5 young gay men start sharing a Camden flat in the late 90’s. Friendship & love are tested over the following 15 years by secrets, lies & betrayal. This is the new comedy drama by Above The Stag Theatre, written and directed by Tim Mc Arthur that is coming soon to London.

A full production is being staged at the Union Theatre after a successful 5 days workshop production at the Above The Stag Theatre in July 2022.

SCOTT AFTON

What shall we expect to see in this show?

A group of men trying to navigate their lives; getting mixed up in a web of friendship, secrets and sexual tension with each other. Hopefully with a few laughs too.

What is the main message this play conveys?

That friendship can be as fragile as it is powerful.

How the main characters differ from each other and what do they have in common?

They’re all coming from very different backgrounds not just geographically but generationally; however, despite their clashes

they do have a genuine (albeit complex) affection for each other.

How do gay men in 2023 differ from the gay men of the previous generations?

Where maybe before there would be a sense of trepidation of who/how people present themselves, now there is full on celebration.

There is more visibility of lives and experiences in every community rather than just subcommittees and cultures.

Also, there is so much more access to information thanks to the internet. People are becoming more educated not just about their own sexuality but very colour and shade on the rainbow.

I would also say even though it feels we’re living through a divided period in time, I honestly believe there is so much love, curiosity and understanding that’s being shared too; more than ever before!

HARI KANABAR

What shall we expect to see in this show?

You can expect honest conversations, nostalgia, hot guys, and a whole load of Madonna baby.

What is the main mesage this play conveys?

Everyone will take something different from this play. To me it’s about the importance of memories, and how they shape us. How when something has ended – be that a relationship or a time in our life – we still carry them with us. It’s about letting those memories propel us forward rather than bearing us backwards.

How the main characters differ from each other and what do they have in common?

All the characters are gay men, so there’s that. Which is so wonderful. Most of them are very confident in their sexuality, and proud of their identities. But within that there are shades of wit and sadness and complexity that get explored throughout the play.

How do gay men in 2023 differ from the gay men of the previous generations?

Great question. Massive generalisation incoming. I think this play highlights how gay men, of say, the nineties, were incredibly confident in talking openly and honestly about sex. There are conversations in this play that may shock some audiences members! With the backdrop of the AIDs epidemic and Section 28, one is forced to oppose that by talking openly and loudly about the thing that society was deeming ‘wrong’. So it was pretty punk. In 2023 gay men, from my experience, are dealing with a different backdrop. Our communities can be found online now, so perhaps there’s less of a need to be as gay with a capital G? I feel like this is an essay question that needs exploring to do it justice. Come along to the play to reach your own conclusions!

ROBERT HOOK

What shall we expect to see in this show?

From the show, you can expect to laugh your socks off! It’s a show full of heart, bouncing of the varying degrees of relationships between gay men; from lovers to flatmates, one night stands and best friends to strangers, its got it all. I think it’s a show for everyone, gay or otherwise as we can all relate to the twists and turns of these relationships; seeing a bit of ourselves in any one of the characters. My hope is that it could also bring people closer, it could help show that those people that were there in the formative years – they’re ones to hold on tight to!

Where did the idea behind this show come from?

The idea came from our wonderful writer & director, Dame Tim McArthur – he wrote it a couple of years back during one of the lockdowns (remember those?!) and I think pulled from his own experiences of being a gay man living in London in the 90’s; the nightlife and culture and feel of that time. We started with a few read throughs over Zoom which led to a rehearsed reading at Above The Stag and then further to a full week’s run last Summer which completely sold out. We ran it as more of a workshop to get feedback to help Tim adjust anything and also learn what worked.

What is the message this play conveys?

I think the main message this play conveys is the feeling of belonging – for all of us, we manage to find it firstly from being in this little flat share in London but also, and more importantly, from each other. We may become estranged at some points and things happen to truly test it, but we come back to one another eventually because that is where we all truly feel “home”.

How the main characters differ from each other and what do they have in common?

I think the main characters all differentiate entirely from each other; so much do we see the gay man portrayed in the media as a fully packaged archetype that fits one box and it devalues us as individuals. We come in all shapes and sizes , with an infinite list of wants and desires, dreams, ambitions, pet hates and quirks and I think Deeper and Deeper really helps to put 5 gay men on stage of an array of characteristics. My character Joe, for example, is fully sex positive and embraces all of the avenues to meet guys at the time (cruising, cottaging etc) but I think his deepest need when it comes down to it truly, is the need to feel loved. I’d say I believe that’s what it is that we all have in common, the need to feel loved. In a way, the house share we are in is the “6th character” and is where we all truly feel at home and can feel a sense of love, belonging and safety. “I am human and I need to be loved, just like everybody else does”.

How do gay men in 2023 differ from the gay men of the previous generations?

Well personally I can’t speak for previous generations really as I wasn’t there, all I can go off is what other people have told me or how its been portrayed in the media like “Queer as Folk” or “It’s a Sin”. From what I do hear though, it almost sounds like a lot more of an inclusive environment, when clubs and bars embraced everyone from the community and I feel now our LGBTQ+ venues seem to cater or aim their base at only specific groups of the community. I’d love it to get back to a place where we don’t feel we have to fit a mould to go to a certain club and that all members of the community can go. I also feel like since the passing of the same sex marriage law, its as if there’s no other fight needed, we can “tick gay rights” of the list now…but it isn’t the case, there’s still a long way to go, particularly with trans rights; there’s strength in solidarity and we need to stick together. As a whole, I think we are more visible in this generation and I can’t imagine having to be so hidden so for that I am truly appreciative. We are, however, now seeing some of the highest numbers of violence towards the community in a decade so there’s still a very long way to go.

What was the easiest and the most difficult part with regards to making this show come to life?

I think the easiest for me, is how relatable the story is. I’ve been in London for 8 years now and have always been in a gay house share with an extensive list of flatmates of all ages and walks of life; so the feel of the play of living on top of one another (no pun intended, or was there?) and ‘making it work’ and finding that home from home is one I really get; it has seen some of the best memories I’ve had in this city. The most difficult? Hmmm – I couldn’t say really. You’d probably need to ask the producers!

Deeper and Deeper

A New Comedy Drama

Written & Directed by Tim McArthur

Performances:
Wed 13 Sept to Sat 7 Oct at 7:30pm
Sat Matinees 30 Sept & 7 Oct at 3:00pm
No performances on Sundays, Mondays, Sat 16 Sept & Sat 23 Sept

Running time: 2 hours, including one 20 minute interval

Ticket prices: £22 & £18 Matinees

Tickets: abovethestag.com

Venue: Union TheatreOld Union Arches, 229 Union Street, London, SE1 0LR