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PlayWell Productions have shared preview images of Brian Mullin’s new production Live To Tell: (A Proposal For) The Madonna Musical, directed by Deirdre McLaughlin.
The semi-autobiographical piece follows the story of a Madonna fan living with HIV. He explores the world of the gay man living with the virus as he pitches his idea of a jukebox musical based on Madonna’s discography.
The show has been described as “highly personal” and “impassioned“, delving into issues prevalent within the LGBTQ+ community, namely Brian’s HIV status and the physical and mental crises surrounding this.
Mullin takes on the self-inspired role of the protagonist Brian and is joined on stage by Dan de la Motte who plays every other character. Nadya Ginsburg also provides the offstage voice of Madonna.
Speaking about his play, Mullin has called Madonna “an icon of Reinvention”. As someone living with HIV for the past ten years, he says he has “had his own fantasy of reinvention […], feeling weighed down by daily medication and the experience of societal stigma”. The play is not about Madonna herself, but what she symbolises–”staying strong and surviving”.
The show’s run coincides with National HIV Testing week, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of regular testing to reduce the number of people living with undiagnosed HIV and those diagnosed late. The production will also work with local grassroots charities to provide creative workshops for people living with HIV.
Live To Tell: (A Proposal For) The Madonna Musical will run at the Omnibus Theatre until 18 February followed by an Off West End run at Camden’s People’s Theatre from 4-15 April.
Words by Violeta Paez
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