MAKE-UP
Lady Christina leaves the stage after another performance in another venue above another pub. She's tired of metro-sexual audiences looking for something a little risqué that they can tell their mothers about, she's tired of young drag queens who make it look so easy, and she's tired of having to put on the make up and become someone else every night. Drag has become a drag and tonight could be her last ever show.
But what's buried beneath the make-up? Chris Laneghan has been Lady Christina for so long that he doesn't know where she ends and he begins. How can he give up being her, if there's no him to go back to?
Make Up was one of six plays selected by Breakwater Theatre Company for their Rough Cuts and Scratches : New Writing Competition at The Albert Room, Cleethorpes Library on 22nd February 2019. The play was voted joint winner by the audience on the evening and a longer version of the play was commissioned by the company. This was developed with dramaturgical and mentoring support from New Perspectives, the East Midlands' based touring theatre company that specialises in bringing new work to rural and community audiences.
The official premiere of the play was scheduled for May 2020 when it was due to be performed by NoLogoProductions at Brighton Fringe with Moj Taylor playing Christina/Chris. Prior to that, it was selected for the Highlands and Islands Touring Network Supported Programme. Slots were also confirmed at other major UK fringe festivals including a full fringe run at Underbelly Wee Coo.
While Covid stopped live performances for most of the year, the full version of Make-up eventually debuted at Brighton Fringe in October. The play was also selected by the Marsh Theatre in San Francisco for the Marsh Stream International Solo Fest. It was performed there via video link on the same day as the last Brighton performance. Proving that geography is no barrier to online theatre festivals, the recording of the San Francisco show went on to be part of Melbourne's Digital Fringe in November, adding a third continent to the places where it's been seen.
The play has since been performed again at Brighton Fringe and also at Buxton, Manchester and Edinburgh Fringe festivals. It was nominated for Best Production and Best Male Actor at Buxton in 2021 and for Best LGBTQ+ production at Manchester in 2022. The play was also streamed as part of the Unbreakable Festival in summer 2022 to raise fund for Ukraine.
The script of the play is available on Amazon
Reviews:
'The script by Andy Moseley, who also directed, is gripping and intense and Moj Taylor gives us a powerful set of mental images through his quietly angry performance. Layer upon layer is warmly/brutally exposed and we learn and appreciate more and more what has become a muddled life. We come out challenged, disturbed, not quite angry: it’s a sharply-observed piece which raises questions, answers some, and raises more.' Buxton Fringe Review
'A noble and thought-provoking piece, starring an excellent Moj Taylor as Chris and his troubled drag persona, Lady Christina. Moseley and Taylor capture well the tortures and fears of Chris/Christina as she emerges from a performance, offering some poignant dressing-room reflections. A skilled and successful drama, it nudges you to new insight and understanding.' The Wee Review
'The writing and performance throughout Make-Up are impressive, working together to create an absolutely real character, with all the messy complexities, contradictions and – yes – flaws that entails. But the thing that really lifts Make-Up to the next level for me is the humanity of it all. It’s a confident piece of writing and direction, brought to life by a truly compelling performance from Taylor.' North Manchester FM
'Moj Taylor plays the role with a personal belief in Andy Moseley's excellent monologue. On one level it is a tale of indignation and anger at the world, his own family and community who fail to cope with those who are different. On another, it is also an exploration of the issues of identity that can affect us all and how we want to be perceived' Daily Business
'Make Up is a thoughtful examination of the lasting effect of prejudice featuring a strong and empathetic performance. Taylor makes subtle distinctions between the slightly catty Lady Christina and the more laid-back Christopher. Christopher recalling seeing his father while in his Lady Christina persona is a particularly powerful sequence which makes clear he is willing to try and reconcile but has recognised this is unlikely.' British Theatre Guide
'A disarmingly truthful and humorous piece, adroitly constructed and beautifully performed. Moj Taylor is skilled at both humour and pathos, prickly yet inviting, welcoming the audience into his world yet always keeping a distance. A tiny acting space is used very well by Taylor and Moseley, leading to an intimacy that is never oppressive' All Edinburgh Theatre
'A coruscating 50 minutes. Moj Taylor creates a highly interesting if not thoroughly likeable performer, who seems to cover a not entirely successful career with bitterness and gall. A totally believable character, who has a lot to say about Queer identity, personality, individualism and the freedom to be who you are. Well worth a visit. Scene Magazine
But what's buried beneath the make-up? Chris Laneghan has been Lady Christina for so long that he doesn't know where she ends and he begins. How can he give up being her, if there's no him to go back to?
Make Up was one of six plays selected by Breakwater Theatre Company for their Rough Cuts and Scratches : New Writing Competition at The Albert Room, Cleethorpes Library on 22nd February 2019. The play was voted joint winner by the audience on the evening and a longer version of the play was commissioned by the company. This was developed with dramaturgical and mentoring support from New Perspectives, the East Midlands' based touring theatre company that specialises in bringing new work to rural and community audiences.
The official premiere of the play was scheduled for May 2020 when it was due to be performed by NoLogoProductions at Brighton Fringe with Moj Taylor playing Christina/Chris. Prior to that, it was selected for the Highlands and Islands Touring Network Supported Programme. Slots were also confirmed at other major UK fringe festivals including a full fringe run at Underbelly Wee Coo.
While Covid stopped live performances for most of the year, the full version of Make-up eventually debuted at Brighton Fringe in October. The play was also selected by the Marsh Theatre in San Francisco for the Marsh Stream International Solo Fest. It was performed there via video link on the same day as the last Brighton performance. Proving that geography is no barrier to online theatre festivals, the recording of the San Francisco show went on to be part of Melbourne's Digital Fringe in November, adding a third continent to the places where it's been seen.
The play has since been performed again at Brighton Fringe and also at Buxton, Manchester and Edinburgh Fringe festivals. It was nominated for Best Production and Best Male Actor at Buxton in 2021 and for Best LGBTQ+ production at Manchester in 2022. The play was also streamed as part of the Unbreakable Festival in summer 2022 to raise fund for Ukraine.
The script of the play is available on Amazon
Reviews:
'The script by Andy Moseley, who also directed, is gripping and intense and Moj Taylor gives us a powerful set of mental images through his quietly angry performance. Layer upon layer is warmly/brutally exposed and we learn and appreciate more and more what has become a muddled life. We come out challenged, disturbed, not quite angry: it’s a sharply-observed piece which raises questions, answers some, and raises more.' Buxton Fringe Review
'A noble and thought-provoking piece, starring an excellent Moj Taylor as Chris and his troubled drag persona, Lady Christina. Moseley and Taylor capture well the tortures and fears of Chris/Christina as she emerges from a performance, offering some poignant dressing-room reflections. A skilled and successful drama, it nudges you to new insight and understanding.' The Wee Review
'The writing and performance throughout Make-Up are impressive, working together to create an absolutely real character, with all the messy complexities, contradictions and – yes – flaws that entails. But the thing that really lifts Make-Up to the next level for me is the humanity of it all. It’s a confident piece of writing and direction, brought to life by a truly compelling performance from Taylor.' North Manchester FM
'Moj Taylor plays the role with a personal belief in Andy Moseley's excellent monologue. On one level it is a tale of indignation and anger at the world, his own family and community who fail to cope with those who are different. On another, it is also an exploration of the issues of identity that can affect us all and how we want to be perceived' Daily Business
'Make Up is a thoughtful examination of the lasting effect of prejudice featuring a strong and empathetic performance. Taylor makes subtle distinctions between the slightly catty Lady Christina and the more laid-back Christopher. Christopher recalling seeing his father while in his Lady Christina persona is a particularly powerful sequence which makes clear he is willing to try and reconcile but has recognised this is unlikely.' British Theatre Guide
'A disarmingly truthful and humorous piece, adroitly constructed and beautifully performed. Moj Taylor is skilled at both humour and pathos, prickly yet inviting, welcoming the audience into his world yet always keeping a distance. A tiny acting space is used very well by Taylor and Moseley, leading to an intimacy that is never oppressive' All Edinburgh Theatre
'A coruscating 50 minutes. Moj Taylor creates a highly interesting if not thoroughly likeable performer, who seems to cover a not entirely successful career with bitterness and gall. A totally believable character, who has a lot to say about Queer identity, personality, individualism and the freedom to be who you are. Well worth a visit. Scene Magazine
