Larry

**WORLD PREMIERE**

By Tim Whitnall

Director – Martin Paul Roche

“He was paving the way for me, Paul O’Grady, Graham Norton and Alan Carr in years to come.” JULIAN CLARY

Presented by Summerseat Players in association with Feather Productions Ltd, LARRY is a dynamic new play celebrating the life and times of the much-loved, much-missed comedian Larry Grayson.  Written by BAFTA and Olivier award-winning playwright Tim Whitnall, this inventive, hilarious, often surprising work reveals how Larry – unable to “sing, dance, or act” – perfected a unique comic style to become an undisputed national treasure.

From his humble beginnings as a baby “born out of wedlock”, the drama charts Larry’s showbiz odyssey from his childhood performances atop an upturned tin bath, via his years as a trail-blazing drag artiste, through his acclaimed shows at the London Palladium, an eventually into the hearts of 20 million TV viewers as the host of BBC’s “The Generation Game”. On reaching the top of his game Larry recalled: “I was being called an overnight star, but it had taken me 95 years to get there!”

LARRY is a tale of subterranean lows and stratospheric highs, reflecting on the beauty of our dreams and the power of our determination. It also lifts the lid on its subject’s two most significant interpersonal relationships: the unassailable bond that Larry shared with his stepsister, and the one-and-only romance he ever knew; a love story that would end in tragedy, profoundly affecting him for the rest of his life.

Reluctant to publicly discuss his own sexuality, Larry would incur the ire of the Gay Liberation Front, a stand-off which culminated in a feisty ‘summit’ between both sides in the mid-70s. For three decades of his career Larry’s sexual orientation defined him under archaic British law as a criminal, an injustice scarring many gay men of his generation, desperate to protect and preserve both their professional and personal lives. By revisiting those dark and distant days, LARRY highlights how perceptions in regard to LGBTVQI+ issues have since changed dramatically.

LARRY introduces us to its star in early 1995 as he embarks on a fantastical journey which gifts him the opportunity to perform one last time: a challenge that he not only relishes but also one to which he will rise spectacularly. Featuring a multi-talented cast, LARRY invites you to join the comedy legend as he “opens that door” on the most momentous performance he will ever give.

A Main Stage Production (Part of our SEASON TICKET scheme)

Show Dates: 14^th – 21^st June 2025 – curtain up at 7.45pm (Matinee on 15th June – curtain up at 2pm)

This amateur production of ‘Larry’ is presented by special arrangement with Feather Productions and Independent Talent