Screening as part of our PRIDE weekend

Natasha Lyonne is the bubbly, wide-eyed, all-American cheerleader whose pious parents (Bud Cort and John Waters regular Mink Stole), suspecting that she’s a lesbian, send her off to a conversion camp. Under the direction of Cathy Moriarty and her saved ex-gay assistant RuPaul Charles, the teens (including Melanie Lynskey) are forced to overcome their homosexual desires, then deconstruct their identities, performing tasks relegated as “feminine” (scrubbing floors) or “masculine” (chopping wood), donned in high-camp, monotone, cotton candy pink or blue, until they can identify the “root” of their homosexuality. But when Lyonne meets bad girl Clea DuVall, she is suddenly awakened to her own desire.

Screening as part of our PRIDE weekend

During a long hot summer in south London, Jamie is bunking off school more than usual, scurrying back to the TV and the flat in the Thamesmead estate where he lives with his mother Sandra. Whilst his neighbour Leah, who's been kicked out of school, spends her days listening to Mama Cass records.

In the same block is Jamie's sporty classmate Ste, whose home life is punctuated by the regular beatings he receives from both his father and brother. One night, in a bid to escape the violence, Ste takes refuge in Sandra's flat and sleeps head to toe with Jamie. As Sandra struggles with a job promotion and her relationship with her hippy boyfriend Tony, Jamie and Ste gradually discover their affection for each other.

‘Superb….must-see movie’ Daily Mirror

‘A warm and funny love story… refreshingly unsentimental’ The Village Voice

‘Untalented gays’ PJ and Josie start a fight club to get the attention of their long-time popular girl crushes under the guise of teaching girls self defence, showing that lesbians will do anything except ask a girl out. However the pair find themselves in too deep and must find a way to end the club before their secret plan comes out. The comedic duo of Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri is nothing short of perfect with hilarious one liners and deadpan humour, alongside a whole ensemble of memorable performances, such as Nicholas Galitzine who fully commits to his role as meathead jock Jeff and Ruby Cruz as the very endearing Hazel, who takes things a little too literally. There will no doubt be someone in this bunch of messy but charming characters who you will see yourself in. With brilliant writing and directing from Emma Seligman who seamlessly transitions between heartwarming, violent and comedic moments, and an original soundtrack from Charli XCX, this future camp classic is both incredibly current and gives in to early 2000’s high-school comedy nostalgia. So if you’re down for a fun time, get your popcorn ready! (It also gets bonus points for bringing back end credit bloopers).

The Riverside Musical Theatre Company are back on stage again in June with their next musical - Made in Dagenham, drawn from the real-life 1968 sewing machinists strike at the Ford factory in Dagenham, Essex, this strike was influential in the passing of the Equal Pay Act of 1970.

The leader of the strike, Rita O’Grady, encourages the women of the Ford factory to walk out after they are re-classified as unskilled workers, while their male counterparts see their wages increase.

After Rita is patronized and snubbed by the factory at a union meeting, the women’s grievances over their worker status turn into a fight for equal pay. Determined not to be treated like the poor relation, the women vote unanimously to strike (“Everybody Out”) and encourage the women at the Liverpool factory to strike also.

However, when the American bosses fly in and lay off 5,000 men as a result, including Rita’s husband Eddie, cracks begin to show in the women’s solidarity. Risking her marriage and her friendships, Rita continues with her efforts for equality and gives a rousing speech at a televised Trade Union Conference (“Stand Up”), leading to the passing of equal pay within the union.

As Eddie finally recognises his wife’s achievements, the women celebrate their life-changing success.

RMTC Creative team

Director and Choreographer - Sam De Vita

Musical Directors - Mike Wren and Jade Tournay-Godfrey

Producer - Mike Warden

Assistant Director - Rachel Lansdowne

Assistant Choreographer - Sarah Wheatley

Age guidance is 12+ and show runs for 2hr 30mins with interval

Made in Dagenham the Musical

Book by Richard Bean

Music by David Arnold

Lyrics by Richard Thomas                            

 

Based on the Woolley/Karlsen/Number 9 Motion Picture

 

This amateur production is presented by arrangement with Music Theatre International

All authorised performance materials are also supplied by MTI

www.mtishows.co.uk

For this production we shall be supporting The Blossom Appeal