With Love, Mr Gay

“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.

Team: Written by Joshua Val Martin; Directed by Jez Dolan; Performed by George Bury and Joshua Val Martin; Music by Joshua Dawson.

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.

Joining them on this production, is George Bury, actor (Central School of Speech and Drama, Hope Mill Theatre) and musician Joshua Dawson (Sherpa K).

Winner Best New Writing, Greater Manchester Fringe Festival 2024.