A digital show combining live and pre-recorded content. It begins with a full high quality as-live recording of the play filmed in a black box theatre, followed by live Q and A.
Make-up is a solo show that tackles equality, diversity and inclusion issues through the story of an old-school drag artist struggling to come to terms with a scene that she feels is leaving her behind.
Lady Christina returns to the green room after another performance in another venue above another pub. The man behind the make-up is tired of her and tired of metrosexual audiences looking for something a little risqué that they can tell their mother’s about. It might be time to ditch the drag, but he’s been playing the part for so long he’s not sure where she ends and he begins.
This acts as the trigger for Chris, and the play, to explore what it felt like growing up in a time and place where being gay was something you didn’t tell your parents about, Clause 28 meant that homophobia felt like it came with a government seal of approval and the biggest worry about losing in a limb in the bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub was that your secret would come out.
At a time when acceptance of diversity seems to be slipping, Make-up is a reminder of the prejudices the gay community faced in the not-too distant past, and an exploration of new identities forged under fire as a way of coping.
Personal and political, moving and amusing, Make-up premiered at Sweet Venues, Brighton Fringe in October 2020 as a live show. In the same month, it also made it’s digital debut as part of the Marsh Stream International Solo Fest, organised by The Marsh Theatre, in San Francisco and Berkeley, California. The play was followed by a live post show Q and A with actor and writer in different UK locations and the interviewer in California. It has also been streaming to Australian audiences as part of Melbourne Digital Fringe in November 2020 and a further recording of the show, made during it’s Brighton run, has been streamed in the UK by Sweet Venues as part of their SweetStream initiative.
The show has a confirmed full Edinburgh Festival fringe run at Underbelly – Wee Coo – in 2021, and also has confirmed slots at main venues in Greater Manchester Fringe and Buxton Fringe in July 2021.
The live recording was created to give audience members a front row seat at the show. It is filmed with a single camera that focuses on the stage throughout in order to create an intimate atmosphere that is as close to the theatrical experience as possible. We want audiences to feel that this is theatre, not a film.
The show is offered with optional workshops, talks and Q and A sessions exploring the subjects raised in the play, and making theatre during lockdown. There is also a wide range of additional online material that can be used to promote the show ahead of a performance and keep people talking and engaged with the show after a performance.
