Mark Ravenhill

An encounter with an unforgettable legend: Bette Bourne, reveals his varied life through a series of interviews, partly based on a theatre collaboration between Bourne and Ravenhill. This is a richly enjoyable exploration of the life of a born performer with some great archive footage and rare photographs. A highly successful career on the London stage was put on hold when Bette discovered gay liberation. But out of a gay drag commune in Notting Hill, Bette fashioned a glorious theatre troupe Bloolips, bringing together a unique blend of costume, camp and musical theatre leavened with sexual politics. The film offers an insight into a passionate and gifted actor who has made a great contribution to gay life, art and politics.

A parallel world, 1860. Two teenagers thrown together by a tsunami. One wears next to nothing, the other a long white dress. Neither speaks the others language, but somehow they must learn to survive and forge a new nation. One of the first five episodes also released on terrestrial TV on a 2009 BBC TV series titled "National Theatre Live".

An encounter with an unforgettable legend: Bette Bourne, reveals his varied life through a series of interviews, partly based on a theatre collaboration between Bourne and Ravenhill. This is a richly enjoyable exploration of the life of a born performer with some great archive footage and rare photographs. A highly successful career on the London stage was put on hold when Bette discovered gay liberation. But out of a gay drag commune in Notting Hill, Bette fashioned a glorious theatre troupe Bloolips, bringing together a unique blend of costume, camp and musical theatre leavened with sexual politics. The film offers an insight into a passionate and gifted actor who has made a great contribution to gay life, art and politics.

An encounter with an unforgettable legend: Bette Bourne, reveals his varied life through a series of interviews, partly based on a theatre collaboration between Bourne and Ravenhill. This is a richly enjoyable exploration of the life of a born performer with some great archive footage and rare photographs. A highly successful career on the London stage was put on hold when Bette discovered gay liberation. But out of a gay drag commune in Notting Hill, Bette fashioned a glorious theatre troupe Bloolips, bringing together a unique blend of costume, camp and musical theatre leavened with sexual politics. The film offers an insight into a passionate and gifted actor who has made a great contribution to gay life, art and politics.

Mark Ravenhill's play, captured live at the Royal Court on 19th March 2009.

Mark Ravenhill's play, captured live at the Royal Court on 19th March 2009.