Tag Archives: Russell T Davies

Russell T Davies Shares His Thoughts About Midsummer Night’s Dream’s Lesbian Kiss

Russell T Davies said he wanted to bring Midsummer Night’s Dream up to date with a same sex kiss.

Davies’ adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream was certainly memorable, and widely praised by BBC viewers.

From its diverse cast to the shock death of the tyrannical King Theseus, the re-telling originally sparked headlines with the inclusion of kiss between two women.

But this appears to be the moment people enjoyed the most viewers.

The kiss happens between fairy queen Titania (Maxine Peake) and Queen of the Amazons Hippolyta (Eleanor Matsuura) after she grows butterfly wings – a moment not in the original text.

russell_t_davies_defends_his_bold_reinterpretation_of_a_midsummer_night_s_dream

Russell described the last ten minutes of the programme as ‘the favourite thing I have ever done’ and went on to discuss the kiss from any Shakespeare purists who might take issue with it.

Davies told Digital Spy:

Really, if you’re a Shakespeare idiot, you might have a problem with it. It’s what his plays do, they reinvent themselves constantly, with every generation.

I don’t like the end of the play, where frankly Titania is submissive to Oberon and he gets away with his tricks. So it’s very deliberate.

That’s why Flute dances with a handsome man – because it’s such a happy ending, but it’s very male-female, male-female, male-female. I wanted to have a man with a man, a woman with a woman…because it’s 2016 now. That’s the world now and you want children to watch this and see the real world, in the middle of this fantasy.”

UK fans can watch Midsummer Night’s Dream on BBC iPlayer.

Cucumber, Banana, and Tofu – 3 Interconnected LGBT Shows Across 3 Different Channels

Watch the trailer for Russell T Davies (creator of ‘Queer as Folk’) new three-fold LGBT themed series ‘Cucumber’, ‘Banana’ and ‘Tofu’.

Both shows are set in Manchester and will focus on interweaving characters from different generations. The series looks to explore “the passions and pitfalls of 21st century gay life”, telling gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender stories, as well as love beyond labels.

The shows were co-produced by Channel 4 and will air in the UK next week. There are also plans to air the show in US in early 2015 on Logo TV.

Cucumber and Banana are two original drama series. Cucumber follows 46-year-old Henry and his long-term boyfriend Lance in the aftermath of “the worst date night in history” and will air on Channel 4.

While ‘Banana’ follows the lives of ‘Cucumber’s younger characters in more detail, will be shown on E4 right after Cucumber airs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afASM_sXbl4#t=13

Tofu, meanwhile, is an online documentary series about sex and sexuality. This show will will be available online at 4OD.

This is Davies’s first work with Channel 4 since ‘Queer as Folk’ ended in 2000. He also worked on Doctor Who, and creating its spinoff shows Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Cucumber, Banana and Tofu begin in January 2015, starring Vincent Franklin, Cyril Nri, James Murray, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Rufus Hound and Freddie Fox.