This May, Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment presents the world premiere of a new musical The Verb, ‘To Love’ by Andy Collyer.
Directed by Jonathan O’Boyle (Bash Latterday Plays (Trafalgar Studios), Made in Britain (Old Red Lion) and Assistant Director of The Scottsboro Boys), The Verb, ‘To Love’ is an intimate new LGBTQ musical exploring the complications of changing relationships, and the power of different kinds of love; ‘The verb ‘to love’ has so many meanings…’.
Playing the role of Simon will be Martin Neely. No stranger to stage or screen, Neely is about to star on the West End in Kingmaker (St. James Theatre) and spent two years in London’s Les Miserables (Queen’s Theatre), as well as appearing in blockbuster films such as Stardust and Shakespeare in Love.
Sharing the stage as Ben will be Gareth Bretherton. Bretherton has spent several years starring as Electra in the German production of Starlight Express (Bochum). A man of many talents, he is an accomplished Musical Director and Pianist as well as a talented singer-songwriter. Bretherton will also act as Musical Director for the musical.
Simon is lost, abandoned by his partner of twenty-three years. He is alone for the first time, until he finds Ben, the great love of his life, a young man seventeen years his junior, and finds himself rejuvenated and fulfilled in a way he never knew possible. They share the complications of falling in love, undergoing upheavals and experiencing change, until it all falls apart. But does it?
The Verb, ‘To Love’ is supported by Grant for the Arts and is part of a double-bill at the Old Red Lion with a revival of the renowned Portia Coughlan by Marina Carr.
Aria Entertainment was founded in 2011 by Katy Lipson and most recently produced a critically acclaimed production of Jerry’s Girls at The St James Studio starring Anna-Jane Casey, Ria Jones and Sarah-Louise Young, The Return Of The Soldier at the Jermyn Street Theatre supported by Grant For The Arts, Marry Me A Little at the St. James Studio, RAGS The Musical at The Lyric Theatre, West End, and the UK premiere of Off-Broadway musical See Rock City And Other Destinations.
The Verb, ‘To Love’ – a new musical by Andy Collyer
Wednesday 29th April – Saturday 23rd May 2015
Tuesday to Saturday, 7pm
Saturday and Sunday matinees, 2pm
Running time 1 hour
Twitter @AriaEnts, ORLTheatre, ORLSeason
Box Office Tickets are available priced £14/12
Available from Old Red Lion Theatre Box Office and www.oldredliontheatre.co.uk or 0844 412 4307
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