> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # SPOTLIGHT ON: From the oldest queer theatre company in the UK to queer cabaret La Cage Aux Folles, Ruby Wax’s quest to find peace and the stage debut of a gay diving star - URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/spotlight-on-from-the-oldest-queer-theatre-company-in-the-uk-to-queer-cabaret-la-cage-aux-folles-ruby-waxs-quest-to-find-peace-and-the-stage-debut-of-a-gay-diving-star/ - Published: 2023-08-11T14:00:15.000Z - Updated: 2023-08-11T15:49:16.000Z - Description: Brian Butler finds passion, forbidden love, singing and dancing in the latest queer theatre offerings - Author: Brian Butler - Tags: Theatre, BBC iPlayer, David Bowie, David Paisley, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Ruby Wax, Seven Dials Playhouse, Soho Theatre, Stephen Mear, Tim McArthur ***Lead Pic: Le Cage Aux Folles at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre*** Brighton-based choreographer **Stephen Mear** has created the moves for a revival of ***La Cage Aux Folles***, now playing at **Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre**, London for a summer season. “The best of times are now,” goes its famous song, with this new version of **Harvey Feirstein** and **Jerry Herman**’s terrific queer cabaret musical. For those who don’t know, cabaret club owners Georges and Albin, and their son Jean-Michel, re-discover the true meaning of family, and of putting yourself last so that the ones you love can be first, and you can truly say: “I am what I am”. The mostly male ensemble in women’s outfits – the Cagelles – includes one of my favourite drag artists **JP McCue** – aka **Mary Mac**. Tickets [HERE](http://openairtheatre.com/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) Australian diving star **Matthew Mitcham** – the first openly gay athlete to win an Olympic gold medal – will make his UK stage debut in September. ***Strangers In Between***, a captivating classic from **Tommy Murphy**, is an unflinching look at the highs and lows of growing up queer in modern Australia. It’s full of laugh-out-loud one-liners, simmering sexual tension and heartfelt confessions. ![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/strangers-in-between-stephen-connery-brown-matthew-mitcham-alex-ansdell-photo-nick-brittan-1-jpg-e1691755179456.webp) *Strangers in Between* cast: Stephen-Connery-Brown, Matthew Mitcham and Alex Ansdell. Photo by Nick Brittan The play is produced by **Richard Lambert**’s **Lambco Productions** at the **Golden Goose Theatre**, Camberwell, London from **19 September** to **7 October**. Tickets [HERE](http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/strangers-in-between?ref=scenemag.co.uk) The multi-award winning ***Eve: About Her*** stars its creator, the outrageously talented **Keith Ramsay**. The show is billed as a “fever dream of ambition, fury, fire and song”. Born from a fascination with the 1950 **Joseph L Mankiewicz** movie *All About Eve,* it won the **Stage Edinburgh Award** **for Acting Excellence** in 2022 for his performance. It was said of the show: “he’s thrown Hollywood’s great icons into a blender with a dash of everything from Shakespeare and Dante to Marianne Faithful, then pressed ‘pulse”. It plays at the **Soho Theatre**, London, **24-26 August**. Tickets [HERE](http://sohotheatre.com/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) The oldest queer theatre company in the UK, **Homo Promos**, recently turned down for an **Arts Council** grant, is nevertheless proceeding with crowdfunding and other donations to give two performances of its new opera, ***1944: Home Fires***. It’s a chamber piece featuring the life of gay composer **Ivor Novello**, who was banged up in Wormwood Scrubs for fiddling his petrol coupons. He shares a cell with gangster homophobe ‘mad’ Frankie Fraser. They each fight their fears to survive. Music by **Robert Ely**; words by **Peter Scott-Presland**. It will play at the **Cockpit Theatre**, London on **3 September** and at the **Tower Theatre** on **6 September**. More info [HERE](http://homopromos.org/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) Actor, singer, producer, director **Tim McArthur** has penned and is directing his latest play ***Deeper And Deeper*** at the **Union Theatre**, Southwark, produced by **Above The Stag**. ![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/deeper-and-deeper-e1691755338155.png) A gay couple, Paul and Joe, live together in Camden in the 1990s. When they need flat sharers, things get hot and complicated. It’s the story of the interrelationship of five men over 15 years. Tim told me: “it’s a story of flirtation, secrets and changing relationships. It was nurtured during the pandemic, then developed through Zoom readings, public presentations and a week-long workshop. I think it’s now ready”. Tickets [HERE](http://abovethestag.com/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) West London’s **Playground Theatre** has a season of works featuring stories about women and the LGBTQ+ community. It opens with a double bill of forbidden love stories. ***Artefact*** tells the story of First Lady Priscilla, who finds an unopened letter from her former college roommate Julia, declaring her love for her – some 25 years earlier. It’s coupled with **Tennessee Williams**’ ***Something Unspoken*** – a tale of repressed love and desire set in 1950s Mississippi. The two plays run **14-30 September**. ![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/ruby-wax-im-not-as-well-as-i-thought-i-was-at-grand-opera-house-york-york-e1691755735507.png) Ruby Wax Writer, comedian, mental health campaigner **Ruby Wax** will appear in her own show ***I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was*** from **7 – 9 September**. Ruby describes it as “a journey to find peace, happiness – the stuff we’re all chasing”. Tickets for the season [HERE](http://theplaygroundtheatre.london/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) Cabaret, musical theatre songs, politics, queer theatre and circus combine in a stunning new musical **Trompe L’Oeil**. It’s inspired by avant grade art, including **Magritte**’s apples and **Dali**’s *Melting Clocks*. It will play at the **Other Palace Studio**, London **28 September – 15 October**. Tickets [HERE](http://theotherpalace.co.uk/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) *Holby City*’s **David Paisley** returns to the stage to lead in **Adam Zane**’s ***Jock Night*** at London’s **Seven Dials Playhouse**. The show has been called “razor sharp, skewering modern gay life but done with compassion, intelligence and hope”. ![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/0_js237295315-jpg-e1691756054534.webp) David Paisley The play casts a a light on mental health, peeling back the veneer of modern queer culture and unfolding over a year of wild nights in Manchester’s vibrant Gay Village. David is best known for playing *Holby* midwife Ben Saunders, whose on-screen same-sex kiss sparked conversations nationwide. The play runs **9 October – 4 November**. Tickets [HERE](http://sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) Finally, I found a gem on **BBC iplayer**. In 1981 political playwright **Bertolt Brecht**’s first play with songs was broadcast. Written in 1918, ***Baal*** centres on a scruffy, often drunk, womanising poet and ballad singer whose future seems doomed. It was a stroke of genius to cast pop icon **David Bowie** in the title role. And his enigmatic personality gives the play a queer undertone as he travels the land with a handsome male companion. It’s mesmerising stuff. Watch it.