Gay Camberwell

by Layla

I must admit that following the launch party's success, I had rather a sore head yesterday... I blame the champagne. However, much as I felt like curling up with a book when I got home from work last night, the Oval House Theatre's Gay Camberwell night was calling. Having never been to the Oval House before, I was rather excited, if slightly peeved that having negotiated a 2-for-1 ticket discount for Gay Camberwell, I ended up having to see it by myself and thus paying full price anyway!

The Oval House Theatre is lovely and I was quite surprised to find out how popular it is, and the ethnic diversity of the audience. The cafe bar was packed with people eating jerk chicken and sipping beers. There were Stonewall posters everywhere and some nice community touches such as a book exchange. There are two theatres and Muhammad Ali and Me was in the downstairs one, a theatre-in-the-round type affair seating about 100 at a squeeze, I'd guess. The set was interesting: half boxing ring, half living room, and this versatility was very much a warning of what was to come. The play was energetic and original, with Moj (last seen by me at Queer Up North) played both a black lesbian foster child and Muhammad Ali himself. She was supported by an impressive and equally versatile cast. The first act was really excellent. The second descended into a bit of preachiness and suffered from being slightly over-long, but this was an excellent play, with a (vague) gay theme, and on our very doorsteps. What more could you want?!

I'm not sure how many of the audience were gay, but the theatre was almost full and the audience erupted into rapturous applause at the end. As I lazily shivered at the bus stop, waiting for a 36 bus, I felt that my failure to attend any previous Oval House productions was a major missed opportunity: this is quality theatre, with a community focus, and I'll be watching their programme from now on.

Leave a Reply