Theatre company use YouTube to promote upcoming performance (From Croydon Guardian)

Croydon theatre group Glitterball go online

7:30pm Wednesday 14th December 2011 in Theatre By Nick Hitchens

The Exit Theatre Company are working hard to prepare for their next comedy horror production, Glitterballs, due at the Charles Cryer in February, and are looking to new media to get their macabre message out.

The Croydon-based community theatre group, who celebrated their tenth anniversary this year, have given their advertising a festive twist by producing a music video set to Stevie Wonder’s “What Christmas Means to Me.”

The play takes its title from the Glitterballs Show bar, where a mysterious killer turns a Saturday night drag performance into a chaotic crime scene.

Writer and director David Trotter explained that the play was partly inspired by Sparkles, a drag club in Gran Canaria, who have generously donated 30 dresses.

The group hope to build on the success of their biggest box office hit Richard and Trudy, which appeared at The Charles Cryer in February this year.

David says: “We try to push it a little bit further every year. We aim to be a bit more inventive and creative every time.

“The actors have never done drag before, so this has taken them completely out of their comfort zone.

“This is particularly true of Edward Stant, a city worker who is dreading the flack he’ll get for this at work.”

All the actors are in full time work, but devote their free time to rehearsing and producing publicity material like the YouTube video.

Mr Trotter, who describes himself as Croydon born and bred, said: “It was a fun thing to do for Christmas, even if it does mean my house is covered in sequins.” The video was launched on YouTube on Monday.

Glitterballs plays in the Charles Cryer on February 29.