Pride Month at Oxford Playhouse: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Artists and New Queer Performance
Oxford Playhouse is marking Pride Month with a diverse lineup of new plays, comedy, solo poetry, and verbatim theatre staged in the Burton Taylor Studio. Running from Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 June, the special programming showcases both emerging creators and established LGBTQ+ artists, offering audiences a firsthand look at new work in development.
What to Expect at the Burton Taylor Studio This June
At the core of the seasonal schedule is the return of the Queer Scratch Night, produced in-house by the venue's team. Marking its third consecutive year following previous sold-out runs, the event gives a platform to work-in-progress pieces and invites spectators to share feedback that aids in each play's continued development.
This year's scratch night features several distinct works:
- The Open Book Project by James Robertson and Transit Productions, which draws inspiration from a censored Hungarian children's book to explore totalitarianism and queer identity.
- A Man Proposes To A Balloon, Or Possibly Something Worse by comedian Mark Daniels, a dark comedy following a protagonist whose rehearsal conversation with a balloon leads to reflections on love and urban loneliness.
- Little Lord Fondleroy: Amos, Amas, Amat & All That! by Jordana Belaiche, set within a strict boarding school and examining themes of imperial intrigue and forbidden desires.
- Yaz and Rosy by Carla Rudgyard, a poignant story exploring dating, safety, and the mysterious disappearance of a novelist's best friend.
Solo Performances and Verbatim Theatre
Complementing the scratch night are additional performances throughout June. P Burton-Morgan presents Running Commentary, a humorous and energetic solo poetry piece about a newly single 41-year-old navigating fitness and personal growth.
Additionally, the venue hosts RIOT ACT 2, a verbatim theatre piece created and performed by Alexis Gregory and directed by Rikki-Beadle Blair. Presented in association with the HIV and AIDS charity the Mulwade Foundation, the staged reading features three new monologues focusing on pivotal figures in the history of the HIV epidemic, including early researcher Dr Joseph Sonnabend, UK diagnosis pioneer Jonathan Blake, and community worker Ignacio Labayen De Inza.
Community Involvement and Local Partnerships
Beyond the stage events, the theatre continues its local engagement as a proud sponsor of Oxford Pride. The team will join celebrations in the city centre for Pride Day on Saturday 6 June. Those wishing to support the volunteer-run registered charity can find further details through the Oxford Pride website.
To discover more cultural events and theatrical productions happening around the city, browse the complete schedule on Musemap, explore upcoming performances via whats-on exhibitions, or check the museums list.
