Mark Gatiss and Ian Hallard to Lead Mart Crowley's BOYS IN THE BAND, Opening in London, Tour to Follow; This Fall

Producers Tom O'Connell and James Seabright are pleased to announce that they will be staging a first-class revival of Mart Crowley's ground-breaking play, THE BOYS IN THE BAND, opening at Park Theatre in London this autumn, and that, due to popular demand, the production will embark on a short tour to The Lowry, Theatre Royal Brighton and West Yorkshire Playhouse.

There's a party about to commence when nine men gather in a New York apartment for a birthday celebration. Harold, a self-confessed 'Jew fairy', receives a surprise birthday gift - a beautiful male hustler dubbed Cowboy. Meanwhile, party host Michael gets an unwanted surprise of his own in the shape of a figure from his past. As the booze is drunk and the dope smoked, the mood swings from hilarity to heart-break.

Olivier Award winner Mark Gatiss will star alongside his husband Ian Hallard in this eagerly anticipated production, which sees the pair playing 'Harold' and 'Michael'.

The production is directed by A Small Family Business & One Man Two Guvnors' director, Adam Penford, and will open at Park Theatre in London from 28 September 2016 - 30 October 2016, with a press night onTuesday 4 October. The show will then embark on a short UK Tour visiting The Lowry, Salford from 3 - 6 November, Theatre Royal, Brighton from 8 - 12 November, and the West Yorkshire Playhouse from 14 - 19 November.

Mark Gatiss and Ian Hallard said, "We are thrilled to be a part of this production, which will bring this seminal gay play back to London for the first time in eighteen years. The script is razor sharp, with huge amounts of wit and pathos, and is as fresh, startling and relevant as it was back in 1968. It's tremendously exciting to be working with a superb creative and production team who are bringing the show to Park Theatre. And we can't wait to work together on stage for the first time."

From the producers of the critically acclaimed revivals of Beautiful Thing, Our Boys and Another Country, and the forthcoming stage adaptation of Brokeback Mountain, comes this eagerly anticipated revival of Mart Crowley's seminal piece, which premiered in 1968 just before the Stonewall riots. This witty, dark American play which changed the landscape of gay theatre was adapted into a film in 1970, becoming a cult hit. The play was last revived in New York in 2010, and this UK revival will mark almost 20 years since the last West End production.

Producer Tom O'Connell said, "James and I are thrilled to be producing this wonderful play, which is loved by so many around the world. Together with Mart Crowley and Adam Penford we are delighted that Mark and Ian will lead our first class cast at London's award-winning Park Theatre, the perfect intimate space to open this revival, before then touring to Manchester, Brighton and Leeds. We are also thrilled to be partnering with charity Stonewall, popular restaurant chain Balans and Gay Times Magazine".

The production will be produced by Tom O'Connell and James Seabright, in association with Jack Maple, the Kings Head Theatre and Park Theatre. Rebecca Bower will design the production with Sound design byJames Nicholson and Lighting design by Jack Weir, casting is by Stephen Moore CDG.

The production will be partnered with Gay Times, Stonewall & Balans.

James Baker from Stonewall said, 'We're thrilled to be the charity partner for this new tour of The Boys in the Band and it's fantastic that the producers recognise the importance of our work. The tour will not only raise awareness but also vital funds to continue Stonewall's work tackling homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in schools. We're looking forward to seeing the production later on this summer and to talking more about our work to anyone attending.'

Tag the production on social media:

@BoysBandPlay

www.facebook.com/boysbandplay

BoysBandPlay.com

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