Outside The VOX: Trans Town Sings!

We believe that every voice deserves a space to sing!

Outside the Vox: Trans Town Sings is a special one-off singing session for Trans and Non-Binary folks, taking place at Afri-Co-Lab, in the heart of St Leonards.

WHAT?

• In this 90-minute workshop, Deanne and Laurie will welcome you into a relaxed space where we can come together and get lost in the joy of singing with members of our community.

• Running as part of Trans Town at Hastings Trans Pride 2026.

• Free to attend.

• For folks aged 18 and older.

• This workshop was developed with and for Trans and Non-Binary folks. Allies, you are welcome to attend; however, as spaces are limited, we will be prioritising them for those who identify as Trans and/or Non-Binary.

HOW?

• We'll take time to warm up and get used to singing together before learning a short song (there might even be harmonies!)

• No perfection required, and definitely no judgment, a true love of singing is all you need!

• Afterwards, there'll be free pizza and a chance to socialise in a sober space.

WHY?

Outside the Vox: Trans Town Sings was born from Laurie's passion for inclusive community singing and Afri-Co-Lab's ongoing commitment as allies to the trans and non-binary community. This workshop was developed in direct response to what Afri-Co-Lab heard from trans and non-binary people at Trans Pride Hastings 2025.

WHO?

About Laurie

• Laurie Owen (they/them) discovered a love of singing as a child, performing in choirs, bands and as a soloist for many years.

• After taking a break from all things musical for over a decade, they rekindled their passion for singing after moving to St Leonards in 2019.

• After the first COVID lockdown, desperate for community, Laurie joined a choir. The joy they felt singing as part of a group again was incredible, and within a few weeks, they had arranged their first song and taught it to an ever-growing group of singers, something they never thought they could do.

• It wasn't long before they were helping others to arrange and teach songs, using their musical education to make choral singing less intimidating, more supportive, and more open to singers of all experience levels. Because everyone deserves a place to sing.

• Outside the Vox will be Laurie's first singing workshop, designed for and dedicated to their beloved trans and non-binary community, and they couldn't be any more excited!

About Deanne

• Deanne Naula is the leader of The Naulettes Choir. Her passion for singing was nurtured in community with people and pals, and she has been part of choirs since school. Her singing experience spans choral music and contemporary choirs, with performances at the Royal Festival Hall with vocal leaders like Mark De-Lisser (The Voice, The Masked Singer).

• She has performed as part of the immersive vocal experience HUG by Verity Standen in London, Reading, Bristol, and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and as a lead vocalist in jazz, soul, and funk bands, as well as writing songs and vocal arrangements.

• All of this led her to lead community choirs in London for older folks, as a way to stay connected, both in person and online during the pandemic. At the heart of her musical projects is the need to create beautiful singing experiences that bring and keep the community together.