Superficial is the new play about the London gay scene coming to The Glory. It covers pop music, drag, the rise of masc4masc, camp-shaming and the closure of queer spaces. With pop songs performed by a drag diva within the play, and set in a fictional gay club, ‘Superficial’ asks what it means to be a proud gay man in 2016, with a lot of fun, dance and humour. We chatted to some of the cast about their characters and what the play means.
Sam (Paul Duncan)
“Total top, NSA, looking for a job.”
My name’s Paul Duncan. I’m an actor from London. I’m so excited to be playing Sam in Superficial. The character goes through a journey of self-discovery, which I think every young gay guy can relate to. It’s about opening your eyes, seeing different as ok and wearing your identity like a badge of honour. I can’t wait to tell Sam’s story and begin this electrifying ride and take you into the world that is $UPER£ICIAL.
Ibiza Chilltape (James Ferguson)
“Okay, 6 ¾ inches but it can pass for 8 from the right angle”
Ibiza is a raunchy and playful drag artist who runs a regular ‘Gayeoke’ night at $UPER£ICIAL. She finds power in paying homage to her favourite pop icons and celebrating their strengths. I admire her for her dignity and strength. She is consistently a shoulder to lean on and tends to put other needs first rather than her own. Playing Ibiza has been a fantastic challenge and unlike anything I’ve ever tackled before. I can’t wait.
JJ (Rich Watkins)
“The Power of Kylie commands you!”
JJ is a Kylie fanatic and jobbing actor who now works at Superficial as a bar manager. When he gets camp-shamed he begins forming another identity for himself of ‘masc’, and suddenly he’s getting messages on Grindr. Only this means leaving Kylie behind…
Benjamin (Arkem Walton)
“On my eighteenth birthday I drank a magnum of champagne and passed out on the bar, dressed only in a cone-shaped bra, with Madonna booming on loop”
Benjamin is a great story-teller. I think that’s what most drew me to him. It’s hard to tell which bits of his story are true and which are fantasy, but Benjamin believes in it all. He claims to have created the success of “$uper£icial” by himself, but now the crowds are dwindling he must recognise the talents of the young men around him, if he and the club are to survive. I am also looking forward to getting into Benjamin’s closet, as I am aware that our very talented costumier, Charlie Tuesday Gates, is preparing many poptastic outfits to help me bring him sensationally to (larger than) life!
Archie/Dad (Matthew Hodson)
“I’m not homophobic, as long as a bloke’s a bloke, enjoys a good game of cricket and a pint of real ale, I don’t mind where he’s sticking it”
Archie, Sam’s dad, is an old-fashioned man. Working in construction, he’s used to a very masculine environment and has recreated this in his own home. He doesn’t consider himself to be homophobic, but just thinks of gay men as some exotic species, that you might occasionally see when wandering through Soho, or on the telly. He’s oblivious to the fact that his strictly enforced perception of gender roles is stifling and harming his own son. Many of us gay men grew up feeling challenged by our parents expectations’ of us.
Moira/Mum (Charly Flyte)
“I lead a couple of boys up the garden path with a flash of the knickerbockers. I’m not proud of it, but I did.”
Moira is of a generation of women who have been sold happiness as having 2.4 children and a four bedroom house in Chiswick. She is trapped between the two men in her life. Her husband who she desperately loves despite his old fashioned views and her son who she desperately loves and supports despite his rejection of her efforts. Ultimately Moira wants her son to feel loved and accepted in his struggles of sexuality but there are some circumstances that are beyond her power to change.
• ‘Superficial’ runs at The Glory, 281 Kingsland Road, E2 8AS from 20th June – 1st July, 7.30pm. £15. £10 previews on Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st using the code DIVA.
Booking: www.dragonfliestheatre.co.uk/superficial
