Brooklyn Rep UK, the award-winning resident theatre company based in Dalston’s The Divine, is set to unveil its latest theatrical production entitled These Gays! They’re Trying To…. This innovative play will be running from late December into early January, specifically from Friday 27 to Monday 30 December, and again from Thursday 2 to Saturday 4 January.
The creators behind this production include a talented group of writers from both the US and UK. Nathaniel Foster, David Levesley, reid tang, and Colin Waitt have collaborated to imagine an unconventional continuation of HBO’s popular series The White Lotus, with a unique twist that incorporates elements of melodrama, wellness culture, and the surreal. The premise revolves around affluent individuals seeking rejuvenation at a luxurious spa in Reykjavik, guided by fictional characters and the noted pop artist Björk, evoking a vibrant mélange of shamanic rituals and cult-like soundbaths.
The ambitious project is the brainchild of David Levesley and Brooklyn Rep’s director and creative producer, Charles Quittner. It builds upon the success of the company’s previous work, including the award-winning production All the Fraudulent Horse Girls at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Recognising the increasing interest in queer narratives and communities, These Gays! They’re Trying To… aims to capitalise on the cultural zeitgeist surrounding wellness trends while delivering a comedic and satirical interpretation.
The cast features a compelling line-up of performers from London’s queer scene, including Alice Morgan Richards, who is known for her drag persona Dairy King, a character described as a half-cow and half-milkman amalgamation. Alongside Richards, the cast includes Shakeel Kimotho, who has performed in productions such as La Cage aux Folles, rising drag star Marcus Zebra, known as Zeborah, Dan de la Motte, and versatile artist Jo Fraser, renowned for her skills as a thereminist and composer.
Describing the motivation behind the production, Quittner highlights the necessity for emerging theatre companies to resonate with contemporary trends while also addressing underlying tensions within the narratives they present. He reflects on the implications of blending humour with serious themes, questioning the outcomes while expressing eager anticipation for audience reactions.
Source: Noah Wire Services