Bath’s Theatre Royal has announced a new collaboration with local drag cabaret artists, WIG! and the author of The Gay Street Chronicles, Bill Keeling for an evening of games, readings and romanticism.
The event titled, A Dandy Evening, will take place on Wednesday 5 November and be the first in a new series of events called The House Is Open, which will see all proceeds going towards building Venue 4, a brand-new community theatre at the heart of Theatre Royal Bath.
A Dandy Evening will take place in the historic and exclusive 1805 rooms at Theatre Royal Bath and include raucous parlour games and partying hosted by Bath Drag House WIG! legends Mother (Nik Jovcic-Sas) and Yugi Hoe, and a reading from The Gay Street Chronicles by author Bill Keeling.
Audiences can come dressed ready for an evening like never before experienced, with dress code: Dandy Chic.
Head of Development at Theatre Royal Bath, Andrea Harris said:
“We are thrilled to be working with seven local creative and community organisations who are joining us to open parts of the building rarely accessed by the general public in aid of Venue 4. Our aim is to evoke a sense of wonder for our guests in these old theatre spaces, with the naughtiness of nipping backstage.
WIG! and author of The Gay Street Chronicles, Bill Keeling, are exciting collaborators for our first event, given the long-loving relationship between queer culture and the theatre. What better way to celebrate that than a party with WIG! dressed as Victorian Dandies, celebrating life, queerness and community.”
Performer, activist and artist, Nik Jovcic-Sas said:
“This event is going to be a collision of Victorian parlour games with fun and fabulous high-camp energy – expect drama, drag and of course, Dickens. The Theatre Royal played a huge role in my development as an artist – I frequently took part in theatre outreach programs for young people at The Egg and it taught me lessons I genuinely still use to this day. As a Bath creative, there’s a genuine practical need for spaces people within the community can use to develop their craft and Venue 4 will bring something vital to the city.”
Venue 4 will transform existing street-level offices, situated between the Garrick’s Head Pub and The Egg on the Theatre Royal’s St John’s Close site, into a 40-seat, fringe-style performance space. With dressing room facilities, easy-to-use sound and lighting equipment, and a dedicated foyer, the accessible space will provide more opportunities for local performers. The growing Engage adult participation programme will also be based in Venue 4, led by Katherine Lazare, Head of Community Engagement.
More information on The House Is Open series to be announced.
A DANDY EVENING appears in the 1805 Rooms at the Theatre Royal Bath on Wednesday 5 November. To book tickets contact the Theatre Royal Bath Box Office on 01225 448844 or book online at theatreroyal.org.uk
