"I’m not going to let you turn our past into a lie."

Fire Island, Summer 1980.

Thirty years ago, Paul and Larry wrote a musical about their love for each other. It was a Broadway hit – but, like their relationship, it has faded into obscurity.

Now, after decades of silence, Paul invites Larry to his house on Fire Island for the weekend. His plan: to persuade Larry to hand over his share of the rights so he can turn their beloved musical into a TV show for the new decade. But if it’s going to be successful, he’s going to need to make their characters straight.

Sharp, funny, and quietly devastating, The Rights explores the tension between queer history and assimilation.

George Whitmore was an activist, playwright, journalist, and novelist from Colorado, US. He wrote three plays, two poetry collections, and three novels. His final novel, Nebraska, has been described as "the Great American Novel” and will be republished this autumn. He was part of The Violet Quill, a circle of major post-Stonewall gay writers including Andrew Holleran and Edmund White. He also wrote Someone Was Here, an early book profiling people living with AIDS. Whitmore died of HIV/AIDS-related illnesses in 1989 at 43.

Alastair Curtis directs this rehearsed reading of Whitmore’s unpublished final play, with designs by Max Allen and Elliott Adcock and music by Helen Noir. Casting to be announced. 


Cast

Omar Baroud
Julian Ovenden
Rachel Pickup
Malcolm Sinclair


Creative Team

Director: Alastair Curtis
Producer: David Doyle
Costume and Set Designers: Max Allen & Elliott Adcock
Sound Designer: Helen Noir
Stage Manager: Sally McKenna
Production Manager: Chloe Stally-Gibson
Production Coordinator: Cara Dromgoole
Creative Producers: Katie Byrne & Max Laurie
Publicity: Harry Engall
Graphic Designers: Tom Joyes & Fran Ortega
Production Photography: Henry Mills & Jake Bush

Thanks to Victor Bumbalo.

This event is organised by Alastair Curtis, as part of the Associate Artists Programme.