Casting announced for ‘Certain Young Men’ @National Theatre

Casting announced for Certain Young Men at the National Theatre Queer Theatre: LGBT+ Stories and Social Change – in partnership with Pride in London.

The National Theatre will mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales by staging its first Queer Theatre event series from 6 – 10 July 2017.

A group of world-class actors and directors will look at how theatre has charted the LGBT+ experience through a series of rehearsed readings and post-show discussions in the Lyttelton Theatre.

The third play in the NT’s Queer Theatre series of rehearsed readings is Certain Young Men by Peter Gill. First staged in 1999, Certain Young Men will be performed on Saturday, July 8 at 7.30pm in the Lyttelton Theatre.

“To be really queer you have to have someone nail your foreskin to a piece of wood and generally kick up a bit of a fuss.” As the new millennium approaches, four gay couples illuminate the differences within the ‘gay community’. Is gay life defined by living in coupled suburban bliss or chasing casual sex?

The Certain Young Men cast will include:

Jonathan Bailey (Andrew), Ben Batt (Tony), Oliver Chris (David), Billy Howle (Michael), Lorne MacFadyen (Stewart), Stephen Rashbrook (stage direction), Brian Vernel (Terry) Toby Wharton (Christopher).

Free post show talks will follow each reading exploring the issues in the plays and the wider context for the LGBT+ communities.

The Certain Young Men post-show discussion will include:
Director Peter Gill, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell and online blogger Justin Myers (The Guyliner).

The NT’s Queer Theatre event series is hosted in partnership with Pride in London and includes:

♦ Neaptide by Sarah Daniels, directed by Sarah Frankcom, Thursday, July 6, 7.30pm
♦ Wig Out! written and directed by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Friday, July 7, 7.30pm
♦ Certain Young Men written and directed by Peter Gill, Saturday, July 8, 7.30pm
♦ Bent by Martin Sherman, directed by Stephen Daldry, Sunday, July 9, 2.30pm
♦ The Drag by Mae West, directed by Polly Stenham, Monday, July 10, 7.30pm