Southwark Playhouse to stage European premiere of Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina

Producers have today announced that Southwark Playhouse will play host to the European premiere of Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina, just as his musical Kinky Boots gears up to open in the West End.

Based on real–life events, Casa Valentina takes place in 1962 in the picturesque Catskills mountains of New York. A group of heterosexual men escape from the City to spend their weekend dressed as women. In this cross dressing colony they leave their families, friends and city jobs behind to safely inhabit their female alter egos and release their inner woman.

When the play opened on Broadway last year, our sister site TheaterMania claimed in their review that Fierstein's first non-musical in a quarter century was "far and away the best new play of the season."

Best known for his work on the musicals La Cage Aux Folles, Kinky Boots and Newsies, Fierstein's acting credits include his Tony Award-winning performance as Edna in Hairspray, Albin in La Cage Aux Folles and Frank in Mrs Doubtfire.

Talking about the new production of Casa Valentina, he said:

"Is there anything more dangerous than attempting to live an authentic life? Researching Casa Valentina I found that, were truth told, for the most everyday of us there is no normal. We are each complete individuals with our own specific ways in which we negotiate the world. Most of us disguise our individuality within gender, societal and religious role models. But those who dare to live their truth out in the light of day become the Christopher Columbuses of humanity."

The production will reunite producer Paul Taylor Mills with director Luke Sheppard, following their acclaimed production of In the Heights – also at Southwark Playhouse – which transfers to the King's Cross Theatre later this year. Sheppard's other directing credits include the current production of Oliver! at the Watermill and the premiere production of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ – the Musical at the Curve, Leicester.

Casa Valentina will run at Southwark Playhouse from 16 September – 10 October, with previews from 10 September. Sign up to our mailing list for further information on ticket sales as it is made available.