We caught up with one of its stars, Philip Honeywell, to find out more about the UK premiere of this controversial Australian play, unrequited love, moisturisers and diva-like demands!

Tell me a little about your character in The Choir.
Andrew is the senior boy in his dorm room in a state orphanage. He is the leader of the pack and often his authority is shown through cruel taunts and violence. He is definitely a very complex character.

How similar are you to him?
I think that I'm a lot more laid back than him. Andrew is very self-absorbed and I like to think I do a lot for other people in fact, I know I do!

What are the main themes of The Choir?
It's a coming of age play, it really focuses on the changing relationships boys have with each other. There is lost love, longing and the fight for power, amongst other themes.

Have you ever sung in a choir?
Yeah, when I was at secondary school. It was mostly gospel and jazz, not like the hymns that our characters have to sing in the play.

"It's a coming of age play, it really focuses on the changing relationships boys have with each other. There is lost love, longing and the fight for power."

So what was it that attracted you to The Choir?
It's a great ensemble piece, each character is integral to the plot and I love the qualities each of them brings to the story. Your heart should break a little for each character.

The play’s set in a boys’ dormitory – so is it a hotbed of unrequited queer love?
I wouldn't say a hotbed, but there is unrequited love, yes, and quite a lot of bed hopping too!

It’s also a protest at the stifling of young minds by ignorance and bigotry. What are we talking about here?
Without giving too much away, the boys are in their own world, constantly shut out from the reality of what is outside so they really only know what they are told in the orphanage. Mistakes are made and the boys suffer badly because of them.

The cast is all adults rather than boys, how has that changed the play?
The script actually details that the characters should be played by adults, so I don't think the play has changed as such. Maybe a cast who are older than the characters they play can bring a greater depth and wider range of experiences to the roles they play.

Do you think must boys go though a gay stage?
I think it crosses the minds of all of us, but for some the phase lingers longer!

What’s it been like working with an all male cast?
Great, it has become a bit of a brotherhood in fact. There have been a lot of things that we have been able to learn from each other.

Is the dressing room full of macho locker room posing or a more metrosexual pouting?
Neither, I'm afraid. We've become schoolboys again so it's back to practical jokes and mock teasing. There's always room for a little pouting though!

So are you seeing anyone at the moment?
Why, are you interested?

What style of underwear do you prefer?
Boxer briefs definitely!

Carrying on with that theme, what do you go to sleep in?
In winter? Full on PJs. In summer? Well, I'll let you guess that one...

"There's me doing a striptease in the very first scene, there's boys in dresses, boys getting up to no good, musical numbers and some damn fine acting - what else could you possibly ask for?"

Which comes first for you: sex or love?
Both would be preferable.

Do you believe in monogamy?
Yeah man - mahogany floors are great!

Who do you currently have a secret crush on?
If I told you then it wouldn't be a secret, would it?

What’s in your bedside table?
Well, it's more of a shelf, fit to burst with moisturisers. I must have one of every kind there is!

What is your most diva-like demand?
As I said, I'm pretty chilled out but catch me on a bad day and - damn you! - get me a mocha, a litre of evian and get rid of all the people in the room who are better dressed than me!

Who would play you in a film of your life?
Probably one of my friends from drama school. They know me so well and it would give them a big break! Failing that, maybe a young John Trovolta.

"I wouldn't say it's a hotbed, but there is unrequited love and quite a lot of bed hopping!"

Give us the big sell. Why should we come to see you in The Choir?
There's me doing a striptease in the very first scene, there's boys in dresses, boys getting up to no good, musical numbers and some damn fine acting - what else could you possibly ask for?

And finally, what’s next for Philip Honeywell?
I'm waiting for the release of a short film I completed with the London Film School just before Christmas, but who knows, maybe we'll be taking The Choir on a global tour!

Read Our Review Of The Choir »
Click to read the GaydarNation review, plus post your own thoughts and rating.

Read Our Interview With Errol Bray »
Click to read the author talk about his queer drama about ignorance and bigotry.

The Choir, by Errol Bray
Above The Stag Theatre
15 Bressenden Place
London, SW1E 5DD
0844 478 0030 / www.abovethestag.com

20 January–15 February 2009

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