A show and documentary film about rural LGBTQ+ lives and history Museum of East Anglian Life, it’s produced by Turn of Phrase Ltd who have partnered with The Suffolk Archives, The Museum of East Anglian Life, The Museum of English Rural Life, Broken Futures and TORCH at the University of Oxford.
On a site-specific journey through different parts of the museum, you will get to meet modern and historical characters and hear some of their stories and experiences. The historical elements are mostly drawn from work
done by Pride in Suffolk’s Past and Broken Futures. The play will take place in both indoor and outdoor settings.
From 19th century archaeologists to Betty’s nightclub, this play will show you that there has always been a queer presence in the countryside.
The cast of two are Tigger Blaize (left) and William Wyn Davies (right). Tigger is from Guernsey and trained as an actor at Rose Bruford. Theatre credits include Summer in London at Stratford East and The Twits at Belgrade Coventry. Recent television includes BBC Casualty and Channel 4’s It’s a Sin.
“As a transgender person, I have a strong sense of identity,” says Tigger. “I’m an advocate for the visibility of under-represented groups, sit on the LGBT+ committee for the actors union, Equity, and am a consultant for LGBT+
representation in the arts.”
William is an actor, musician and writer from Gateshead. Theatre credits include Those Yet to Come, Being Alone With U at 4am, Manifesto For A New City (Northern Stage) and Heaven Eyes, UK Tour (Théâtre Sans Frontières). William has also recently written and performed a sketch for BBC3’s Laugh Lessons series and is delighted to be working with Turn of Phrase on this terrific play and very much looking forward to bringing it to audiences across the South and East.
Writer/director Timothy Allsop grew up in Suffolk in the 1980s and 90s and trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. As a director, his credits include Cooked (Bread and Roses) and Little Pieces of Gold (Southwark Playhouse). His theatre work includes the title role in Richard III and Horatio in Hamlet (Guildford Shakespeare Company) and Thomas Becket in Murder in the Cathedral (Oxford Playhouse). His film and TV work include The Mummy (2017), Captain Phillips and Detectorists (BBC). His plays include Open (co-written with Christopher Adams) and published by Nick Hern Books. He is artistic director of Turn of Phrase.
Directly after the play, there will be a screening of a documentary film. Please note that some of the names have been changed and some elements adapted to protect the anonymity of some of our participants. The play is not just for the LGBTQ+ community as it draws on a lot of East Anglian history and rural experiences. It discusses issues relevant to many rural communities, such as the lack of public services, the decline in pubs and meeting spaces and how the use of the land has changed.
The show, which is suitable for ages 13+, runs on the following dates/times:
Tuesday 20 July 2pm, Wednesday 21 July 11.30am, Thursday 22 July 2pm and 7pm, Friday 23 July 2pm and 7pm, Saturday 24 July 11.30am. The play is 55 minutes and the film 10-12 minutes.
Tickets are available from:
eastanglianlife.org.uk/events/the-stars-are-brighter-here / 01449 612229