Queer Play Reading Club: Foam with Harry McDonald

The Queer Play Reading Club is a monthly event from Queer Theatre, held in partnership with Nick Hern Books, celebrating LGBTQIA+ playwriting in a supportive, low-pressure, queer-run, social space. Each session begins with up to an hour of sharing brand-new queer writing from our members, giving LGBTQIA+ playwrights and writers the chance to share short scenes or monologues and receive supportive feedback. We then move into a group reading of a full-length published play from Nick Hern Books, with relaxed discussion and Q&A with the playwright, facilitated by Queer Theatre’s Artistic Director, Andrew Keates.

“You forget I knew you were a queer long before I knew you were a fascist.”

1974, a public lavatory. Nicky shaves his head, watched by an older man.

Publicly, Nicky is a skinhead. And a neo-Nazi. But right now, in this place, that doesn't matter. This is not the first man Nicky has met in a public toilet, and he won't be the last…

Spanning twenty years and inspired by a true story, Foam examines the nature of identity and the consequences of right-wing extremist ideology against the backdrop of London's skinhead and gay scenes of the 1970s and 1980s.

Colliding the terrifyingly personal and the violently political, Harry McDonald's play Foam was first performed at the Finborough Theatre, London, in 2024, directed by Matthew Iliffe.

We are delighted to announce that Harry McDonald will be joining us for this session to discuss the play and answer your questions.

Tea, coffee and snacks from 6:30pm
Session starts at 7pm (sharing new writing with the group and receiving supportive feedback)
We read the play together.
Q&A with Harry McDonald and Andrew Keates
Drinks and socialising until 11pm

The Railway, Clapham
18 Clapham High Street, London SW4 7UR

By Tube: A 1-minute walk from Clapham North (Northern line) and 5 minutes from Clapham Common.
By Overground: Clapham High Street Station is directly opposite the venue.
By Bus: Served by routes 50, 88, 155, 322, and 345.
By Train: Clapham Junction is a short bus ride away, with connections across London and the South East.

The event takes place in an upstairs space accessible only by stairs. If you have access needs or questions, please contact us in advance so we can support your visit as best we can.

This is not a performance but an informal exploration of the play’s text. Scenes will be read aloud by members of the group who wish to participate. Roles may therefore be read in ways that differ from their original casting intentions, including across gender, race, age, sexuality, and lived experience. We actively welcome this openness while also encouraging those with lived experience reflecting the characters to volunteer where appropriate.

If you are a writer wishing to have your own work shared aloud in the opening section, please bring an excerpt of no more than five minutes to allow space for others. We may not have time to include everyone’s work on the night. If you need excerpts printed, please email us.

This event forms part of Queer Theatre’s commitment to ensuring LGBTQ+ theatre-makers always have somewhere to go each week to connect, create, and be inspired – alongside our 2B: Acting Classes, OutCast showcases, theatre trips, social events, masterclasses, parties and shows.

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Book via Eventbrite below. And if you’re having any problems with your booking, please contact us.

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