Size Doesn’t Matter. Love Me for Who I Am is moving while My Foreskin and Me is most amusing. This latter song follows a close examination (on a screen) of the lower part of Michelangelo’s David. Director and Choreographer Adam Scown manages his performers expertly and is well served by the cast. The young men sing pleasantly and dance - in a variety of styles - extremely well. Shani Cantor has a great voice and puts across her songs with lots of feeling and meaningful glances at the audience. Words and music are by Chris Burgess and he has a good line in innuendo and sexual asides. The references to nudism and gay jokes went down particularly well with this audience. The set design is good with excellent lighting on display.
The performers are quite camp with some explicit displays. There is a well-danced and amusing number where the males hold giant fans in strategic positions which the audience really appreciated. The grand finale with the actors prancing around as nature intended is well worth the price of the entrance ticket. The show should please most people and if you can catch another clothes optional performance such as the one at the Edinburgh Fringe, so much the better!
Carlie Newman
Find out more about the show and future dates. Every venue is allowing BN Members to use the concessionary discount code.
