Adam is the Artistic Director at the King’s Head Theatre in Islington and is directing the West End transfer of Coming Clean. He’s originally from Canberra and would love to party in the sixties with Joe Orton.
Where are you from originally?
Canberra, which is the real capital of Australia rather than Sydney.
And where do you live now?
Holloway Road with my boyfriend Oliver and our 10 year old miniature Yorkshire terrier, Tickets.
What do you love about London?
It’s an international city with a colourful history, vibrant queer scene and fantastic theatre industry.
What was the first gay venue you visited?
Heaven nightclub I think, but I’ve been here a long time now…
Can you tell us what your role is at the King’s Head?
I’m the Artistic Director. It’s a great job, I work with my team to programme the theatre and select the artists we work with.
And you are directing the West End transfer of Coming Clean, does it differ from the original King’s Head production?
We’ve enhanced the show in every respect… we’ve got a brand new actor, Stanton Plummer-Cambridge, playing Greg and I think we’ve all matured as artists in the past eighteen months. If you saw it at the King’s Head, I think you’d be surprised at just how different it is this time around.
What was the last theatre show you saw, apart from something at the King’s Head… where, and what did you think of it?
I saw the Almeida’s production of Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke and it blew me away.
What is your guilty pleasure ?
I recently binged watched The Sinner on Netflix and am desperately searching for a new box set to binge… it’s a great way to unwind when I’m not changing the face of British Theatre.
Biggest extravagance?
Well let’s just say I came back from a two week holiday in Athens with keys to a house in 2014.
Best gift you’ve ever received?
Greggs vegan sausage rolls. Need I say more?
What has been the highlight of your career so far and why?
Other than getting an interview request from Boyz it has to be the opportunity to move the King’s Head Theatre to its brand new home in Islington Square.
If you could go back in time which year would you choose and why?
Definitely the carefree sixties. Partly for the music but mostly because if I played my cards right I could have been involved with the explosive new writing scene at the Royal Court. Oh, and shagged Joe Orton in a cottage!
What’s the best party you’ve ever been to?
The Olivier Awards this year was an incredible opportunity to celebrate the success of the King’s Head Theatre with our fantastic team. On a personal note, my Dad’s wedding in December was a beautiful day.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
Who is your LGBT+ hero and why?
Anyone who has walked before me and made it possible for me to be who I am today. Particularly those we lost to AIDS.
Where in the world would you like to visit before you die?
I would love to spend a year on the Trans-Siberian Express. Six months one way and six months the other so I can experience the varied cultures it traverses across all four seasons.
What is one thing you wish you knew when you were younger?
If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love someone else?
Details of productions at the King’s Head Theatre at kingsheadtheatre.com, tickets for Coming Clean at atgtickets.com
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