LATEST LGBTQ NEWS
"I hope people gobble it up": Sarah Paulson teases American Horror Story season 13 more
Ask Simon: Gay man struggles with progressive language and Gen-Z colleagues more
Gay Twitter goes feral for Troye Sivan's new sexually charged medieval-themed music video more
The Traitors US: Drag Race winner Bianca Del Rio and more LGBTQIA+ stars join season 6 cast more
Charlie Hunnam looks back on Queer as Folk: “It was such a beautiful experience” more
“Religious people have churches, queer people have clubs” Gay Times and Time Out explore who builds the future of queer nightlife at AVA Festival. more
Musical adaptation of Thelma & Louise has some great moments but lacks depth – review more
A gatekeeping-free guide to scissoring, an unnecessarily divisive sex position more
Orville Peck addresses cheeky 'Ring The Bell' lyric about kissing a Raiders football player more
Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams teases emotional themes for season 2 more





UK LGBT EVENTS - The ruffian on the stair @ The Hope Theatre
< Return to events listings
01 - 16
The ruffian on the stair @ The Hope Theatre

A darkly comic tale of love, sex for sale, catholicism, homosexuality, power, lies, loneliness and goldfish. The heart is situated just below this badge on my pullover. Dont miss, will you? When a young man says hes looking for a room, he has so much more on his mind. For Joyce, an ex prostitute, hiding away from the world, does he bring release, or a different kind of ending? Left alone by her protector Mike, she has to deal with the intrusion on her own terms with unexpected results. Placing his characters in a world of mystery, Orton taints their lives with the ordinary and the mundane, giving them a language that is entirely unique, he peels back the skin to outrage, shock, and amuse with a dark and farcical cynicism. This classic comedy of menace tells of shady meetings and a desire for revenge. Originally written for radio and first staged at the Royal Court in 1967, the year Orton met his death at the hands of his lover Kenneth Halliwell. Brimful of Ortons trademark coruscating wit, violence, sexuality and death are never far from the surface, THE RUFFIAN ON THE STAIR is the 8th in-house production from The Hope Theatres award winning team. It follows their previous ★★★★★, award nominated shows THE LESSON and BRIMSTONE & TREACLE and Offie award winning LOVESONG OF THE ELECTRIC BEAR. Its directed by Paul Clayton whose directing credits include York Theatre Royal, The Watermill, Newbury and Nottingham Playhouse. As an actor Paul has appeared in a multitude of TV dramas and comedies including Him & Her and Peep Show, various West End stage appearances and, most recently, BRIMSTONE & TREACLE at The Hope. He became Patron of The Hope Theatre in 2017. Cast includes Lucy Benjamin (Eastenders, Casualty, Detectorists) as JOYCE in her first return to stage since 2015. Gary Webster (Eastenders, Minder) will play MIKE and Adam Buchanan (Alan Bates Award Winner, Park Theatre, Theatre By The Lake) will play WILSON. Press on previous Hope Theatre in-house productions: ★★★★★ A first-class, riveting revival. Highly recommended Act Drop ★★★★★ I was expecting big things. I wasnt let down West End Wilma ★★★★★ Wonderful Another stunner from The Hope IThankyou Theatre ★★★★★ Dark and disturbing London Theatre1

Tickets : £ 15/12 Tickets

Address : The Hope Theatre
207 Upper Street
Islington
N1 1RL

Telephone : 0333 666 3366

Website : Click Here

SUBSCRIBE TO VELVET-CLUB

Enter your email address below to receive details about our Velvet-Club: Member & Subscriber Events, LGBT UK Monthly Events Guides/Newsletters, Competitions & Special Offers.

STAR SIGNS
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...
  • 01 September – Leslie Feinberg (1949–2014), American transgender activist & author
  • 01 September – Lily Tomlin (1939–), American actress, comedian, writer & producer
  • 02 September – Elizabeth Birch (1956–), American attorney, former corporate executive & LGBTQ advocate
  • 03 September – Sarah Orne Jewett (1849–1909), American writer & poet
  • 04 September – Mary Renault (1905–1983), English novelist
  • 06 September – Jane Addams (1860–1935), social worker, writer, activist & first American woman to win Nobel Peace Prize
  • 07 September – Valerie Taylor (1913–1997), American pulp fiction author
  • 07 September – Evan Rachel Wood (1987–), American actress
  • 08 September – Dema Harshbarger (1884–1964), American talent manager & concert promoter
  • 10 September – Alison Bechdel (1960–), American cartoonist
  • 10 September – H.D. (1886–1961), American poet, novelist & memoirist
  • 11 September – Kristy McNichol (1962–), American actress
  • 13 September – Nell Carter (1948–2003), American actress & singer
  • 13 September – Claudette Colbert (1903–1996), French-American actress
  • 15 September – Ann Bannon (1932–), American author
  • 18 September – Eugenia Rasponi (1873–1958), Italian aristocrat, suffragist & businessperson
  • 18 September – Greta Garbo (1905–1990), Swedish actress
  • 19 September – Soni Wolf (1948–2018), American queer activist & co-founder of Dykes on Bikes
  • 19 September – Tegan Quin (1980–), Canadian singer-songwriter-musician & member of indie rock duo Tegan and Sara
  • 19 September – Sara Quin (1980–), Canadian singer-songwriter-musician & member of indie rock duo Tegan and Sara
  • 21 September – Anne Burrell (1969–2025), American chef & TV personality
  • 21 September – Fannie Flagg (1944–), American actress, comedian & author
  • 27 September – Carrie Brownstein (1974–), American musician, writer & actress
  • 28 September – St. Vincent (1982–), American singer-songwriter & musician
  • 29 September – Danica Roem (1984–), American journalist & politician, Member of the Virginia House of Delegates

BUSINESS