BRIGHTON FRINGE: All I see is you @The Warren Blockhouse

Prize-winning queer play comes to Brighton Fringe.

BOBBY works on Woolies’ record counter. Ralph dreams of being a teacher. It’s 1967. Their love is illegal. But one kiss and they’re hooked!

Kemptown writer, Kathrine Smith, is bringing her smash hit production ALL I SEE IS YOU to Brighton Fringe. The rollercoaster love story is inspired by real accounts of queer life from 50 years ago.

Kathrine says: “The show is a powerful, moving and at times funny two-hander about two ordinary lads poised between passion, self-doubt and arrest”.

The irrepressible Bobby is played by Ciarán Griffiths (Shameless, Coronation Street) and the dutiful Ralph by Christian Edwards (Les Misérables, Cyrano). The play, which won the National Octagon Prize for duologues, wowed both audience and critics during its premier at the Octagon Studio last year.

Kathrine says: “The reaction to the show blew us away”. Bolton Live called it: “A truly remarkable piece of theatre”. Go See This said it’s: “Full of gasps and chuckles” and Northern Soul Review: “Totally spellbinding from beginning to end”.

Dusty Springfield’s hit song ALL I SEE IS YOU and other favourite 60’s classics are interspersed throughout the show.

Kathrine says: “I chose the title in homage to Dusty who was famous for singing love songs while having to hide her relationships with women”.

Kathrine undertook extensive research before writing the play including reading Daring Hearts published by QueenSpark Books which documents queer lives in 1950s and 60s Brighton.

She says: “It was alarming to discover just how reviled queer people were. And shocking to see the horrendous actions many had to take to conceal their sexuality.

At that time men were routinely arrested on the slightest suspicion of homosexuality and the police would trick them into revealing any associates.

This inspired me to write a love story in celebration of the spirit and courage it took to overcome bigotry and live a true life.

I’m so excited to bring the show to my home town and hope as many people as possible come to see it!”