It was a year of break-ups; Take That split, Arthur Scargill left the Labour Party and Princess Diana divorced Prince Charles.
But in a year of break-ups, there was one massive coming together. Clapham Common hosted the Pride after-march party.
This February Omnibus Theatre, perched on the edge of the Common, celebrates that landmark event. 96 is a festival of theatre and music that champions achievement and possibility for everyone. Sixteen productions and performances of and relating to LGBTQ+ progress, resilience and art.
We spoke to Artistic Director Marie McCarthy to find out more.
What can you tell us about 96 Festival?
It’s going to be one big celebration. We’re using art as a platform to explore and showcase LGBTQ+ work and theatre makers from the queer community. It’s also an inclusive programme for everybody and anybody packed with 16 events across the month featuring a wonderful range that I hope is both provocative, challenging and exciting.
Where did the festival get its name?
In 1996, the Pride after-march party took place on Clapham Common and as our theatre is perched on the edge of the Common, it made sense to honour that gear changing moment. When I spoke to some people who were there and they described the atmosphere and the fact that it was a real watershed for so many of those who attended, it felt right to mark that.
How will the festival tie in with LGBT History Month, which runs at the same time?
The party in 96 was a big part of our local history so it’s completely connected to LGBT History Month. We’ll be hearing from people who were there on the day and their memories on the launch night and also how the world has changed and what still needs to be fixed.
How did you go about curating the festival?
Some theatre-makers found me and I was also keen to find work that represented the entire queer community. I saw a lot of great stuff in Edinburgh and approached people. I was interested in new writing that was being tested out and wanted to feature the celebratory aspect of the festival as a whole. A couple of shows are having their first outings and our three-week headliner The Soul of Wittgenstein produced by Another Soup, was a show that I saw in an earlier development period. The story is about a philosopher who happens to fall in love with a young man, it’s inclusive and speaks to a wider audience, and that appealed to me.
We also have a strong music programme on Sundays and it was a great opportunity to thematically link both music and theatre. So that’s why we have The Pink Singers, Queertet with jazz vocalist Ian Shaw and the wonderful Tell Me The Truth About Love with actors, six musicians and one opera singer. It’s a combination of live music and dynamic physical theatre. A rich mix.
What would you say to anyone thinking of coming along for the first time?
I hope they’ll take away an awareness of this celebratory event that happened on the Common in 1996 and see some great theatre. There are five nights with double bills for those who can’t get enough. It’s also a call to action, at our launch night party on the 1st February, we will have a Queer Question Time with a great guest panel and we’ll be talking about where we have come from, what do we need to do and where we are going. It’s an open house, come and say hello and join the party!
96 Festival is at Omnibus Theatre 2nd – 28th February 2018, more details here.
