Bonfire

By Simon Marshall

Fri 10 – Sat 11 November STUDIO

Leon’s gone live. Stood in his Nana’s lounge, wearing his favourite cardigan, blasting the Sugababes, Leon’s determined to confront the demons of his past; both digital and physical.

Bonfire follows a young gay man from Derbyshire’s journey through adolescence. Like Easy A meets It’s A Sin, Leon stitches together a narrative of his family, friends and secrets, hurtling us back to the dial-up internet era and forward again, as he learns to celebrate his future.

Through pop music, movement and playful storytelling, Bonfire is a monologue-megamix written by Derby Theatre Associate Artist Simon Marshall on reclaiming queer identity and resisting shame.

Inspired by Bernardo’s 2016 Not on the Radar report and consultation with Derbyshire LGBT+. Bonfire’s 2022 work-in-progress performance was described as “honest, brave, acutely-written and often sharply funny” (Lyn Gardner).

Performance times: Fri and Sat, 8pm

Tickets: £15, under 26s £13

Age guidance: 16+

Advisories: Sexual references, strong language, homophobic language, contains references to online grooming and grief.

£2 off first performance

£5 off opening night and Wed matinee

(Bands A & B only)

Blackeyed Theatre in association with South Hill Park Arts Centre

The 60th Anniversary Tour

Joan Littlewood’s Musical Entertainment