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Matt Eberlein | Flicker Magazine

@matteberlein

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Writer | @theflickermagazine
Exploring LGBTQ+ life, theatre, recovery & identity
Sharing stories that start conversations
🐶 Dog dad 🌲🌈

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Some of the habits that stop us being happy didn’t start as bad habits.

They started as survival.

Growing up gay teaches you to read every room before you walk into it. To hide parts of yourself. To expect rejection before acceptance. Those lessons don’t disappear just because you become an adult.

Maybe that’s why we chase unavailable partners. Why we keep people at a distance. Why alcohol or drugs sometimes feel less like a choice and more like a way to finally exhale.

For years I thought I was sabotaging my own happiness.

Now I wonder if my brain was simply trying to protect me.

My latest Substack is about the survival skills many gay men carry long after they no longer need them, and what happens when we finally begin to recognise the difference between surviving and living.

The link is in my bio or below. I’d love to know if any of this resonates with you.

https://open.substack.com/pub/matteberlein/p/the-survival-skills-that-stop-gay?

#GayMen #MentalHealth #Trauma #Relationships #Substack taken in London, United Kingdom by @matteberlein

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2 days ago

Music has carried me through both the darkest and the happiest chapters of my life. It has been there when everything was falling apart, and it has been there during the moments I’ll never forget. There were times when it wasn’t just something I listened to. It was something I held on to.

That’s why I wrote my latest Substack, Music Is My Religion. It’s not about faith. It’s about kindness, compassion and the way music brings us together, no matter who we are or where we come from.

If a song has ever helped you through life, or become part of your story, this one’s for you.

Link in bio and here

https://open.substack.com/pub/matteberlein/p/music-is-my-religion?

#substack #music #writing #kindness mentalhealth taken in London, United Kingdom by @matteberlein

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10 days ago

It was a real pleasure to sit down with the talented actor, director and producer @nicolasperezcosta to talk about his bold new adaptation of Richard III.

We spoke about reimagining one of Shakespeare's most complex villains, bringing physical theatre to the centre of the production, and what audiences can expect from this fresh interpretation.

If you're curious about modern Shakespeare, the creative process, or the passion behind bringing a classic to life, this is an interview you won't want to miss.

Head over to @theflickermagazine to read the full interview.

https://www.flickermagazine.art/interview/nicolas-perez-costa-richard-iii-cockpit-theatre-interview-2026

#RichardIII #Shakespeare #Theatre #Interview #FlickerMagazine taken in Cockpit Theatre by @matteberlein

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12 days ago

Nicolás Pérez Costa brought his acclaimed Richard III from Madrid to London for the first time, which opened at the Cockpit Theatre this month.
Matt Eberlein met him before one of the shows to talk about power, percussion and building a performance from the body.

Full interview at FLICKERMAGAZINE.ART/INTERVIEWS.

#RichardIII #CockpitTheatre #LondonTheatre #QueerTheatre #FlickerMagazine taken in Cockpit Theatre by @matteberlein

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12 days ago

I spent three weeks back in London after almost a year away.

I thought I'd be reminded of everything I missed. Instead, I realised how much I'd changed.

This isn't about leaving London. It's about discovering that the life you once loved can also be the thing that's quietly exhausting you.

Sometimes you don't realise how loud your life has become until you finally experience silence.

I wrote about what those three weeks taught me.

Link in my bio or here

https://open.substack.com/pub/matteberlein/p/i-thought-i-missed-london-what-i?

#Substack #LondonLife #ADHDJourney #MentalWellbeing #LifeChanges taken in London, United Kingdom by @matteberlein

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14 days ago

This weekend, Flicker Magazine marched at our first Pride under the flag of One Fluid Night. It was a day of colour, connection, and community, and we were joined by our partners and friends from @london_fashionday , led by @konstantin_keka

Huge thanks to my best and hardest team members @matteberlein & @claudia.london.trueliving, I couldn't have done it without you both. As well big thank you to everyone who joined our open call and walked with us. If you felt connected, if you felt touched by love out there, we see you and we carry that with us.

Submissions are officially open for One Fluid Night Film Festival in Paris 2026, taking place 23 and 24 October at Le Brady & Christine Cinema Club. The programme will spotlight international short films and the OFN Awards, in the city of Love & Cinema.

Pictures by @darya.tarasova_ and @paul.londonpixel
 #Pride2026 #QueerFilm #OneFluidNight #ParisFilmFestival #CityOfLoveAndCinema taken in Green Park by @matteberlein

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19 days ago

I quit drinking because I wanted my life back.

The headaches disappeared. The nausea disappeared. My sleep improved.
But every morning, my brain still felt hungover.

It took me years, and nearly five decades of thinking I was just lazy, weak, undisciplined, to understand what was actually going on.

Turns out alcohol was never the whole story. It was just hiding something else.

New post is up 🔗 in bio, for anyone whose mornings feel like they've already climbed a mountain before they've even brushed their teeth.

https://open.substack.com/pub/matteberlein/p/the-hangover-alcohol-couldnt-explain?

You are not lazy. You are not weak. You are not failing.

#ADHD #SobrietyJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #LateDiagnosisADHD #Neurodivergent taken in London, United Kingdom by @matteberlein

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19 days ago

Today reminded me how lucky I am to be surrounded by such inspiring creators across film, art and fashion.

From connecting with visionary filmmakers, to celebrating bold artists, and ending the day immersed in the energy of fashion creatives, every moment was filled with connection, laughter and pride.

Thank you to everyone who made today so special.
Pride is about showing up, standing together and creating spaces where people can simply be themselves.

My feet are sore, my voice is gone, but my heart is full.

Until next year, London. 🏳️‍🌈❤️

#londonpride2026 #londonpride @theflickermagazine #onefluidnight #londonfashionday taken in London, United Kingdom by @matteberlein

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21 days ago

🏳️‍🌈 Happy London Pride 🏳️‍🌈

A fabulous day to upset straight people. 😉

If Pride makes you uncomfortable, good. It was never meant to make everyone comfortable.

✊ Pride is still a protest.

For one day, millions of LGBTQI+ people experience something many spent years believing they would never have.

❤️ The freedom to hold someone’s hand without looking over their shoulder.

🌈 The freedom to laugh without editing their voice.
🫶 The freedom to exist without apology.

For some, Pride is a celebration.

For others, it is the safest they will feel all year.
That distinction matters.

Pride was never created simply to celebrate identity. It exists to declare that LGBTQI+ lives deserve safety, dignity and belonging.

The rainbow flags, music and celebration matter. They are acts of joy in the face of everything that has tried to silence us.

Tomorrow, many will return to places where they still hide who they are, where holding a partner’s hand still feels risky, or where coming out could cost them everything.
That is why Pride still matters.

🏳️‍🌈 We march because equality is never guaranteed.
🏳️‍⚧️ We march for those who can’t.
❤️ We march because visibility saves lives.

Love is not the protest.
The fact that it still has to be. taken in London, United Kingdom by @matteberlein

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21 days ago

7:30am and I’m heading into the city.

One thing I definitely don’t miss is rush hour—the crowds of people and the overpriced coffees that somehow feel like part of the chaos.

These days, my mornings are sacred. I like starting the day slowly, with a coffee, a walk with Coco, and a bit of quiet before everything else begins.

Today feels like a refreshing change of pace, and it’s a great reminder of how much I value the calm and balance I’ve created in my mornings. taken in London, United Kingdom by @matteberlein

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25 days ago

Team Flicker has just watched the final film before the award ceremony at the Q-IFTUK IRISH PRIDE FILM FESTIVAL.

What a powerful way to close an incredible programme. The final film was moving, thought provoking, and a reminder of how important queer stories are on screen. Congratulations to the filmmakers for such a memorable ending to the festival.

#QIFTUK #IrishPrideFilmFestival #LGBTQFilm QueerCinema FlickerMagazine taken in Century Club by @matteberlein

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a month ago

For years, I thought there was something wrong with me.

Every summer, while everyone else seemed excited about sunshine, festivals, holidays, and long evenings, I found myself becoming more irritable, more exhausted, and less able to cope with even the smallest things.

My concentration disappeared. My patience got shorter. Everything felt louder, brighter, busier, and harder.

I assumed I was being negative. Maybe even a little miserable.

What I didn't realise was that ADHD and summer can be a difficult combination. Heat, sensory overload, disrupted routines, poor sleep, emotional dysregulation, and even antidepressants can all pile on top of an already overwhelmed nervous system.

This week's article is one of my most personal pieces yet. It's about what summer actually feels like when your brain never really slows down, and why sometimes the answer isn't to push harder, but to understand yourself a little better.

If you've ever sat in front of a fan wondering why simply existing feels exhausting while everyone else seems to be thriving, you're not alone.

You can read the full article through the link in my bio or directly here:

https://open.substack.com/pub/matteberlein/p/summer-and-adhd-why-hot-weather-turns?

#ADHD #AdultADHD #MentalHealth #Neurodiversity #ADHDAwareness taken in London, United Kingdom by @matteberlein

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a month ago