London’s Kings Head Theatre is about to play host to a revival of one of the most important pieces of queer theatre Bill Russell’s ELEGIES FOR ANGELS, PUNKS and RAGING QUEENS

It is a dramatic and musical theater piece composed of free verse poems and songs reflecting the lives of people who have lived with and died from AIDS. There are over 30 poems… touching, dramatic, humorous. Each poem represents a character who has died from AIDS. The songs reflect the feeling of the living… the people who have felt the loss of so many friends and loved ones. 

This is like a return visit to the King’s Head Theatre where it played for several months in 1992. That production was transferred to the Criterion Theatre in London’s West End, where it played  with a cast  that included Miquel Brown, Kim Criswell, Kwame Kwei-Armah, James Dreyfus, Simon Fanshawe and legendary drag queen Regina Fong.

This one-night revival is being directed by Elegies writer Bill Russell who is flying over from the USA for the occasion , and this epic show boasts a cast of over 30 performers; which in a fringe theatre space, is a feat worth experiencing in itself. 

Be sure to take a box of tissues with you as this collection of heart-wrenching monologues and songs never fails to move us to tears .  Below is a clip  from  another production at  The 5 & Dime at TEDxJacksonville

KHT50: ELEGIES FOR ANGELS, PUNKS AND RAGING QUEENS
Feb 19th 2022