Beautiful Thing: First gay play for Shanghai

Beautiful Thing, the critically acclaimed 1993 play whose subsequent screen adaptation went around the world, is making its way to Shanghai. The multiple award winning play tells the unlikely coming-of-age story of two teenagers living in a working class housing estate in southeast London who fall in love against all odds. Sensitive Jamie (Joakim
Eriksson) would rather watch rainbows and musicals than be at school and is infatuated with his athletic classmate and neighbour Ste (Derek Kwan) who has to deal with a drug-dealing brother and abusive, alcoholic father at home. Their sassy neighbour Leah (Sophie Lloyd — formerly fashion editor of SH Mag) has been kicked out of every school in the area, has a drug problem and can't stop listening to her mom's Cass Elliott records. Meanwhile, Jamie's feisty mother Sandra (Christy Shapiro) juggles her job as a barmaid and her ever-changing string of lovers, the latest of whom is Tony (JP Lopez) who is younger than her and a neo-hippie.

This charity theatre event runs two nights next week at the New Factories, with all proceeds going to the Chi Heng Foundation, an NGO that is dedicated to helping children with HIV/AIDS as well as AIDS prevention work among men who have sex with men via confidential hotlines and sex worker outreach. The organisers respectfully request you to make a donation in the range of 100 yuan.

The mastermind behind this show is Michael Darragh whose alter ego Gwen from Tempe pens the LGBeaT at City Weekend.

When: 12, 13 December 2008, 20:00 - 22:30
Where: Zhijiang Dream Factory @ New Factories
4F, Bldg B, 28 Yuyao Lu (between Xikang Lu and Changde Lu)
芷江梦工厂 @ 余姚路28号 B4楼，近西康路
Reservations: Email ilovemamacass@gmail.com to reserve your seats.