The Art House welcomes nonbinary author & activist Leslie Tate and musician Richard Lafford with their two shows IT’S OK! and ZERO HOUR EARTH
IT’S OK!
Mental health & non-binary – from breakdown to celebration!
From being bullied & silenced to personal rebirth, Richard & Leslie will take you on a journey to the gender-free & #EndTheStigma uplands where IT’S OK!
Plus ZERO HOUR EARTH…
The show comes in two halves.
In IT’S OK! Richard Lafford & Leslie Tate tell the inside story in words, images, music & dance of being mis-labelled as special needs or assigned the wrong gender. Seen as ‘different’ and ‘other’ during childhood, musician Richard and writer Leslie were stigmatised. It’s a performance that will change how you see men.
In the second half, Leslie and Richard perform their powerful climate song-cycle ZERO HOUR EARTH.
About the artists:
Richard Lafford is a musician with one album out who organises other musicians into indie gigs. Leslie Tate, who is non-binary, is the author of three novels and interviews people weekly on radio and on his/her website. Richard and Leslie are long-term climate activists with Extinction Rebellion. Leslie played the lead role in a prize-winning film that was chosen for screening at 34 festivals. It was based on his non-binary memoir ‘Heaven’s Rage’
Reviews:
“As the Artistic Director of The Pump House Theatre, Watford, I’ve been delighted, over the years, to feature three shows from Leslie Tate at our Watfringe Fest. All three have been original, thought-provoking and powerfully presented. IT’S OK! with Richard Lafford, the latest, combined music, dance, readings and interviews in an immersive show about mental health and being non-binary. Leslie is a positive, creative force who we love having with us!” – Sharon Gaffney, Artistic Director, The Pump House Theatre, Watford
“Its OK” is a fascinating show about the experiences of Leslie Tate and Richard Lafford. They use poems, songs and dance to reveal their challenges of childhood and what has helped them to grow as adults. Leslie’s beautiful words and movements are complemented by Richard’s sensitive accompaniment. Richard sings his own lovely songs also. They explore subjects such as bullying, being labelled with special needs and the challenges of moving outside the boundaries of what is seen as male behaviour. I found it fascinating as a man but I think that anyone would find it compelling to see such honesty and friendship.” – Stephen Marcus, teacher
