Outhaus
A drag queen and a mallard walk into a bar…
In the not-too-distant future of our concrete state, a prohibition on green space is in full swing. With every park, field, and grass verge bought up by the bourgeoisie, one dilapidated public toilet houses nature’s speakeasy.
Welcome to Club OutHaus - an illegal underground haven for joggers, dog walkers, and ducks alike to relish in the benefits of nature in the shadows, tended to by the club’s cabaret stars. The story follows Magnolia (the glamourous drag queen), Durt Bag (the club’s Drag King MC), Gina (an aspiring singer and starlet), Kristoff the Mallard Duck (a circus performer) and Sunny (the club’s bartender) as they work together to keep the club open for those who need it, and out of the hands of the Green Police.
OutHaus is a 5-hander play that explores the rapid decline of green space access in the North West in a tongue-in-cheek, high-energy cabaret that brings together the magic of nature with the power of people.
In 2020, Friends of the Earth released a report on England’s ‘Green Space Gap’ detailing the extent of green space deprivation in the UK – with many neighbourhoods in the North West ranking ‘E’ – a category reserved for areas that are most deprived of green space access. This project aims to reconnect communities in these category E areas with the magic of green space through a show that is fun, hilarious, high-energy and galvanising, equipping audiences with the tools to fight for access.
The play also explores sub-themes of the diminishing access to queer space and art space in the UK – with the OutHaus holding space for all three. It also seeks to break down anthropocentricity and hold space for the non-human stories taking place in our green spaces across the country, and the unique threats faced by our animal and insect friends.
Touring now
105 minute run-time
16+ mature themes, strong language, violence, drug references
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Gina
Georgie Cunningham
Who, me Officer? She might look sweet, but Gina keeps the green police on their toes.
Rising star and green-thumbed gardener of the OutHaus, she’s our go-to girl for getting your hands dirty - oi, get your brain out the gutter! -
SUNNY
Alex Suzuki
Owning the OutHaus wasn’t quite what Sunny had in mind when he thought about his dreams for the future, but someone’s got to finish the work his dad started.
One things for sure, this cheeky chappie will have you swooning - if he doesn’t have his head turned first... -
Durt Bag
Kate Carey
When DB’s not slinking around looking like a graffitied club toilet, he’s on stage MCing the OutHaus cabaret.
Durt Bag by name, dirt bag by nature, you can usually find him in a back alley trying to flog some compost on the sly - but hey, don’t grass yeah? -
Kristoff
Joseph Roberts
When it comes to habitat reclamation, European Mallard Kristoff doesn’t give a duck what you think.
As the winter arrives in the UK, they hang their wings up here at the OutHaus - can birds even do burlesque? Ah, who cares. It’s mating season. -
Magnolia
Nicola Hardman
That’s Ms Magnolia Filigree to you, bitch.
Anarchist, activist, and Queen of the OutHaus, Mags might look like a diva but her love for mother nature is a force to be reckoned with. Wanted in seven countries. Shagged Gordon Ramsey. What else? Eh, you’ll find out when you meet her.
cast and crew
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Kate-Elizabeth Carey
Georgie Cunningham
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Director: Daniel Vernon
Costume: Kate-Elizabeth Carey
Set: Joseph Roberts and Kate-Elizabeth Carey -
Media: Chrissie Handley
Videography: Chrissie Handley
Sound: Daniel Vernon and Alex Suzuki
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Georgie Cunningham, Joseph Roberts, Kate-Elizabeth Carey, Alex Suzuki, Nicola Hardman, Fran Clover
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Fran Clover, Chrissie Handley, Lucas Moore, John Donachie-Ashcroft, Edward James, Dan Vernon, Jacob Prince
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Anushka Hyde
Come catch the Work in Progress show LIVE at
The Arts Centre, Edge Hill University
Friday 7th February 7.30pm
Ticket prices of £10/ £8 concs / £5 EHU Graduates
Free for EHU Students