REVOLUTIONARY artist Tom Marshman is will be using the English tradition of a tea party to celebrate Luton’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trangendered community next month.
The venue for the event will be The Kitchen, at the Hat Factory in Bute Street, and the show has been created exclusively for LGBT members.
The concept of the show originates from Tom’s desire to transform the stories, memoirs and past experiences of the LGBT community into live theatrical acts.
The event, entitled ‘Sensory Materials’ is divided into quarters including a workshop, talking session, history lesson and gossip-over-the-fence section.
It will be led by Marshman who will invite the audience to whizz through their own personal memories or stories and encourage each to share with one another.
The objective of the session is to source and gather LGBT memories to inspire Marshman’s upcoming show ‘Move Over Darling’, which will come to Luton in May.
The afternoon tea element is to allow participants to relax and share their stories with the group.
Objects or materials that could evoke and stimulate memories such as a particular aftershave or song are used throughout the session.
‘Move over Darling’ saw huge success in Bristol, and has been tailored to create an informal, intimate and fun environment for people to open up.
Stories centred around how everyone ‘came out’, fell in or out of love or discovered how they realised they were LGB or transgender are common memories to share.
The show will chiefly focus on the testimonies of people over 60, exploring the difficulties that the older LGBT community faces, such as socialising restrictions; with Luton gay clubs such as ‘Kink’ targeted primarily at the younger generation.
Marshman says he intends to stress the issue of negligence towards this age group both in mainstream culture and the LGBT communities.
He says every contribution by participants will be highly valued, and that people can share whatever story they wish to at their own pace.
The Sensory Materials tea party takes place on February 18, starting at 3pm and finishing at 8pm.
Tickets cost £6 from the Hat Factory, with tea and cake included within the price.
Move Over Darling is on May 17 at 7:30pm, also in The Kitchen. Prices are from £9 for general admission, £7 for concessions, £2 for under 26’s, £5 for Culture Card holders and a pre-theatre meal is available for an extra £6.