Blowing Whistles,
Matthew Todd's critically acclaimed international sell-out drama, will return
to London for a limited season at the Sound Theatre (10 Wardour St., Leicester Square) from Tuesday, June 20th through Saturday, July 15th, featuring the original London cast of Neil
Henry, Joe Fredericks and Peter McNicholl, directed by Phil Willmott. It will open Thursday, June 22nd.
"Questioning every aspect of contemporary commercialised gay culture,
Blowing Whistles probes issues far beyond the usual superficial
stereotypes," state press notes. "It's the eve of Europride.
It's also Nigel and Jamie's tenth anniversary. So what better way
to celebrate than with an attractive young teenager from gaydar.co.uk?
After all, it's just sex, isn't it? Unless, that is, the focal point
of the threesome has an agenda entirely of his own. Over a weekend in
the lives of three young men, the deceit and dysfunction perpetuated
by the ability to find sex at the click of a mouse is exposed by writer
Matthew Todd, Associate Editor of gay lifestyle magazine Attitude, who
asks if modern day commercial gay culture is as liberating as it seems
or rather a deeply destructive force."
Having started life in
a workshop at London's Jermyn Street Theatre, Blowing Whistles
last year received its world première to rave reviews and an extended
sold out run at the Warehouse Theatre in Croydon, following which it
has enjoyed sell out performances abroad. It now returns to London for
a season in the heart of the West End, on the edge of Soho, its spiritual
home. It is Todd's first play. Todd's work as a journalist
has appeared in the Evening Standard, the Daily Telegraph, Top of the
Pops magazine, Premiere magazine and the Pink Paper. For Attitude he
has interviewed, amongst others, Ricky Gervais, David Furnish, Ian McKellen,
Joan Rivers and Madonna and he has also appeared as a talking gay head
for various mainstream TV programmes.
Neil Henry (Jamie) started
his career working with the Peter Hall Company at the Old Vic, following
which he played lead roles in the UK tour of Lord of the Flies
and the international production of William Sutcliffe's New Boy,
which started life in Edinburgh and then toured the UK, culminating
with successful runs in both London and New York. Joe Fredericks (Nigel)
made his West End debut in long-running musical Buddy and recently
played the role of Eddie in the UK tour of Blood Brothers, whilst
Peter McNicholl (Mark) has worked extensively in TV and film, notably
playing Little Chris in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,
Ellie's Friend in About a Boy and Jason in Hope and
Glory for the BBC as well as playing the role of Mark in the Australian
tour of Blowing Whistles last year.
The original Warehouse
Theatre production of Blowing Whistles
is produced at the Sound Theatre by Marjie & Joan productions, Trilby
and Tim Redfern. It is directed by Phil Willmott, with design by Martin
Thomas and lighting by Hansjorg Schmidt. Blowing Whistles forms
the theatrical centrepiece of Europride London 2006.
Visit www.blowingwhistles.co.uk for more information.
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