WATCH: San Domino exposes Mussolini's WWII persecution of gay men

SAN DOMINO, a new musical exploring Benito Mussolini's persecution of homosexuals, is coming to London's Tristan Bates Theatre. Watch our video from writer Tim Anfilogoff, who recounts the real Second World War atrocity that inspired the show. And heads up: Faves founder Terri Paddock is organising a post-show Q&A...

One night in 1939, Carlo, Claudio and friends are arrested in Catania. Condemned without any trial, they arrive on San Domino: a prison island solely for gay men. For all the indignity and squalor of prison life, men previously forced to live in the shadows now have no need to hide who they are. But whatever kind of life they may be trying to build, in the background war is looming.

Featuring a cast of actor-musicians, San Domino conjures up “an intimate tragi-comic world of love, loss and the struggle just to survive”. In the creative team are librettist and lyricist Tim Anfilogoff, composer Alan Whittaker, director Matthew Gould, musical director and orchestrator James Cleeve, lighting designer Mitchell Reeve and set and costume designer Faye Brad.

San Domino first previewed to an audience at the Courtyard Theatre, then played at Arcola Theatre’s Grimeborn Festival in 2014. The writers were inspired by the story of 45 gay men rounded up in Catania one night in 1939.

The new production will run at London's Tristan Bates Theatre from 5 to 30 June 2018. Casting has yet to be announced.

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Watch: The writer on the story behind the show

Bios

Tim Anfilogoff (book and lyrics) and Alan Whittaker have been friends for many years, playing in a band together and have been writing and producing musical theatre for the last five years. Their work includes A Body to Diet For which ran at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and The Golden Age which was workshopped at the Etcetera Theatre. They are currently working on a new musical The Truth about the Congo in parallel with Anfilogoff’s drama The man who killed Ota Benga.

Alan Whittaker (composer) has also written a follow-up drama to San Domino entitled The Other Island which was previewed at Camden’s Etcetera Theatre. He also wrote the screenplay for Down Flew the Doves, a film with songs by singer and composer Tim Prottey-Jones. Whittaker’s musical theatre credits include A Body to Diet For and The Golden Age, plus Liberty City (written by Amy Bilton) which was workshopped at the Hen & Chickens Theatre. He is currently working on The Truth about the Congo with Anfilogoff.

Heads up on a Terri Paddock post-show Q&A

What a fascinating subject for musical drama: @SanDominoShow exposes Italy's persecution of gay men under Mussolini. Matthew Gould directs actor-muso production @TristanBates 5-30 Jun. Cast tbc.

(Plan ahead: I'm chairing a post-show Q&A on Sat 9 Jun!) pic.twitter.com/fDlGqcUXif

— Terri Paddock (@TerriPaddock) January 24, 2018