Final casting has been announced for the world premiere of Outlaws to In-Laws, seven one-act plays by leading gay writers dedicated to the struggles and joys of gay men connecting with each other over the last seven decades.
From the darkest days of criminality to the legalising of gay marriage, the works by Jonathan Harvey, Jonathan Kemp, Joshua Val Martin, Matt Harris, Patrick Wilde, Philip Meeks and Topher Campbell each represent one of the decades from the 1950s to the present day.
The cast are: Elliot Balchin (Hollyoaks, Kenneth Branagh’s Macbeth – Manchester and New York), Jack Bence (The Interceptor – BBC1, Eastenders, BadEducation), Myles Devonté (Exhibit B – Barbican, Hospital Chapel 6am – Southwark Playhouse), Michael Duke (Beautiful – Aldwych Theatre, Thriller Live – West End and World Tour, The Lion King – Lyceum Theatre), Alex Marlow (Halycon Days, Just Another Blockbuster – English Theatre Company), and James Richard Marshall (Macbeth and Timon of Athens – The Factory Theatre, King Lear and Merry Wives Of Windsor – Shakespeare’s Globe).
The plays are:-
Happy and Glorious is set in the 1950s and written by Philip Meeks. On the day of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation, South London lad, Dennis follows a young man away from the celebrating crowds to an apartment overlooking Westminster Abbey. He soon discovers a world far away from his own and within a matter of hours he falls in and out of love. As the new monarch is crowned Dennis’ life will never be the same again…
Jonathan Harvey’s Mister Tuesday is set in the 60s. In their own little love nest, Peter loves Jimmy and Jimmy loves Peter – but only every Tuesday. Peter wants more from Jimmy but Jimmy has a sensitive job, a wife, and baby on the way. Frustrated, Peter makes jimmy a bleak offer to make sure he won’t flee the nest.
Jonathan Kemp’s Reward is set in the 70s. It’s the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. Donald, a sweet sixteen American meets Spike, a skinhead at a bus stop in a dodgy part of town. The attraction is instant. Except Spike belongs to the National Front and Donald is black. Will their love take them to a place of reward or punishment?
Patrick Wilde’s 1984 and the Conservative Party Conference is about to start when Tommy and Allan find themselves under Brighton Pier, but the time for hiding in the shadows should be over. Allan, Thatcher’s aide, is preparing to help legislate against gay people. Suddenly the political and the personal become a matter of life and death.
In Matt Harris’ Princess Die, Shane has had yet another disastrous night out with his boyfriend, and worse his fledgling drag career is struggling to get off the ground. All seems lost until he finds a gorgeous, naked stranger in the flat. Can Tyler help Shane find the personal reserves to carry on before things get any worse?
Topher Campbell’s Brothas 2.0 is set in the noughties centres on Dwayne, a muscular, attractive Jamaican immigrant and his overweight, plain university friend, Remi. They are chilling, and chatting… and chatting to guys online but after Dwayne finds a hot date for the night with benefits, he discovers Remi is using a fake profile…
Joshua Val Martin’s, The Last Gay Play is set in the present. Anyone can get cold feet before getting married but hiding in the chapel belfry isn’t the answer. Will the Father get the groom to the altar or does he care more about the church roof than he does about his son’s happiness?
Outlaws to In-Laws will get its world premiere at London’s King’s Head Theatre from 29 August – 23 September 2017.
