Smalltown Boy by emerging Cornish playwright Brenda Callis, is a heartbreakingly joyful play about grief, community and growing up queer in a rural town; explored through the explosive storytelling medium of drag. The show also features drag artist Elliot Ditton, AKA Fruit ’n Fibre, in the lead role of Edie.
Created in Bristol, supported by theatres and charities across the South West and set in Cornwall; Smalltown Boy is a genuinely home-grown South West success story and a truly unique queer narrative which needs to be heard. The show has been developed with Bristol Old Vic over four years, with support from their literary programme, and first funded by their Ferment Development Commission.
The show has been developed by writer Brenda Callis, director Frazer Meakin (Associate Director of Deathdrop: Back in The Habit West End & UK Tour) and producers The Project People (HIGH STEAKS, Giselle: Remix, OPAL FRUITS) for three years from its inception. Additional dramaturgy from Bristol artists Travis Alabanza (Sound of the Underground, Overflow and BURGERZ) and Tom Denbigh.
‘I want them to see it. To throw it in their faces in all its big, camp, messy glory.’
In the wake of their boyfriend Leo’s unexpected death, Edie – a drag queen from Bristol – travels down to Cornwall to meet the family they never knew of. Expecting small-town homophobia, Edie instead finds a community they didn’t expect. As Edie’s arrival awakens new emotions and old tensions, drag begins to trickle through this seaside town and truths begin to pour out. How do you piece together a person who didn’t have time to find those pieces themself?
Premiering at Bristol Old Vic in the Weston Studio (28-31 Jan), the production then tours to The Poly at Falmouth (7 Feb), Theatre Royal Plymouth (5-6 Mar), Exeter Northcott (7 Mar) ending with a week run at Pleasance London (11-14 Mar). In Falmouth there will be an afterparty hosted by Kernow Drag Collective featuring drag performances in response to the show.
Made with support and collaboration from Arts Council England, Hall for Cornwall, Bristol Old Vic Ferment, The Writers Block, Black Voices Cornwall and Cornwall Pride.
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