So proud of my main man/husband/collaborator Harry Mackrill for writing and performing this show. Got to share it with a great bunch of people before the performance in Leeds.
It’s been a privilege to direct him - he’s astounding.
Tickets for 30/04/26 Leeds School of Arts here:
/e/avuncular-or-teaching-the-acceptable-homosexual-tickets-1987683448702?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Sound: @taureansax
Choreography: @lollyjones
Producer: @thelotprods
Costume: @justinarienti
Voice work: @mrtommilligan
Just the beginning.
‘Avuncular’ is part of a practice-as-research PhD exploring the impact of Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988 on actor training.
The advice that no one’s asked for, but Harry’s here to give anyway.
Do you have ambition?
Are you an exhibitionist?
Want to find success in show business?
He’s done it all: been to university, trained at drama school, debuted in a West End play. So now Harry’s here to do what he does best – help.
‘Avuncular’ is a practical step-by-step guide on getting into drama school, impressing the panel, teachers, casting directors, producers and whatnot, and becoming what we all want: an acceptable homosexual.
This is the advice from someone who knows: someone who grew up under Section 28, Destiny’s Child and Sir Tony Blair.
And whatever anyone says, this has nothing to do with George Michael.
#PhD #performance #theatre #queer
Richard Cant is Merle Miller 🌈
Come see him be extraordinary. What an honour. And what a poster! 🤩🌈🌍
What It Means | 4-28th October | @wiltonsmusichall |
#merlemiller #londontheatre #newwriting #newplay #lgbtqhistory
Big day! After a four year journey I am beyond thrilled to invite you to my new play What It Means.
Thank you @thelotprods (Harry & Nisha - legends) in trusting me to adapt Merle Miller’s seminal essay on LGBTQ+ rights for the stage. Thank you Merle Miller for your courage. And thank you Wilton’s for giving it a beautiful home.
Can’t wait for you all to see it. Bring tissues and mints - and a friend. PUMPED!
🎟️ INFO & TICKETS HERE! 👉 https://buff.ly/41uA2bp
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#londontheatre #newwriting #queervoices #merlemiller #onbeingdifferent #theatre #LGBTQ+
Loved every second directing the members of @stlukestrust in A Christmas Carol! A joint collab with the @dickensmuseum 🎩
Sold out night packed with joyful performances. Dickens, ever the drama queen, would have vibed with it 💖👏👏👏
#achristmascarol #unclescroogie #communityshow #theatre
RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk. Likely site of the incoming US nuclear weapons. But as one Greenham woman said, they’re probably already here. Sitting vigil with the Greenham Women at the peacecamp, so inspiring hearing their stories (despite the constant interruptions of Tom Cruise jets taking off) and watching real courage in action once more, 40 years later.
Nuclear proliferation is not the answer. It’s end of days. Come visit the camp. 🕊️❤️🌍🌈✊.uk/
#greenhamwomem #peacecamp #nonukes
Bone by Bone, a queer short film inspired by the Emily Dickinson poem, section 28 and broken boilers. Excited to be premiering it at the tenth anniversary of the Earls Court International Film Festival. 🏳️🌈🔥📽️
#bonebybone #ukshortfilm #ECIFF #LondonFilms #shortfilm #britishfilm #lgbtq #queershort
Theatre is ephemeral, but these faces aren’t going anywhere. Radical creatives who helped shape What It Means into (to quote The Guardian 😉) vital theatre! 🔥
Forever grateful to @thelotprods for giving me the opportunity to pass the baton of Merle’s act of love to a new audience. It’s been a dream.
This doesn’t feel like the end, not yet.
CAST
Merle - Richard Cant
Boy From Pittsburgh - Cayvan Coates
CREATIVE & PRODUCTION TEAM
Director - Harry Mackrill
Writer - James Corley
Producer - Nisha Oza for @thelotprods
Creative Associate - Ayesha Antoine
Set/Costume Designer - Justin Arienti
Lighting Designer - Martha Godfrey
Sound Designer - Beth Duke
Production Manager - Anthony Newton
Company Stage Manager - Lorna Seymour
Assistant Stage Manager - Zeena Avari
#whatitmeans #merlemiller #merlemillerplay #queerhistory #queervoices #londontheatre #newwriting #richardcant #cayvancoates #harrymackrill #nishaoza #LGBTQArtists #theatre #creatives #wiltonsmusichall
Come and watch how a historic act of love was written 🏳️🌈❤️
Repost from @thelotprods
🌈Don’t forget to book your ticket for What It Means, for an unforgettable 90-minute journey through queer history and memory.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Don’t just take our word for it! The reviews are in! Here’s some of the wonderful responses we’ve got since Press Night on Monday.
🎟️book via the link in our bio (or bit.ly/wimplay)
#reviews #richardcant
#newwriting #newwriter #theatre #londontheatre #lgbtq🌈 #newwritingtheatre #theatrelife #rehearsals #essay #newyorktimes #onemanshow #merlemiller #pressnight #whatitmeans
More shameless promotion but hey it’s been 4 years with a pandemic since the last one so… link in bio. Thank you @runriotlondon for the space. Have a read, celebrate queer history, and have you booked? What It Means @wiltonsmusichall 4-28th October and then it’s gone gone gone 🔥🏳️🌈🫶
#londontheatre #newplay #merlemiller #whatitmeans #wiltonsmusichall #queervoices #queerhistory #richardcant
Repost from the beautiful @queerwasalwayshere & @thelotprods . Grab that code 🔥
queer was always here is thrilled to be partnering with @thelotprods on their beautiful new production, WHAT IT MEANS, opening next week in london. it’s an incredibly moving, urgent, and funny play about an under-appreciated icon of queer history, merle miller. it’s so good and so gay. if you’re around, you don’t want to miss it.
using our promo code, QWAH20, we’re offering a limited number of best available seats from Oct 4-14 for only ✨£20✨
link to tickets in our bio 🦕
graphic by @charliebesso
Taking up my queer space on BBC radio 3 with these beauties 🔥🔥🔥
Diarmuid Hester, Lauren Elkin and Dodie Bellamy discuss their new books, and I talk a bit about adapting Merle Miller’s essay for the stage.
Listen along to Free Thinking, hosted by the brilliant Naomi Paxton, on BBC sounds.
@belladodie@diarmuidhester@lauren_elkin@naomi.paxton #bbcsounds #artmonsters #newnarrative #merlemiller #whatitmeans #wiltonsmusichall #freethinking #newplay #londontheatre #lgbt #newwriting #dramaticarts
