Fairlight

Photo credit: Martin Sz

Concept Michael Wolters and Alexandra Taylor
Music Michael Wolters and Paul Norman
Libretto Alexandra Taylor
Video Oli Clark

'Fairlight' is a Musical that sets the origin story of lawn tennis in a queer context, shining a light on the absence of any openly LGBT+ professional male players. It contrasts historic and current stories, inviting audiences to form their own interpretation of tennis's seemingly straight history.

'Fairlight' takes place on a tennis court and brings together:

• The story of the invention of lawn tennis by Harry Gem and Auguro Perera, at Perera's home 'Fairlight' in Edgbaston in the 1860s.
• Music based on the unmistakable sounds of the Fairlight CMI, the first commercially available sampler.
• Newspaper reports of prosecutions of gay men in the Victorian era.
• The laws of lawn tennis, written by Harry Gem in the 1870s.
• Demonstrations of tennis play.
• Interviews with current tennis players about the challenges faced by LGBT+ players today.

This is a 'work in progress' showing, taking place at Edgbaston Archery and Lawn Tennis Society, the oldest lawn tennis club in the world. The club house bar will be open for drinks from 5pm to 10pm.

Visit our website for more information: www.fairlightmusical.co.uk
If you have any questions, please email: hello@fairlightmusical.co.uk