Pic by Chris Jepson Photography
Latest TV’s Andrew Kay has created a new play, John and Thomas, to launch a prize in honour of drag star Jason Sutton aka Miss Jason, whose untimely death shocked the Brighton and London gay scene.
Andrew wrote a previous play, Morning Glory, specifically for Jason and it had great success both in Edinburgh and Brighton. It was directed by Allan Cardew.
Coincidentally actor and drag star Dave Lynn had asked Andrew to write something for him. Andrew told me: “I’d seen Dave Lynn act and knew he had the talent, so after some thinking I set about writing a new play for him and Jason together.
“That was just before lockdown, and everything went on hold. It was only this year that I went back to that script, prompted by the sad and untimely death of Jason.”
And so Allan Cardew came on board to play opposite Dave, with direction from West End director/choreographer Carole Todd.
Andrew said: “It struck me that the money raised from its performance could be used to create an annual LGBTQ+ drama prize in Jason Sutton’s name.”
And Chris Gull at the Brighton Rainbow Fund has come on board to help administer the prize.
John and Thomas, which will launch the prize at a rehearsed reading on October 8 on Brighton Pier as part of PierFest, is billed as a romance: the love story of two older men approaching retirement. One is ready to face a queer future and the other unready to give up a life on the stage, and in heels. The cast is completed by Nathan Croft, and the evening will be narrated by BBC Radio Sussex’s Allison Ferns.
There will also be screening of footage of Jason from Latest TV’s archives.
Andrew said: “I really hope the people of Brighton & Hove and beyond will get behind this project and help us create something lasting in Jason Sutton’s name.”
Tickets HERE