Five new commissions commemorate the five decades since boundary–pushing theatre venue Ovalhouse emerged from a sports and youth club originally founded by a group of 1930s Oxford University graduates.
Three plays look at sexual freedoms: The Act by Thomas Hescott (29 January-2 February) examines the impact of the Church of England's support for the decriminalisation of homosexuality whilst Love on Trial by Bilimankhwe Arts (19-23 February) juxtaposes a story of illegal homosexuality in Malawi with the arrest of British singer George Michael for “lewd conduct” in a Los Angeles toilet, and Kinky (26 February-2 March), a sexy cabaret from anarchic punk theatre group 2HeadedPigeon, looks at private fetishes and political interference.
In Crimplene Millionaire by Boogaloo Stu (5-9 February) the subculture and politics of the 1970s are revealed through a giant interactive board game and The Lady’s Not For Walking Like An Egyptian by Mars.tarrab (12-16 February) raises questions about power and influence by revisiting the words of Margaret Thatcher’s speeches with the hit music of 1980s female artists.
The Café provides the venue for play in development Your Place or Mine? by Tim Redfern and David Sheppeard (26 February-2 March) about saving the past.
Further information may be found at www.ovalhouse.com.