GFEST 2010 Cochrane Theatre, Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4AP Friday 19 November • 19:30 – 22:30 …………………………………………………………………………………………………

In February 2009, Polari ran a feature on writer and performer Marcus Reeves as part of the Focus on Talent section. Marcus is returning to the stage this Friday for the LGBT & Queer Arts Festival Wise Thoughts GFEST. He is also reviving his inspired and must-see act, The Singing Christmas Tree, for Royal Vauxhall Tavern’s panto.

Talking exclusively to Polari, Marcus said, “I’m really proud to be part of GFEST once again. It feels like the perfect platform for my work and I hope the audience will enjoy the show as much as I am enjoying preparing it.” Last year, Marcus performed his solo multimedia show ‘Three Zero’, an autobiographical mix of music, verse and video, but this year, he’s taking a different direction. “I’ve wanted to explore performing my songs with a choir for some time and I chose GFEST to give this a go. I’m joined by a group of singers drawn from the London Gay Men’s Chorus, Mary King’s Voicelab and the London theatre scene to present a set of songs new and not so new, re-worked and re-modelled.’

Christmas looks set to be a busy one for Marcus, who has written the script for Screwged!, an alternative, adult take on A Christmas Carol presented at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Flicking pine-needles from his shoulders, Marcus said “I’m also the narrator, in the guise of my cabaret act The Singing Christmas Tree. The Scrooge story is traditionally very dark and I think that’s what we’ll deliver, with some very rude bits added too.” Marcus will star alongside cabaret terrorists Scottee, Myra Dubois, Russella and Jonny Woo, along with adult film star Ashley Ryder and actor David Benson, famed for his one man show ‘Think No Evil Of Us’, about the life and work of Kenneth Williams.

Christmas is coming, the credit crunch bites And Screwge’s spooky friends keep him up all night José the houseboy’s forced to go down Just to the pay bills in Vauxhall town. So come down to the tavern and fill up your stocking With something saucy, sexy and shocking As Scottee and his ghoulies in their finest drag Bring back a Christmas carol with a Bah! Handbag!

………………………………………………………………………………………………… GFEST 2010 Cochrane Theatre, Southampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4AP Thursday 18 – Saturday 20 November • 19:30 – 22:30 Box Office: 020 7269 1606 Direct online: Cochrane Theatre More info: Gaywise Festival £15 / £10 cons Thurs 18 Nov: Peter Scott-Prestland, Tonny A, Nikki Patin, Lorraine Bowen, Liz Carr, Z-STAR Fri 19 Nov: Marcus Reeves, Paola Cavallin, Patricide, Guy Harris, Mandy Romero, Zorras Sat 20 Nov: Julie Jepson, Carly Bryant, Rosie Wilby, Amphibia, The Short & Girlie Show, Katja von Kassel, Denis Fernando Full GFEST 2010 programme – Gaywise FESTival   SCREWGED! The RVT Pantomime   The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5HY Preview on Wednesday December 15th at 8 pm Further shows on Tuesday 28th, Wednesday 29th & Thursday 30th December at 4 pm and 8 pm Tickets £8.00 Book tickets here: Royal Vauxhall Tavern