Queer Musical Theatre
This course will take place online.
Musical theatre has often been associated with high camp, but there’s a long history of Queer representation too. In this course, we will look at older works, such as Cabaret, and the show’s troubled history of Queer representation, classics like La Cage Aux Folles, and contemporary works including The Prom.
This course will look at stage and screen, controversy and representation, as well as considering the serious activist side of Queer musical theatre.
Who is this course for?
This course is for anyone with an interest in musical theatre and Queer history. No prior knowledge of these topics is required. The session will include video and audio clips.
What can I expect?
This course is taught through presentations (PowerPoint on shared screen) video clips and discussions. Discussion sections are optional, but allow participants to reflect on the material and their own experiences. There is also a reading list and YouTube playlist provided after the session.
Joining via Zoom
This course or event will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection. For further information on how to join a Zoom meeting, you can watch the joining video here.
You will need a computer or other device to connect with Zoom and a notebook/paper and pen/pencil, or digital equivalent.
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Need to Know
You will learn
By the end of this course, you will have looked at:
- Key texts in musical theatre
- Key artists and practitioners
- Links to wider Queer art and culture
- Musical song analysis.
Meet the Tutor
Dr Emily Garside
Emily Garside is a writer and professional nerd based in Cardiff. She has a PhD in theatrical responses to the AIDS crisis and is a leading expert on LGBTQ+ theatre. Emily regularly writes for journals such as The Queer Review, American Theatre, and Wales Art Review. She published her first non-fiction book ‘Love That Journey For Me: The Queer Revolution of Schitt's Creek’ in 2021 with 404ink. This was followed by ‘Angels in America at the British National Theatre’ in 2022 (McFarland). While 2023 sees ‘Seasons of Love, why Rent Matters’ (Applause), ‘Schitt’s Creek and the Rise of Queer TV’ (Applause), and ‘From Queer as Folk to It’s A Sin; Russell T Davies and Queer TV’ (Calon Books). She is also a journalist, a regular contributor for The Queer Review and has written for American Theatre, Slate, BBC, and The Stage. She also uses her research and lived experience to tell queer stories through fiction, having had several plays performed in London and nationally.
Dates and Times
Queer Musical Theatre
– , 6:03 - 8:03
