The National Theatre will mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales by staging its first Queer Theatre event series from 6 – 10 July 2017.
A group of world class actors and directors will look at how theatre has charted the LGBT+ experience through a series of rehearsed readings and post-show discussions in the Lyttelton Theatre.
Wig Out! Is the second in the series of LGBT+ rehearsed readings at the NT. Written and directed by Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight), Wig Out! tells of the fiercest battle in New York as the House Of Light compete with the House Of Diabolique for drag family supremacy at the Cinderella Ball. When Eric meets Wilson, it’s a good old-fashioned boy meets boy fairy tale. However, when Wilson reveals his drag alter-ego Nina, questions of masculinity and gender come to the fore. In the tradition of Paris Is Burning, this big, bold and riotous play looks at gender, drag and fabulousness.
Wig Out! is on stage in the Lyttelton Theatre on July 7 at 7.30pm, cast includes:
Tarell Alvin McCraney (Rey Rey), Arun Blair-Mangat (directions), Tunji Kasim (Eric), Alexia Khadime (Fate), Kadiff Kirwan (Ms Nina), Abiona Omonua (Faith), Jonjo O’Neill (Serena), Tom Rhys-Harries (Loki), Ukweli Roach (Lucian), Cat Simmons (Fay) and Craig Stein (Venus).
The NT’s Queer Theatre event series is hosted in partnership with Pride in London and includes:
Neaptide by Sarah Daniels, directed by Sarah Frankcom, Thursday 6 July, 7.30pm
Wig Out! written and directed by Tarell Alvin McCraney, Friday 7 July, 7.30pm
Certain Young Men written and directed by Peter Gill, Saturday 8 July, 7.30pm
Bent by Martin Sherman, directed by Stephen Daldry, Sunday 9 July, 2.30pm
The Drag by Mae West, directed by Polly Stenham, Monday 10 July, 7.30pm
Free post show talks will follow each reading exploring the issues in the plays and in a wider context for the LGBT+ community.
The National Theatre is dedicated to making the very best theatre and sharing it with as many people as possible. We produce productions on the South Bank in London each year, ranging from reimagined classics to modern masterpieces and new work by contemporary writers and theatre-makers. The National’s work is seen on tour throughout the UK, in London’s West End, internationally (including on Broadway) and in collaborations and co-productions with theatres across the country.
Across 2015-2016, the NT staged 34 productions and gave 3,134 performances in the UK and internationally. The NT’s award-winning programme had a UK audience of 2.5 million, 700,000 of which were NT Live audiences.
The NT is committed to providing programmes for schools, young people, families, community groups and adult learners, including the nationwide youth theatre festival Connections and playwriting competition New Views. In 2015-2016, we engaged with over 181,000 participants through the NT Learning events programme. Further, over 2,600 secondary schools have signed up to the free streaming service, On Demand In Schools since its launch in September 2015.
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