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# World premiere of Emma Frankland’s “unapologetically queer” ‘Galatea’ comes to Brighton Festival
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/world-premiere-of-emma-franklands-unapologetically-queer-galatea-comes-to-brighton-festival/
- Published: 2023-02-24T10:21:16.000Z
- Updated: 2023-02-24T10:21:16.000Z
- Description: Set in a world where gods walk among the mortals, this unapologetically queer story follows different characters – all lost in the woods.
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: Arts, Brighton Festival, Trans

The work of **Shakespeare**’s best-selling but now long forgotten contemporary **John Lyly**, will be brought vividly to life in a field on the south coast this spring in a radical revival of his early modern play **Galatea*,* adapted by **Emma Frankland** and **Subira Joy**. Co-directed and designed by **Mydd Pharo** of Cornish landscape theatre company **Wildworks** , edited by theatre historian **Andy Kesson** and presented by **Marlborough Productions**, this production fuses together groundbreaking research and experimental theatre.

*Galatea* was written in the 1580s and performed in front of **Queen Elizabeth I**. Now, this tale of love, joy and the importance of welcoming outsiders will be introduced to new audiences as a resonant story for modern times.

Set in a world where gods walk among the mortals, this unapologetically queer story follows different characters – all lost in the woods. Two young trans people find love whilst escaping oppression; a shipwrecked migrant searches for his family; goddesses clash; parents fret; an alchemist brews magic and a teenage Cupid sets hearts on fire – causing chaos and near disaster.

*Galatea* is an ambitious collaboration between queer theatre maker Emma Frankland, LGBTQ+ culture catalysts Marlborough Productions, Wildworks and the brand new research project **Diverse Alarums**, funded by the **Arts and Humanities Research Council**.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/galatea-leading-image-photographer-rosie-powell-freelance-featuring-antonia-kemi-coker-and-femi-tiwo.jpg)

This new version of *Galatea* has been commissioned by **Brighton Festival** and will be presented outdoors at a large scale, with a vibrant, large cast of LGBTQ+ and deaf performers, in **Shoreham-by-Sea**. Members of the local community will be invited to join the performance through a process led by Wildworks, who bring 20 years experience of working in the landscape and creating work with community participants.

Speaking about *Galatea,* **Emma Frankland** said “I’ve been working towards this production for 7 years now and I’m really proud to share the results of such a long period of development. This production will be the result of so many brilliant artists, writers and thinkers who have been part of the journey.”

“It really feels like a collaboration with the original text – what Lyly wrote is beautiful, funny and exciting.. especially because of how exciting it is, as a trans person, to see yourself reflected in such a historic play, when usually we are supposed to not exist! I think that our adaptation builds on what Lyly wrote and makes it really relevant for today. Yes it’s a play about two trans people in love, but it’s about acceptance in general and about how a community thrives when it is open to change. When it is accepting of those who are different.”

***Galatea*** from **5 – 21 May** **2023** at **Adur Recreation Ground**, Brighton Rd, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 5LT.

**For tickets, [CLICK HERE](http://brightonfestival.org/?ref=scenemag.co.uk)**

Photography by **Rosie Powell Freelance**, featuring **Antonia Kemi Coker** and **Femi Tiwo**.