Marlborough Productions

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Leading UK producer of q***r-led, intersectional performances, parties and community gatherings We create and elevate intersectional q***r culture.
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We are a nationally and internationally recognised producer of q***r-led, intersectional performance, parties, heritage and radical community gatherings. We advance equality and social justice by producing innovative new work from extraordinary artists, reclaiming spaces to create and share culture and developing our communities. We’re a member of Live Art UK, the national network of Live Art promoters. We began our journey in the Marlborough Pub & Theatre in Brighton. In 2020, we made the decision to leave and move onto bigger stages and projects. The Marly was a home to us for 12 years and we still love this amazing building with its long connection to the LGBTQIA+ community in Brighton

Marlborough Productions is a registered charity no. 1145506.

13/10/2026

Ahead of the No Apologies World Tour coming to Live Theatre Newcastle this weekend, (supported by Curious Arts), we've struck déjà vu! Last year, Emma Frankland joined Curious Arts & Live Theatre for Trans Performance NOW. An initiative that shines a light on new works in progress from both established and emerging Trans+ artists from across the UK.

During this visit, Emma shared an extract of No Apologies in its development and we're so excited to be bringing the full-No Apologies-experience back North West this October 16th & 17th.

During her time as part of Trans Performance NOW, Emma joined Patti Boo Rae for an episode Of Chatti Pattie, where the tea was spilt on making good messes and staying in the fight. Nirvana, fire onstage, the role of art in activism, and how to avoid people when you owe them money. Also, at what point is a healthy smoothie just a gazpacho?

Enjoy the episode today, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-YeOFvyiIM to watch. (Then remember to book your tickets ahead of Emma's No Apologies return to Newcastle!)

📆 16 & 17 October,
⏰ 7:30pm
🎟️ From £12, head to www.live.org.uk for more information
👉 On the evening of the 16th, Emma will be joined by Academic and Principal Investigator of the Trans Performance Now project, Dr Rachel Hann for a post-show talk exploring the international tour of the show and its cultural impact.
👉 Supported by our friends at Curious Arts.

Trans Performance Now was curated by Curious Arts, Live Theatre & Northumbria University and took place 27 - 29 June 2026.

09/10/2026

We're excited to be co-presenting Fatt Butcher's Congregational at Brighton Dome as part of its UK tour!

Part-concert, part-funeral, part-communion, part-best-night-of-your-life, ‘Congregational’ is a newly composed choral service for the nightclub from artist & vocalist Fatt Butcher - a ceremony for dying nightlife spaces that reminds us to keep on living.

Join your guide Fatt Butcher, heralded by critics as an ‘incredible vocal powerhouse’ (West End Best Friend) and ‘accelerating the decline of humanity’ by trolls on Twitter, on a guided journey of community, song, sweat, and the transcendental powers of amyl-nitrate.

Featuring a live choir of professional q***r vocalists, complete with superstar DJ and virtuosic piano accompaniment, expect an avante-garde musical with a thumping original score of ‘hymns for the dancefloor’ blending house, trance, gospel, classical and experimental music into one unmissable night. Come join the congregation!

📆 Friday 30 October
⏰ From 8pm
🎟️ From £10
👉 Find out more, visit https://brightondome.org/whats-on/L0h-congregational/
👉 Integrated captioning, BSL & Relaxed Performance
📸 Image credit: Emma Jones

17/09/2026

Meet Director of No Apologies, Harry Clayton-Wright as we sit down and chin-wag about all the show's milestones, thrills, what's in the works for the show plus Harry's experience working with the team and Emma Frankland as this radical, q***r misremembering of Nirvana's 1993 MTV Unplugged Gig continues to thrill audiences and critics alike.

“This is precisely the kind of fearless, formally inventive, emotionally devastating theatre the medium needs.” - The Theatre Times

Catch the UK leg of No Apologies World Tour, confirmed for the following dates:

📍 Exeter, Barnfield Theatre (solo show)
📆 Friday 2nd October, 7:45pm
On the evening of Trans Pride Exeter 2026.
Tickets and more information: Visit the link in bio / https://exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/no-apologies/

📍 Live Art, Newcastle
📆 16 & 17 October, 7:30pm
No Apologies at Live Theatre is supported by Curious Arts.
We presented an extract of the show last year at the trans performance now conference and are excited to return to the city!
Tickets and more information: Visit the link in bio / https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/no-apologies

📍 Traverse, Edinburgh
📆 12 & 13 November, 7:30pm
Returning to Edinburgh after a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025 (winning the Bragi Award for creativity and artistic excellence and a Besties Award for new writing). This will be Emma’s first time at Traverse.
Tickets and more information: Visit the link in bio / https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/no-apologies

📍 Brixton House (solo show)
📆 2-12 December, 8pm (no shows 6th & 7th)
The London premier of No Apologies across two weeks.
Nirvana never played Brixton (their concert in 1994 was cancelled because of Kurt’s death) but No Apologies comes South of the River.
Tickets and more information: Visit the link in bio / https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/shows/no-apologies/

👉 All performances captioned.

No Apologies is commissioned by Marlborough Productions. Supported by Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, The Old Electric, Northumbria University and Arts Council England.

10/09/2026

With applications for our new trustees and chair opportunity coming to a close this Monday 14th September at 10am, we're still keen to hear from folks that are curious about supporting our mission to be a 'catalyst for q***r culture and community' and are invested in the impact that we're making with artists and communities.

Find out all the details to join The Board at Marlborough Productions today. Visit https://marlboroughproductions.org.uk/were-looking-for-trustees/ for more information.

Image collage made up of images of Harry Clayton-Wright as part of Mr Blackpool, Emma Frankland's No Apologies, Trans Pride 2025, Pride 2025 and Alfie Ordinary, one of three hosts who leads Q***r in Brighton / Q***r Heritage South's Revealing St James Street tours.

24/08/2026

No Apologies is a smash hit, but don’t just take our word for it! Following its award-winning run as part of Edinburgh Fringe last year, critics resonated and enjoyed the show just as much as its audiences. You won’t want to miss this q***r, mis-remembering of Nirvana’s 1993 MTV Unplugged gig.

Discover more, its confirmed dates below and book today! For more information, visit the links below:

📍 The Old Market, Brighton (with band!) + Everett True post-show talk*
📆 28 & 29 August, 8pm
*After the performance of No Apologies on Friday 28 August, Everett True (aka: Dr Jerry Thackray), the author of Nirvana: The True Story (2006) will join us for a very special post show discussion. Known as “the man who invented grunge” and “the journalist who introduced Kurt to Courtney”, Kurt Cobain once called Dr Thackray “the biggest rock star journalist in the world”.
Tickets and more information: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/no-apologies

📍Barnfield Theatre, Exeter (solo show)
📆 Friday 2nd October, 7:45pm
On the evening of Trans Pride Exeter 2026.
Tickets on sale soon

📍 Live Theatre, Newcastle (solo show)
📆 16 & 17 October, 7:30pm
No Apologies at Live Theatre is supported by Curious Arts.
We presented an extract of the show last year at the trans performance now conference and are excited to return to the city!
Tickets and more information: https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/no-apologies

📍 Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh (solo show)
📆 12 & 13 November, 7:30pm
Returning to Edinburgh after a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025 (winning the Bragi Award for creativity and artistic excellence and a Besties Award for new writing). This will be Emma’s first time at Traverse.
Tickets and more information: https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/no-apologies

📍 Brixton House (solo show)
📆 2-12 December, 8pm (no shows 6th & 7th)
The London premier of No Apologies across two weeks.
Nirvana never played Brixton (their concert in 1994 was cancelled because of Kurt’s death) but we’re bringing our show!
Tickets and more information: https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/shows/no-apologies/

👉 All performances captioned.

No Apologies is commissioned by Marlborough Productions. Supported by Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, The Old Electric, Northumbria University and Arts Council England.

20/08/2026

Urgent and politically sharp, No Apologies is a spectacular collision between theatre and grunge, autobiography and alternate history, weaving together threads of pop culture with mythology and ritual, fuelled by the experience of coming-of-age in the nineties.

Next Friday, its UK tour kicks off with its mighty Brighton homecoming, featuring special guest, Everett True and its live band at The Old Market!

“An unplugged, q***r seance for past loss, wrapped up in a powerful call for unapologetic trans hope for the future!” ★★★★★ - To Do List

Book your tickets today, visit the link in bio / https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/no-apologies

📆 28 & 29 August, 8pm
🎟️ Tickets and more information: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/no-apologies
👉 All performances captioned
⚜️ Poster designed by Keir Cooper
⚜️ Flyer designed by Charlie Wood

18/08/2026

“Emma Frankland is the punk rock angel of your dreams and nightmares” (The Stage) and next week, she’s bringing No Apologies to Brighton, kicking off the UK leg of its tour across this autumn!

After the performance of No Apologies, (Friday 28th August) author of Nirvana: The True Story (2006), Everett True (aka: Dr Jerry Thackray) - Known as “the man who invented grunge” and “the journalist who introduced Kurt to Courtney”, will be joining us for a very special post-show discussion! Kurt Cobain referred to Everett as “the biggest rock star journalist in the world”.

Joining Everett True for this very special post-show Q&A will be No Apologies writer and performer, Emma Frankland and Marlborough Productions’ Co-Creative Director, David Sheppeard.

The discussion will reflect on the performance and Everett True’s personal memories of Kurt Cobain. We will tackle how Kurt’s art challenged mainstream identity and how this legacy still influences and inspires young people today.

As part of the talk, there will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.

📍 The Old Market (performed with band!)
📆 28 & 29 August, 8pm
🎟️ Tickets and more information: https://www.theoldmarket.com/shows/no-apologies
👉 All performances captioned
📸 Image credit: Matt Crockett

14/08/2026

Could you help us to champion underrepresented voices in q***r culture? Join The Board at Marlborough Productions! 🌟 We’re looking for up to three new volunteer Trustees, including a Co-Chair.

We welcome applications from diverse individuals who represent the wide breadth of communities we engage with. You don’t need previous trustee experience but we are particularly interested in hearing from people with knowledge, skills or experience in finance, charity governance, fundraising, legal and HR procedures.

At Marlborough Productions, we are a catalyst for q***r culture and community. We upend norms, foster inclusivity, and make a positive impact through cultural projects and initiatives. Our vision is a lasting legacy of empowerment and inclusion, inspiring a brighter, more inclusive future for all.

If you’re passionate about q***r arts and want to help make a real difference in the UK creative sector and beyond, we’d love to hear from you!

To find out more, or to apply, visit https://marlboroughproductions.org.uk/were-looking-for-trustees/

Address

The Old Courtroom, 118 Church Street, Brighton And Hove, Brighton
Brighton
BN11UD

Website

https://linktr.ee/marlboroughproductions

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