Making Queer Work Across Stage & Screen
Free with registration. Donations encouraged.
Overview
Come listen to James Ley’s practice and process of writing some of the most celebrated queer plays in Scotland. He will share about how his works speak to the preservation and promotion of queer spaces, as well as how he creates iconic and original queer characters who survive, thrive and sidestep stereotypes. With two of his plays now in development as screenplays, you’ll find out James’ approach to translating his work from stage to screen too. Stay for a Q&A facilitated by Ahmad Musta'ain, playwright, educator and a dear friend of James!
About the Speaker
James Ley is a playwright and screenwriter living in Glasgow. His plays include WILF (Traverse Theatre), ODE TO JOY (Stories Untold, Summerhall), LOVE SONG TO LAVENDER MENACE (Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Summerhall, SoHo Playhouse, New York), EMMA AND GILL (Catherine Wheels, Lung Ha), I HEART MATHS (A play, a pie and a pint), and SPAIN (Glasgay!, Citizens Theatre). James’ play ODE TO JOY which James wrote and directed won a fringe first at the Edinburgh Festival 2022.
James was Writer on Attachment to National Theatre of Scotland in 2022. He was selected for the 2019 Edinburgh International Film Festival Talent Lab, and the 2019 Stowe Story Labs in Vermont, USA.
His feature adaptation of Love Song to Lavender Menace is currently in development, produced by John McKay/Compact Pictures, funded by the Scottish Film Talent Network.
Photographs
The sharing begins with an introduction by Ahmad Musta'ain, playwright, educator and a dear friend of James Ley!
James takes the audience through the genesis of several of his works: Love Song to Lavender Menace, WILF and Ode to Joy. Pictured in the projection is a pitch video he made for Love Song to Lavender Menace.
James and Ahmad engage in conversation after the sharing, and audience members also posed questions including the portrayal of sexuality in queer works, and what it takes to adapt a work originally written for stage to screen.