STAG NIGHT

Launched three years ago as a dedicated space for new gay writing, Victoria’s Above The Stag Theatre has spent the last 36 months pulling in enthusiastic crowds whilst championing fresh talent and garnering rave reviews. Chris John caught up with artistic director Peter Bull ahead of next week’s birthday performance…

Congratulations on an eventful three years. You’ve had sell out shows and critical plaudits. How did Above The Stag come about?

We’d been an itinerant company for about four years, producing two or three shows a year at various venues around London. When we found the space above The Stag pub in Victoria we knew we’d found a great home.

The plays have been pretty much contemporary works aimed squarely at gay audiences, although you’ve taken a more classic turn with your production of E.M. Forster’s Maurice. What can we look forward to in the future?

We try to produce a balanced season, with a mixture of comedy, drama, musicals and, of course, our annual panto. We’ve got another classic coming up in the New Year. One of the problems with producing classics is the cost. Those period costumes don’t come cheap!

You’ve built up a dedicated audience, and acquired some celebrity patrons along the way. Tell us more!

We’ve built up a huge loyal following of regular patrons. They are very supportive and the lifeblood of the theatre. Without them we wouldn’t survive. We’ve never had any funding, so it’s important to have a strong audience base. Our regular celebrity patrons include Su Pollard, who is our official Patron, as well as Helen Lederer and Tony Slattery.

Is it important to have a producing theatre with a strong gay identity? How do you think you are perceived in the wider theatre scene?

It is important to provide a place where gay writing can be seen. We have a duty to entertain but also educate, in a non-preachy style. We’ve done plays which tackled issues such as HIV, male body image, racism, homophobia, teenage suicide, male rape, and abuse as well as shows which set out to do nothing more than entertain. And yes, we’ve done the odd play with a bit of nudity! Although these are in the minority, they’re the ones that everyone remembers. I’ve talked to artistic directors of gay theatres in America and they tell me the same thing!

What have been your proudest moments during the last three years?

That’s a hard call. There have been so many moments. I’m particularly proud of Maurice, and My Beautiful Laundrette, which we were rehearsing not knowing if The Stag would still be open when we were due to open. There has been talk of demolishing the building as part of the redevelopment of Victoria Station for years, but for now we have a reprieve. Our current production, Boys Plays, has the most amazing cast and is breaking box office records.

What can we expect from the birthday event on 17th October?

We’ve gathered cast members from various productions over the last three years to come back to celebrate and recreate highlights from the shows. Included are American Briefs, Bathhouse the Musical, Maurice, Dangerous, My Beautiful Laundrette, Blink!, When Harry Met Barry, The Irish Curse, Seduction and a few surprises.

And then there’s this year’s panto, a dragged-up take on Sleeping Beauty we hear. We hope you’ve got someone super-buff for the Prince Charming role…

Our panto is becoming something of a gay London tradition. Last year’s production sold out its entire run before the first performance. This year we’ve added extra dates and it seems to be going the same way. We leave drag to the cabaret [in the pub] downstairs. This is a filthy gay adult panto. Expect romance, songs, magic, cross-dressing, heroics, sweets and really filthy jokes. Near the knuckle? Honey, it’s almost up to the elbow! We’re auditioning at the moment and seeing some fabulously buff boys!

 

• Above The Stag Theatre, 15 Bressenden Place, Victoria, SW1E 5DD.
Tickets for the 3rd birthday event on Monday 17th October are selling fast!

Boys Plays runs to 30th October. Sleeping Beauty – One Little Prick starts 25th November. 

Check out www.abovethestag.com for tickets and performance times.

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