Darren Day to Star in U.K. Premiere of The Last Session at London's Tristan Bates Theatre | Playbill

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News Darren Day to Star in U.K. Premiere of The Last Session at London's Tristan Bates Theatre U.K. TV star Darren Day (best known for "Hollyoaks") will lead the cast of the U.K. premiere of Steve Schalchlin and Jim Brochu's 1997 Off-Broadway musical The Last Session, beginning performances at London's Tristan Bates Theatre Sept. 25, prior to an official opening Sept. 26, for a run through Oct. 27.

Partly based on its composer's own experiences, it is set in a recording studio in 1996 where singer/songwriter Gideon is tired of being ill and ready to give up. He's holding one last session to record the most important album of his life. To show his undying love to his partner, he plans to record a musical letter of farewell. For this last session, he reunites with some old friends and is joined by an unexpected visitor, who shares his Christian faith and for whom Gideon's sexuality changes everything.

Day, who plays Gideon, has also appeared in the West End in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and on tour in Grease, Summer Holiday, The Rocky Horror Show and We Will Rock You.

Also in the cast are Simone Craddock, A J Dean, Ron Emslie and Lucy Vandi.

Written in an era when AIDS was a terrifying and growing epidemic for which the treatment was largely experimental, Schalchlin is also the author of the Landmark blog, "Living in The Bonus Round," started in 1996, which has become a living testament to his battle with AIDS. It began when he was severely ill and expecting to die, as a way of keeping friends and family updated and to record his final thoughts.

Schalchlin and Brochu also created The Big Voice: God or Merman? The London production is directed by Guy Retallack, whose previous credits include Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story, also seen at the Tristan Bates. It is directed by Guy Retallack, produced by Climar Productions (who also produced Thrill Me), with designs by Ruth Hall, casting by Anne Vosser, musical direction by Tom Turner and lighting by Richard Williamson.

To book tickets, contact the box office on 020 7240 6283, or visit www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk for more details.

 
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