With Love, Mr Gay

With Love, Mr Gay sees the continued collaboration of Joshua Val Martin, writer (SKY Television, National Theatre Studio, Bruntwood Prize 2017) and visual artist Jez Dolan (British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Schwules* Museum).

Rooted in their shared experience as working-class gay men from the north of England, their work is often inspired by their differences of generation and artistic practice.

“Dear Mr. Gay, if you move my bin again, I will get an ex-mercenary to destroy you… from flat 2.”

This (real) letter was blue-tacked to my flat’s front door, and thus sparked a neighbourhood feud over both my sexuality, and the placement of the blue bins.

Determined to find peace, and not let the conflict consume me, I sought advice and interviewed experts: a dog trainer, a historian, a Middle East peace negotiator and, of course, my Auntie Clare.

With Love, Mr Gay is my true story, featuring cabaret, comedy, interviews and showtunes, as I’m accompanied by the personification of a laughing Buddha statue from B&M, who acts as my unlikely spiritual guide.

Join us on our heartfelt and hilarious mission to find fabulous ways of ending deeply personal battles – even when the idea of peace seems impossible.