Stonewall is a darkly humorous yet poignant play by Rikki Beadle-Blair that revolves around a hot summer night in 1969 when an incident took place in downtown Manhattan that changed the face of modern sexuality forever.

Set to a soundtrack of swinging sixties girl groups, it’s the story of sexual intrigue, innocent romance and just plain old-fashioned bad behaviour that sparked the most glamorous night of civil disobedience in history.

We caught up with gorgeous actor Alexis Gregory to find out more.

You’re currently starring in the play Stonewall, what can people expect?
It’s a play with music about the time leading up to the Stonewall riots of 1969 bit it's also a human story about the characters that frequent the bar. Our audiences have been amazing; laughing and crying along with us.

Tell us about your character, La Miranda.
La Miranda is a 'DQ (Drag Queen) in training'. She is trying to survive life as a man who lives as a woman in a man's world!

The relationship that Miranda’s involved in is key to the production. Can you tell us more?
The relationship between La Miranda and Matty Dean is very important to me. It is about the struggle between two polar opposites (in this case masculinity and femininity) and how two people can meet in the middle and create something special. Matty Dean is La Miranda’s 'first love' and of course that it’s very important and life changing because of it.

All the characters are covered in glitter. What’s the thinking behind this?
It's a device intended to give the characters a dream like, stylised quality as they come forward from the past to tell their story. La Miranda says at the beginning of the play that it’s the story of the Stonewall riots as she remembers it and, as she is a drag queen it seems fitting that her memories should be glitter-encrusted!

So, does it take long to get off after the show?!
Well, there’s always a queue for the shower backstage! It generally comes off pretty easily (if you are prepared to scrub hard) but there's always some that remains! We have been doing this show on and off since July so I feel as if I have spent three months covered in glitter!

There’s also some fabulous costumes - is Stonewall a fun show to be involved with?
Yes, the costumes are amazing and a lot of fun to wear and Rikki worked really hard on designing them. However there are some pretty insane costume changes going on backstage!

The play’s described as “the story of sexual intrigue, innocent romance and just plain old-fashioned bad behaviour”. What kind of behaviour are we talking about?
The best kind. People falling in and out of love and fighting for their right to paaaarty!

"I would like to think I would have stood up in her name; a diva's passing cannot go unnoticed!"

If you could, would you like to go back to those care free days?
No. The play shows how hard it was to be gay in 1969. Also the play touches on what happens when those 'carefree' days came to an end at the end of the sixties. I did become intrigued by the period during my research for the play - so many monumental events happened in ‘69. I have also become really interested in the whole Warhol/Factory scene so maybe if I could go back to that time I would like to hang out with Andy and wait for my fifteen minutes.

How closely is Stonewall based on factual events?
The historical facts are taken from the book Stonewall, by Martin Duberman, and I know Rikki did a lot of research on that period. However, the play’s characters are of course fictionalised (although based on various 'types' that would have frequented the bar). Stonewall is also a very human story about what is happening to the various characters as their lives develop and that makes the play’s wider themes totally universal and timeless.

It’s hard now to think that Judy could have caused a riot that would have changed sexual politics forever, would you have risen up in her name?
Well the fact that Judy was buried on the night of the riots adds to the Stonewall 'myth' and we cover that in the play. I remember hearing a story about a drag queen throwing a drink in a cops face and saying, “That's for Judy”. Yeah, I would like to think I would have stood up in her name; a diva's passing cannot go unnoticed!

Is there anyone else who could carry the flame today?
There are several gay role models out there fighting the cause everyday. In terms of figures in the entertainment industry, I would have to say Madonna. She has always done so much for gay rights and visibility even before it was considered trendy or a good career move to do so.

You’ve worked a lot for Rikki Beadle-Blair, what’s the attraction?
Rikki is an amazingly talented individual. Acting in his plays has taught me so much and some of the parts that I have played have been especially written for me, which is an amazing thing to happen to any actor. All of the parts are so varied too and you’re constantly being challenged. I also get to work with some of the most amazing actors who are part of his Team Angelica Theatre Company.

"There’s always a queue for the shower backstage! [The glitter] generally comes off pretty easily but there's always some that remains!"

He’s the writer, director, author and designer of Stonewall as well as acting in it! Is it hard to work with someone so immersed with the production?
We are all immersed in the show in our own ways. Being in show like Stonewall is very consuming as it is close to all of our hearts.

And finally, what’s next for you?
In terms of working with Rikki again, I will be touring next year with a production of his play Bashment. Otherwise I will see what comes up next. Stonewall has been a large part of my life for the last few months so it will be interesting to see what follows.

Read our review of Stonewall.

Stonewall, by Rikki Beadle-Blair
Drill Hall 1
16 Chenies Street
London, WC1E 7EX
020 7307 5060 / www.drillhall.co.uk

3-7, 10-14, 17-21 October 2007, Wed-Sat 7.30pm, Sun 4pm

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