Show about Quentin Crisp, coming to White Lion in Ufford

Actor Mark Farrelly returns to Suffolk after taking another of his shows to the nearby Thorington outdoor Theatre, Saxmundham, in the summer - and he couldn't be more delighted. 

The show will be Mark Farrelly's first indoor performance in Suffolk (Image: Jacky Summerfield ) Mark said: "I have previously performed it at The Thorington Theatre. That’s a beautiful outdoor theatre, but this will be my first indoor performance in Suffolk.

"The show explores the remarkable 90-year life of Quentin Crisp. He was openly gay as far back as the 1930s, and was routinely beaten up in London’s streets because of it. 

"But he refused to be anything less than his true self. He was an incredible survivor. Much later, his life was made into a TV film starring John Hurt called “The Naked Civil Servant”. 

"This made Quentin a celebrity. He promptly moved to New York, and toured the world imparting his hard-earned message about being your true self. 

"He was a wit, a delight and an inspiration. It’s an honour to play him and I’ve done well over 200 performances to date. It’s a story that people respond to with tremendous warmth."

'He refused to be anything less than his true self' (Image: Jacky Summerfield )Mark wrote the 75-minute play which focuses on two parts of Crisp's life: his loneliness and isolation in London at a time when homosexuality was illegal to his triumphant years as a born again star in New York. 

The play will be the third to be put on by Ufford's Oooh Aaah Events, with the previous two being sell-outs. 

Andy Gardner, of Oooh Aaah Events said: "This is a change of pace for us after the first two shows, which had a traditional village hall feel. 

"The message is that it’s never too late to be who you really are…

"It’s also a story about perseverance…hanging in there because you never know when your luck may change."

Mark added: "I’ve included many of his wise and witty words in the script, but my favourite is: “If there were no praise, or blame, who would you be?”

Tickets cost £12.50 and are available from the White Lion pub in Ufford (cash only). Call 01394 460770. Doors will open at 7pm and the show starts at 7.30pm. There will be a cash bar on the night. Alternatively, to reserve tickets email: andygardn@googlemail.com. 

The White Lion will have a pre-theatre dinner available before the main event.