Desire
a new music theatre experience
Music by Peter Murphy
Book and lyrics by Peter Scott-Presland
Based on “States of Desire” by Edmund White
Albany Empire,
Douglas Way,
London SE8.
Train to Deptford or New Cross
(10 mins to London Bridge)
Wed June 30th – Fri July 2nd 2010 at 7.45pm
THREE NIGHTS ONLY!
Tickets £20/£15
Ticket Reservations: 020 8692 4446
BOOK ONLINE
HOMO PROMOS, London ’s oldest-established gay theatre company, is pushing the boat out to celebrate LGBT Pride 2010 and the 2010 Pride Festival. The boat is travelling back in time to the 1970s and across the pond to the USA , to visit gay men and gay life in 16 cities from Seattle to Fort Lauderdale , from New York to San Francisco. Harvey Milk is still alive, Village People are in the hit parade, and gays are building a new way of life. Meet them all – white, black, chicano, Native American; hillbillies, hustlers, drag queens, drifters, lobbyists and wierdos. It’s also a portrait of a world of lost innocence, at the last moment before the arrival of AIDS/HIV changed the landscape for gay men for ever.
The music reflects the idea of America as a melting pot, and, in gay life as in other aspects, the USA isn’t one country, but many. The show uses a wide array of styles (Latin, bluegrass, blues, gospel, 70s pop, jazz) to convey the range of characters. A Narrator links the travelogue to 15 cities.
Desire is optimistic and uplifting. This is a time of hope, of people forging new lives for themselves. The pioneering spirit lives on in Los Angeles , San Francisco , New York , Chicago … And whatever setbacks come, new pioneers arrive to keep building for the future. It’s an inspiring view of our recent past, and a gay sense of community.
So join the parade in a lost Eden , the calm before the storm.
This unique multimedia spectacle involves soloists, dancers, a chorus, slide projection and a large band. It’s the biggest gay community theatre project in nearly 20 years.
Background information
EDMUND WHITE (source book) became a best-selling author with A Boy’s Own Story, the first part of a semi-autobiographical trilogy completed by The Beautiful Room is Empty and The Farewell Symphony.
PETER MURPHY (composer/conductor): is a composer and arranger who has worked with many world-class musicians including composer Jaz Coleman , singer Sarah Brightman and violinist Nigel Kennedy.
PETER SCOTT-PRESLAND (book and lyrics/director) is a songwriter and playwright who has won two Fringe First awards at the Edinburgh Festival, and twice been nominated for “Best Musical” awards, in London and Toronto.
Homo Promos Theatre Company has been presenting gay plays, musicals and cabaret for 22 years. Highlights include The Night We Buried Judy Garland at the Shaw Theatre, directed by Phil Willmott, for the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots; Quiche on the Rocks, a live radio soap opera for Freedom Radio; the musical Wednesday Matinee at the Drill Hall and the Albany Empire, starring Lily Savage (Paul O’Grady) and singer Tom Robinson; and the award-nominated musical, Dorothy’s Travels. Its most recent production, Strip Search was described by Time Out as “a (back, sack) and cracking piece of fringe theatre”, and it will be going to the 2011 Edinburgh Festival.
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