SPOTLIGHT ON: Queer romance, schoolboy crushes, bullying and disability
Brian Butler
Jason Sutton is well-known on the Brighton and London drag circuits as Miss Jason. But you can catch him on stage at Brighton’s Theatre Royal this month in an uplifting, thoughtful one-man play Morning Glory. Written by Latest TV’s Andrew Kay and directed by Allan Cardew, the play is on its second local outing, having been presented in 2019 briefly downstairs at Legends.
It’s a moving story of inter-generational Queer bullying but much more than that too. Look out for my review in Scene. It plays for two performances – 7pm and 830 pm on September 13, with the bonus of the audience being up close and personal seated on the stage. Booking – atgtickets.com
The King’s Head, Islgton is running a stellar season of plays this month. First off is Bright Half Life by Tanya Barfield. It’s about love, heartbreak, and the infinite moments that make up a relationship, depicting Queer love in the richest and most original of ways. It runs 7 September- 1 October.
The Benefits Of Disabled Sex runs 13-17 September. In 2012 boy lost the use of his legs, but that’s the least of his worries. His school crush doesn’t know his name, his mother won’t stop getting at him and he still can’t afford a sex worker. It’s a semi-autobiographical one-man show, exploring disability, youth, crotches and crutches.
The Effect runs 18-19 Septmber. It’s billed as a play about sex and drugs. Sort of. Tristan and Connie are volunteers who meet during a drug trial for a new anti-depressant. But is the drug working or are they just in love?
The Drought runs 21-4 September. A Captain and his steward on a Victorian naval vessel find themselves marooned at the bottom of the sea after the ocean mysteriously disappears. Now that sounds intriguing in terms of staging !
Oh Yes I Am! – A Musical is on 11 and 12 September. Hector wanted to be a world-famous actor. He didn’t want to be a panto dame. He didn’t want to fall in love with his rival Dicky and he certainly didn’t want to end up in an actors’ retirement home.
Seven Dials Playhouse in Covent Garden has two new plays to open its season. Help! We Are Still Alive is a musical comedy. Jass and Finn have survived the apocalypse, but what do you do when you don’t fancy the only other survivor? It’s a gig-style Queer comedy about keeping romance alive. It runs 5 September- 15 October.
Daddy Issues is a thrilling one-woman play with its world premiere on 24 October and runs until 19 November. By Lewis Cornay, it’s a dark comedy about 23-year-old Imi. Isolated, she finds herself slipping further and further from reality – trying to explain the complexities of grief, Cliff Richard and dead dogs. Tickets for both shows at sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk
When Rob was 12, they attempted a full-blown Disney parade in their house for grandma. As Rob donned wigs, they became Mary Poppins, Mickey, Ariel and Belle. Rob Madge presents a semi-autobiographical show – My Son’s A Queer, ( But What Can i Do ?) And nobody’s gonna rain on their parade. Direct from sell-out shows at Edinburgh, it runs 21 October – 6 November at London’s Garrick Theatre – One not to miss, I think – nimaxtheatres.com
There’s another chance to seee one of my favourite cabaret performers at one of my equally favourite venues, when Ty Jeffries brings out his alter ego Miss Hope Springs to dredge through her tawdry show business failure of a life. A brilliant confection with songs by Ty. It’s at the Phoenix Arts Club, Charing Cross Road on 16 October and 20 November. Tickets at Phoniex Box office
And last but not least actor, singer, writer and director Tim McArthur is directing Kevin Kelly’s Turning Of The Screw at Wimbledon Theatre’s Studio 20- 29 October. It’s 1954 and composer Benjamin Britten is working on a new opera about purity and innocence. He’s in an illegal Gay relationship with singer Peter Pears so they mustn’t draw attention to themselves. The star of the opera is a 12-year-old roguish choirboy who comes to stay with the couple. Is someone going to get hurt, or even go to prison? Oh and the 12-year-old became film star David Hemmings. Book at atgtickets.com
