Cabaret, Queer Gods & Surrealism

I'm in the process of packing up my life and moving to London. I leave in a few days, and I don't come back until after the Solstice. Joshua has bought me a brand new suitcase as an early birthday present to mark the occasion. We're still debating who gets custody of the electric toothbrush…

The reason I'm going is because I've just been cast in WHO IS CLAUDE CAHUN? at the Southwark Playhouse. It runs from June 18th-July 12th, with touring workshops the month before. It's the story of two queer artists from the second world war, Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore, who lived together on the island of Jersey during its Nazi occupation. The two of them took incredible risks to resist the Nazi regime, using their art to create a psychological campaign against the Germans, demoralizing and confusing the troops. They were eventually captured by the Gestapo, and it was only through good luck that the war ended before they were executed. Their gender-defying art and photography still exists to this day. I'm playing the part of Marcel Moore, opposite Lilit Lesser of Wolf Hall fame as Claude Cahun.

If you'd asked me to describe a dream acting opportunity, I couldn't have put it better. I am ridiculously excited. If you can come and see this show, please do.

And so, I've overhauled everything for the next few months to come and properly live in London for the first time in my life.

It makes some things easier - I'm telling a naughty story from Arabian Nights at Glitter & Titter cabaret on May 9th, and don't have to worry about the last train home - but it makes some things more difficult. I've had to wiggle my timings around for my Brighton Fringe performances of Dionysus, and find an understudy to step in for one date I can't make. So, if you haven't yet had the chance to see my retelling of the myths of the God of Wine, Madness and Queer Love, come and join me at Lionhouse in Brighton at 4.30pm on May 16th, or 2pm on May 17th. (There is a performance on May 18th, but it'll be a different teller, and so a different take on the story.)

The next ten weeks are going to be an adventure. I'm glad to have you to share it with.

Until next time xx