Adam Spreadbury-Maher - artistic director of the King's Head Theatre and director of theatre and opera - is transferring his critically acclaimed production of Kevin Elyot's Coming Clean to Trafalgar Studios. He talks about his career, his approach to direction, and how momentous the play is ahead of its run in January.
Dear Readers, I'm going to start out by coming clean to a fact that may cause a few gasps. I've never liked "The Lion King". Unlike much of the rest of America I didn't think the movie was that great and I seriously don't care for the stage version. The story is just a watered-down version of "Hamlet", the music is written by committee with many different composers contributing to the score making for an inconsistent show, and it's all flash and spectacle trying to overshadow songs that don't move anything along by throwing everything they can on stage to distract. It's just overrated. "But," many have retorted, "the costumes are so great." To which I always reply, "Yes, and you see many of them in the first five minutes of the show in the costume parade disguised as an opening number, "Circle of Life". And then after you've seen that, then what? The show has blown their big moment at the beginning of the show and it's all downhill from there. Plus, this is a musical. I come for more than costumes." But we're not here for me to eviscerate "The Lion King", which I could do all day. We know I don't care for it but that aside, how was the current production at the Paramount? Let's discuss that.
The King's Head Theatre, Making Productions and RGM Productions are delighted to announce the full cast for the West End transfer of Kevin Elyot's Coming Clean.
Joe C. Brown and Anthony Hollis Productions have announced the tour of a new one-man play THE SHY MANIFESTO, written by Michael Ross, directed by Cat Robey and starring Theo Ancient (Albus Potter in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child). THE SHY MANIFESTO will open at Live Theatre, Newcastle on 29 January 2019, before touring nationally.
Toronto's annual Gay Play Day, a festival of LGBTQ theatre, is celebrating its 7th anniversary of queer theatre at the Alumnae Theatre studio space on Friday, September 7th and Saturday, September 8th.
The King's Head Theatre, Making Productions Limited and Joe C Brown are delighted to announce the West End transfer of Kevin Elyot's Coming Clean. Adam Spreadbury-Maher, Artistic Director of the King's Head Theatre, will direct the production, which will run at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 9 January to 2 February 2019, with a national press night on Friday 11 January 2019.
FRIGID New York @ Horse Trade is proud to present, the annual Queerly Festival, a festival seen through lavender-colored glasses, June 20-July 2 at The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery). This year, we're bringing together a panoply of performers from New York City and beyond for a gender-liminal, super-gay, non-conformist, totally butch, aggressively femme and subversive AF celebration of all things LGBTQA (LMNOP). Tickets ($20, unless otherwise noted*) are available for purchase in advance at www.horseTRADE.info.
Ben Strothmann will star in Coming Clean, his first solo play, on Friday, June 22 at 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday, June 27 at 7:30pm at the Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street, New York City) as part of the Queerly Festival. Coming Clean will be directed by Mark Finley.
You couldn't write a play like this today, but with the right, light touch, you can still get an immensely entertaining evening out of it.
On BroadwayWorld last year, Adam Spreadbury eloquently discussed his experience of directing Coming Clean, described as arguably the 'first gay kitchen sink drama' of the Eighties. He aptly pointed out that 1982 was a time when exposing audiences to a drama centred around gay men was "an exciting and relatively untapped prospect". And yet, it is both noteworthy and disappointing that 35 years later this statement still rings true for drama focused on gay women.
In homes and private venues across the country, one man bares all in a true story about voyeurism, sexual fantasy and nude housework
Tonight marks the opening of the world premiere of Old Fools by Tristan Bernays, a surprising, touching and often humorous tale about a couple, one of whom is living with Alzheimer's, and their enduring efforts to hold their relationship together through the years.
Casting is announced for the world premiere of Old Fools by Tristan Bernays, a surprising, touching and often humorous tale about a couple, one of whom is living with Alzheimer's, and their enduring efforts to hold their relationship together through the years.
The King's Head Theatre, following on from the exciting news that the company will be moving in 2018 to a purpose built, permanent space in the heart of Islington Square, and Joe C Brown will present the West End transfer of their sell-out production of Puccini's La boh me. Adam Spreadbury-Maher, Artistic Director of the King's Head Theatre, will direct the production, which is running at Trafalgar Studios 2 from 6 December 2017 to 6 January 2018.
The King's Head Theatre, following on from the exciting news that the company will be moving in 2018 to a purpose built, permanent space in the heart of Islington Square, is delighted to announce that they and Joe C Brown will present the West End transfers of their sell-out productions of Puccini's La boh me and Tommy Murphy's Strangers in Between.
Global Citizen today announced Global Citizen Week, a series of events that will culminate with the 2017 Global Citizen Festival in New York City's Central Park.
Tony (Lee Knight) and Greg (Jason Nwoga) have been together for five years. Their relationship is safe, secure, and built on the notion that both of them are allowed to have one-night stands out of their flat. But when Tony hires Robert (Tom Lambert) as a cleaner, the couple's balance starts to shift. Directed by Adam Spreadbury-Maher 35 years after it first premiered in London, Kevin Elyot's Coming Clean is hilarious in his honesty and openness.
The first London revival of Kevin Elyot's first play, Coming Clean, opens tonight 28 July at King's Head Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!
The first London revival of Kevin Elyot's first play, Coming Clean, will run at the King's Head Theatre from tonight 25 July to 26 August 2017, with a press night on Friday 28 July. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!
I wanted to direct Coming Clean for the King's Head Theatre because I think it's a beautiful piece of work by a wonderful playwright. I'm astonished that it's not had a major London revival in the 35 years since the original production at the Bush Theatre and wanted, in the 50th anniversary month of the decriminalisation of homosexuality, to introduce it to a whole new generation.
When we think of Kevin Elyot, one of the first things that comes to mind is his magnificent 1994 comedy My Night with Reg, a touching play about gay lives revived at the Donmar Warehouse in 2015. Elyot's first play, Coming Clean, is about to be staged at The King's Head in a week's time, and now his final play, Twilight Song, receives its long-awaited premiere at Park Theatre.
The first London revival of Kevin Elyot's first play, Coming Clean, will run at the King's Head Theatre from 25 July to 26 August 2017, with a press night on Friday 28 July. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!
Stella Gonet is to star in Doubt, A Parable by John Patrick Shanley one of the most acclaimed plays in recent memory.
King's Head Theatre, London has announced casting for the 35th anniversary production of Coming Clean, Kevin Elyot's first play, directed by Artistic Director of King's Head Theatre, Adam Spreadbury-Maher. The production, which will run at the King's Head Theatre from 25 July to 26 August 2017, with a press night on Friday 28 July, will star Lee Knight as Tony, Elliot Hadley as William/Jurgen, Tom Lambert as Robert and Jason Nwoga as Greg.
The King's Head Theatre today announces the full line-up for its 2017 Queer Season. Established in 2017, the Queer Season is a celebration of the most interesting and innovative LGBTIQ theatre being created in modern Britain.
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