Karlon Parris talked about Once a Year on Blackpool Sands on the BBC, including the feature film version, the trip Off-Broadway and the UK tour. Click the video to listen to the interview!
The true story of a love affair between two northern British miners forms the basis for this brand new comedy heading to New York this fall after a successful UK tour. Written by Karlton Parris and mounted by Manchester-based theatre company Skint Productions, expect an entertaining and touching look at the larger than life guests of the Withering Heights On Sea hotel in the famous beachside town of Blackpool as central couple Eddy and Tommy arrive for a vacation they'll never forget.
Set in 1953, Once a year on Blackpool Sands looks at the impact of the law (homosexuality was yet to be legalised) and its repercussions on this strange bunch - odd hotel owner Gladys, her rebellious daughter Maureen and the guests - Red Ethel the ex - communist show girl and Mr Elbridge, who's preparing himself for the fabled Transvestite walk from the North to South Pier. Into this step Eddy and Tommy on their annual getaway, not knowing that within hours a revelation from Eddy Will change the course of their lives forever - setting them on a path to activism in the fight for equality and freedom of the LBGTQ community
Did you know?
This exciting engagement is just the first step for this play in 2018 - it's also being filmed as a new movie!
Once a Year on Blackpool Sands stars features the original London and UK national tour cast:
Kyle Brookes as Eddy Corkhill;
Macaulay Cooper as Tommy Price;
Dominic McCavish as Phyllis (Mr Elbridge) and Red Ethel is played by
Linda Clark, who has appeared on Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctors, Dr Who and That Peter Kay Thing. Real life mother and daughter
Wendy Laurence James and Mollie Jones, play mother and daughter Gladys and Maureen in the stage production. Manchester-based writer Karlton Parris met the real-life Eddy and Tommy in a bar in Greece 30 years ago and heard their powerful, enthralling, inspirational, and funny, true story.