Queerguru’s Ris Fatah reviews A SHINING INTIMACY a show about theatre, queer friendships, and grief,

A Shining Intimacy  ★★★★
Camden Peoples Theatre : London 

A Shining Intimacy is an innovative new show by performer Tom Marshman. Marshman is a storyteller and for this show, he explores queer friendships and grief, as well as the world of theatre. He highlights the special relationship between the actors, the late Kenneth Williams and Dame Maggie Smith as well as his own friendship with the late artist Clare Thornton. 

Kenneth Williams and Maggie Smith met on the London stage in the 1950s and quickly became firm friends, sharing an intellect, a love of performance, and a dry, spiky, theatrical take on the world. Theatre for them was the real world, where anything was possible, and the stage and the dressing room were the only places they needed to be. They developed a close, very supportive bond that lasted decades until Williams’ death in the 1980s.

Marshman examines their relationship in a very novel way – combining anecdotes, witticisms and funny stories with ghostly projections of himself dressed as both of them in separate dressing rooms, each sitting at a make-up mirror, projected onto sheer gauze. He combines this with stories of his own relationship with Clare, both before and after her untimely death. The result is a heartfelt, intimate, and often funny exploration of humanity and friendship, staged on a cosy, low-lit 1960s inspired set. This is also a thought-provoking show, that will leave you examining your own friendships. Recommended.

A Shining Intimacy played at London’s excellent Camden People’s Theatre. The next performance is at Bath’s Ustinov Theatre this Saturday 27^th May. https://www.theatreroyal.org.uk/events/a-shining-intimacy/ 

Further dates to be announced at www.tommarshman.com