Brighton Fringe welcomes a bold offering from Cornwall-based What Now Productions: Junkies and To Be or Not To Be, a double bill of Shakespeare-inspired monologues.
Nick Bamford’s Junkies is a provocative gay age-gap romance exploring love, power, and addiction—of all kinds. When a young man in need of cash meets an older man with money to spare, unexpected intimacy and shared struggles emerge. Inspired by the opioid crisis, Bamford examines the seductive pull of wealth and the human cost of greed.
To Be or Not To Be features Unsex Me Here by Nigel Fairs and Call Me Oz by Richard Curnow. Fairs’ comic yet poignant tale sees a washed-up party clown channel Lady Macbeth, confronting past trauma and present despair. Meanwhile, Curnow gives voice to Hamlet’s oft-mocked Osric in a sharp, revelatory monologue that turns Shakespeare on its head.
Catch all three at Off-Broadway, Steine Street.
Nick Bamford from what Now Productions tells us about The shows.
Who is your show for?
Both shows are for anyone over 16. Although all the pieces are gay-themed, they are not about being gay, but about characters who happen to be gay.
Why should people come and see it?
Junkies is a gay love story which address very contemporary themes – the recent opioids scandal, and the billionaires such as those now running the US. But first and foremost it is a moving love story.
The two monologues in To Be Or Not To Be are also gay-themed, but very different. Both are inspired by Shakespeare, but neither needs any knowledge of his plays to enjoy them
Have you performed at the Fringe before?
One of our actors, Nigel Fairs, has. This is the first visit by What Now Productions.
What do you love about Brighton Fringe?
It’s an excellent platform for exciting new work
What do you love about Brighton?
It’s beautiful town with a thriving gay community as well as a beach!
Are there any other shows you are excited to see?
We won’t have much time to see other shows! But if we do Field of Anise, The Pink List and At War with Myself all look very interesting.
Junkies, and To Be Or Not To Be are on at QWERKY at Off Broadway May 20 to 23.
Tickets: Brighton Fringe
Venue: Bar Broadway, 10 Steine Street
