Love, Laugh, Dance, Entertain

1 – 8 August 2011 (Monday – Monday)

Laurieston Hall, Dumfries and Galloway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week has now taken place. Our next event that is taking bookings is the Midwinter Celebration week.

 

 

 

 

 

Love the loch, the wood-fuelled sauna, the heartfelt hugs, the beautiful surroundings and of course feel nourished in the company of gay men!

Laugh at the cabaret, the funny stories round the camp fire, trying to play volleyball (and nearly managing), and share all the warmth and humour found in the company of gay men!

Dance at the disco (bring those funky dance tunes – load up your iPod), at the ceilidh (a complete scream and dressing up in kilts and other finery is most welcome), naked under the stars if the moment takes you, and get footloose and fancy free in the company of gay men!

Entertain us all with your party piece at the cabaret, by organising a workshop or event, telling us that story that always makes you cringe, and of course do it all in the company of fabulous gay men!

A supportive environment

Underlying the week is ECC’s well-established supportive framework, developed over the last 25 years of continuous gay men’s weeks. The ECC ethos is all about supporting, encouraging and caring for each other. This includes joining in a daily ‘basegroup’ (a place for you to reflect, share with and listen to a small group of men). We build a strong sense of community in the time we share together – this is what gives our events their special magic.

Beyond these firm foundations, this is very much a participant- led week. So…

Bring bring bring!

Come along and bring your energy, bring an open mind and most importantly bring along your love. Together let’s have the week of our lives! Let’s play together, have fun and raise the energy this summer. Think about what YOU might like to organise, contribute to, participate in or support. It could be some creative playing around, a dynamic workshop, a laid back stroll round the grounds, or anything in between. Let’s make it a gay men’s week to remember!

Bring your costumes, instruments, massage oils, body paints, ideas for the cabaret or workshops leading up to it (singing, dancing, acting, voice work, creative writing anyone?) and for chill-out time, perhaps you could lead yoga, tai chi, meditation or massage workshops? The ideas are limitless…what could you bring to Laurieston this August?

The more we all can bring ourselves to the week, the more energy and memories the week will have!

Of course organising or participating in anything is entirely optional, and you are absolutely welcome to do nothing except relax and unwind and be amused by some of the goings-on.

If you want to try something new, arrange a workshop and need some support or advice on how to do it, talk your ideas through with the organisers before or during the week, or with other participants. It’s your week. If you’ve been before, why not try something different this year..? There will be a workshop meeting at the start of the week to share ideas about the week ahead – come along and bring yours and feel supported in making them a reality.

We’ll have a themed ‘dress up or down for dinner’ night in the week (optional, of course) – let your imagination run wild – the theme for this year is “Technicolour Drama!” – whatever that means to you. The more colourful or dramatic the better! Be creative, have fun and go for it! We’ll have a parade down the stairs before dinner amidst rapturous applause of course. It’s your moment, darlings!

The cabaret, mentioned earlier, is itself a workshop space as well as an evening’s entertainment that happens later in the week. This is your chance to shine, to share, to perform, or to be an enthusiastic audience member of the Love Laugh Dance Entertain Cabaret 2011. Some of those who decide to perform will have been on the stage a few times; for others it is their very first appearance. You don’t have to be polished and perfect, it’s equally brilliant if you just want to get up, have a go and try something out. The enthusiastic (and very fabulous) audience members will love and support you. We’d like to encourage those who’ve performed a turn at previous cabarets to try something different this year. Hmmm … what could you do this time…?

There are all kinds of ways to help with the build up to the cabaret. Maybe you’re a budding director? A stagehand? Or maybe you fancy getting together with a few guys and creating your own man-tastic dance troupe? (The Bare Bears were bloody brilliant a couple of years ago! Email us and we’ll tell you all about them J). Maybe you too will just do something completely spontaneous and daring – the week is open to all kinds of fun collaborations!

Let’s not forget of course the fabulous location. Laurieston Hall, a characterful and charming Edwardian mansion house, is set in acres of lush countryside including its own loch. We have the freedom and privacy to relax, enjoy and explore its surroundings during this popular summer week. You might want to roam around the grounds, explore acres of woodland, chill in the sauna under the trees, join the early morning swimming group (no costume required), sunbathe nude on the lawn or venture out in a canoe or rowing boat. Just come along and help us make the week we decide on.

Practicals

Castle Douglas (7 miles away) is the nearest town and Dumfries (25 miles away) is the nearest train station. A group coach from Carlisle to Laurieston Hall will once again be organised if there is enough interest. Feel free to contact us with travel queries. All food is vegetarian and visitors take it in turns to help our hosts, the resident community of Laurieston Hall, with a few tasks, including preparing meals and washing up. Sleeping is in communal bedrooms of varying sizes and you can camp on the lawns (some tents available) or bring a campervan if you need some private space.

The organisers are Mark Duffy, Mike Young and Steve Bremner, all experienced ECC members who will be bringing their own sweet and adorably unique charms to the week.

Join us on Facebook & Twitter as we get ready for a fabulous summer holiday! www.facebook.com/Laurieston Aug11 | www.twitter.com/Lauriestonaug11

We will also invite you to join an email group about a month before the event starts, so that we can all bounce ideas around, share thoughts and ask questions (eg “Can anyone play the bongos for me on stage while I breakdance in my Spiderman suit??”)

Come and enjoy yourself, expand who you are, make new friends in a safe, peaceful environment. This week is a supportive and encouraging environment, you can opt in and opt out, but you have to be there to be part of the adventure. See you there!