The Queer Play Reading Club is a space to share new Queer writing, read a Queer play with its author and explore its themes and the craft of writing Queer stories. This month’s play is The Flea by James Fritz
Held in partnership with Nick Hern Books, our monthly club celebrates LGBTQIA+ playwriting in an encouraging and thoughtful Queer-run space. And everyone gets to take home a copy of the published play and build their own Queer library.
Afterwards, join us for a drink and a chat, these eventings are a chance to connect with fellow queer creatives and theatre lovers. And many of our members have found lasting friendships and creative collaborators through our events.
This month’s play: The Flea by James Fritz
“We'll start with the flea, because that's as good a place as any...”
July 1889, London. A flea bites a rat. A rat spooks a horse. A horse kicks a man. As the chain reaction continues, a boy and his mother find themselves swept up in a national scandal that will reshape both their lives – and the country.
James Fritz's play The Flea is a retelling of the Cleveland Street Scandal that shook England – from the streets of Bermondsey to the halls of Buckingham Palace – and features a flea, a horse, a detective, a queen, a pimp, a god, and Charlie, the telegraph boy who knelt before the Crown.
This anarchic and affecting play was first performed at The Yard Theatre, London, in October 2023, directed by Artistic Director Jay Miller.
Press Quotes
'Gloriously anarchic... a coked-up joyride of a satire which not so much pokes fun at, but hacks and slashes hierarchical English society to shreds... a bona fide blast' - Broadway World
'Exuberant in its ambition... The story provides rich pickings for James Fritz, one the UK's most interesting playwrights' - Guardian
'Wildly imaginative... a gleeful, dressing-up box takedown of the hypocrisies and privileges of the wealthy... a wildly entertaining tale that also lands some serious points about institutional corruption, abuse and impossible choices' - The Stage
'Absurdly funny... a unique piece of satirical Queer Victoriana' - Theatre Weekly
Special Guest: James Fritz
James Fritz is a writer from South London.
Plays for stage include The Flea (The Yard), Lava (Fifth Word/Soho Theatre), The Fall (National Youth Theatre/Southwark Playhouse), Parliament Square (Royal Exchange/Bush Theatre), Start Swimming (Young Vic), Ross & Rachel (Assembly/BAC/59E59), Four Minutes Twelve Seconds (Hampstead Theatre/Trafalgar Studios) and LINES (Rosemary Branch Theatre).
Plays for audio include: Life and Time, The Test Batter Can't Breathe, Dear Harry Kane, Eight Point Nine Nine, Death Of A Cosmonaut, Comment Is Free (all BBC Radio 4) and Skyscraper Lullaby (Audible Originals)
Awards include the Critics Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright, A Bruntwood Prize Judges Award, The Imison and Tinniswood BBC Audio Drama Awards and the ARIA Award for Best Drama on two separate occasions.
Itinerary
Doors Open from 6:30pm: For complimentary tea, coffee and snacks (other drinks available from the bar downstaris)
7pm: Meet and greet, share new writing and offer feedback.
Later: Table-read this month’s play together, followed by a discussion facilitated by Queer Theatre’s Artistic Director, Andrew Keates.
Afterwards: Drinks and socialising until approximately 10:30pm/11pm.
The Railway, Clapham
18 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UR
Nearest Tube: Clapham North, on the Northern line, or Clapham Common is also a short walk away.
Nearest Overground: Clapham High Street, directly opposite the venue.
Accessibility: The event takes place upstairs, in a space accessible only by stairs. If you have access questions, please contact us before booking so we can discuss your needs.
Sharing your writing
If you’d like us to read your work during the opening section, please bring an extract lasting no more than 5 - 10 minutes, allowing time for others to share. If you need copies of your excerpts printed, please email us in advance at info@queertheatre.co.uk and we’ll happily print for you. Please do not be offended if we may not have time to include everyone’s work on the night.
Important information
This is an informal table-read, rather than a staged performance. Members who wish to participate will share the reading, and roles may be read across gender, race, age, sexuality and lived experience. We approach the text and its characters with care and respect, and particularly welcome readers whose lived experiences reflect those of the characters to volunteer for those roles. By attending, you consent to Queer Theatre taking and using photography and video from the event for archive, press, marketing, website and social media purposes.
About Queer Theatre
We create spaces to tell Queer stories and nurture Queer talent - and our mission is to ensure no Queer creative need ever spend a week alone again.
We do this with our weekly Acting Classes For LGBTQIA+ People, London’s OutCast Showcase of Queer Actors and Writing, monthly Queer Play Reading Club, The Show People Podcast LIVE, Luvvie: The Party for Queer People in the Performing Arts, industry workshops, masterclasses, and many trips and adventures.
Make sure you visit our What’s On page to see everything available for you to join.
Queer Theatre welcomes experienced professionals to enthusiastic beginners. We seek what connects us rather than what divides us. Our work may challenge us as artists, but our spaces will always be founded on mutual respect, care, love and support.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or queries, please Contact Us.