THE MAD GAY KING Debut in London

OUR STORY

This Fall, THE MAD GAY KING by Christopher Adams-Cohen will open at King’s Head Theatre in London. Directed by West End director Scott Le Crass (‘Rose’, Ambassadors Theatre) & produced by Amanda Schulz (‘The Rehearsal’, HBO), the play will mark LA playwright Christopher Adams-Cohen’s UK theatrical debut.

WHAT YOUR CONTRIBUTION MEANS TO US

London has long been the theatre capital of the world, from the grand West End district to the avant garde pub theatres where so many artists get their start. The Mad Gay King has the unique opportunity to join this long tradition of emerging artists by being included in the first season at Kings Head Theatre, once London's oldest pub theatre, now a newly refurbished 200-seat Off-West End venue.

This premier will bring optimal attention, press, and award opportunity to our show in London, while also contributing to our ultimate goal of touring the production across the UK and eventually to Los Angeles!

WHY 30K?

Any amount raised increases our chances of securing subsidized funding through one of the UK’s many wonderful arts funds—but once awarded, government funding must be returned upon a project’s completion. Reaching our goal of $30,000 through contributions alone would allow all funds generated from sales to be recycled into our tour budget. Your generous donation towards our production costs will allow The Mad Gay King to live on and pioneer to the fabulous West Coast!

Phase 1 - Debut in London

Phase 2 - Regional tour of UK

Phase 3 - Los Angeles Premier

LA’s theatre scene has always been reserved for seasonal Broadway productions and passion projects for film stars, but we seek to bring the incubator of London theatre to LA in a way that pioneers a new landscape for generations to come. And you can help us!

REWARDS

$100 — BTS video of production / rehearsal process + special thanks on the website.

$250 — Exclusive MGK poster signed by actors and director.

$500 — Special edition published script with BTS inserts, playwright’s and director’s notes, & playwright’s research (Editions limited to amount of donors) + poster.

$1000 — Donors only private preview in LA after debut in London + script & poster.

$5000 — All of the above + Producer credit + Custom Queer retelling scene or monologue of your favorite LGBTQ+ Historical figure written by the playwright in print.

THE MAD GAY KING

The Mad Gay King is a modern retelling of the life and love of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, a decadent 19th century monarch who funded the operas of Richard Wagner, built a flight of fairy tale castles, and was ultimately deposed by his conservative government on the grounds of homosexual insanity. The play follows Ludwig’s dangerous obsessions as they are ignited by the arrival of Richard Hornig, a stable master with a secret, whose presence in the Bavarian court may forever change the course of Ludwig’s fateful legacy.

Playwright Christopher Adams-Cohen discusses the writing process.

Originally written for Adams-Cohen’s MA thesis at Goldsmiths, University of London, the play has since been developed at London’s Soho Theatre and Omnibus Theatre, and is currently in consideration for inclusion in the 2024 Ojai Playwright’s Conference.

CREATIVE TEAM

Christopher Adams-Cohen (Playwright)

An LA-native playwright working between the US, UK, and Germany, Christopher’s previous plays include their 2019 Berlin debut, Hecate House—“an experimental experience that will stimulate all your senses” (I Heart Berlin)—and their 2016 Los Angeles debut Salome—”a steamy gay fever dream with a subversive sense of humor” (Showmag). A former guest company member with Gob Squad, they participated in the development of Creation (Pictures for Dorian) at HAU2 in Berlin, which has since toured to venues including LIFT Festival (UK) and REDCAT (LA). They recently completed an MA in Dramaturgy & Writing for Performance at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Scott Le Crass (Director)

Scott is a queer director/dramaturge from Birmingham. He directed the Off Com award winning digital revival of Rose by Martin Sherman starring Dame Maureen Lipman (Hope Mill Theatre/Sky Arts/Broadway HD), which has since transferred to Ambassadors Theatre on the West End. He received an Off West End and Broadway World nomination for Best Director for Rose. Recent works include Jab (Finborough Theatre), Buff (Plymouth Theatre Royal), and Cut The Crap with Sharon Osbourne (Fortune Theatre, West End). He trained as an actor at Arts Ed and is an alumnus of the National Theatre Directors Course.

Amanda Schulz (Producer)

Amanda Schulz is a freelance producer whose credits include Netflix, HBO, and TBS, with projects featured at Sundance and Tribeca. Her work on The Rehearsal (HBO), has gained global acclaim for its mind bending blend of documentary and fiction. After producing her first live show, John Early: Now More Than Ever (HBO), she became entranced by live theatre which ignited a search for the perfect playwright to partner with. In her free time Amanda is a published eroticist, documentarian, and once a year performer at SoCal’s legendary Renaissance Pleasure Faire.