Martin Malcolm
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martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
Martin Malcolm
@martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
550 followers 490 following 260 posts
playwright /scribbler / AD with Critical Moment Theatre

martinmalcolm.com

https://www.criticalmoment.co.uk/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
criticalmoment.bsky.social
OPEN DOOR is SOLD OUT on Saturday night!

#LGBTQ+ #History #Theatre
Notice on Taunton Brewhouse's webpage. DATE: Saturday 20th September 2025 TIME: 20 hundred hours SOLD OUT
September 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
Not an accident that a good story is often described as a roller coaster. The thrill is the same: danger experienced while completely safe.

#theater #amwriting #writing #playwriting
September 17, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
criticalmoment.bsky.social
Open Door is coming to Taunton Brewhouse on 20th September!

Thanks to @tauntontowncouncil.bsky.social for all their support!

www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/criti...
Critical Moment: Open Door | Taunton Brewhouse
On a dark February night in 1954, a young man catches the Exeter to Bristol express. What happens to him will change the lives of every queer person in Britain...
www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
September 11, 2025 at 6:18 PM
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
You can catch my interview with GWS Radio on listen again at 8:20 mins.

OPEN DOOR - QUEER FREEDOM UNLOCKED

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ #LGBTQ+ #GayHistory #QueerTheatre

gws-radio.co.uk/listen-again...
GWS Radio logo: stylised lower-case letters in orange, black and blue.
September 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
papatangotc.bsky.social
Questions about playwriting and theatre? Talk to us! Log into the #PapatangoStudio between 11.30am - 1.30pm on Thursday 18th September to access our free 1-2-1 Online Chat.

https://papatango.co.uk/studio/ #Theatre #Playwriting #Playwrights #TheatreCommunity
September 11, 2025 at 2:14 PM
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
Coming up on GWS…

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
criticalmoment.bsky.social Critical Moment Theatre @criticalmoment.bsky.social · Sep 11
We're on GWS Radio today, talking all things OPEN DOOR.

A 1950s moment that changed queer history.

Live: 5pm, on 5Drive

Or find us on listen again.

gws-radio.co.uk

#LGBTQ+History #GayPride
GWS radio logo: stylised lower-case letters g,w,s in orange, black and blue.
September 11, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
criticalmoment.bsky.social
Mum woulda been super proud!
September 10, 2025 at 6:28 AM
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
We made The County Gazette!

www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/2540834...

#LGBTQ+ #Theatre
Forgotten chapter of LGBTQ+ history being brought to stage in Taunton
Open Door, a new LGBTQ+ play by Martin Malcolm, explores pivotal West Country gay rights history. Free rehearsed reading at Taunton’s Brewhouse…
www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
September 10, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
petertatchellfdn.bsky.social
Queer history on stage 🌈✨

OPEN DOOR tells the story of a young gay lad in 1954 whose train ride from Exeter to Bristol changed everything.

📅 Sat 20 Sept, 8pm
🏦 Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
🎫 01823 283 244

Tickets: https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/critical-moment-open-door/
September 6, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
plinys23.bsky.social
A dark February night in 1954 🌙 A young gay lad boards a train from Exeter to Bristol… and changes queer history forever.

OPEN DOOR
📅 Sat 20 Sept, 8pm
🏦 Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
🎫 01823 283 244

Tickets: www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/criti...
September 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
Somerset’s surprising queer history.

#lgbtq+ #history #play #playwright #queerhistory
criticalmoment.bsky.social Critical Moment Theatre @criticalmoment.bsky.social · Sep 8
OPEN DOOR – Queer Freedom Unlocked

🗓 Saturday 20th September, 8pm

📍Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton

📞 Box office: 01823 283 244

🎟 TIX
www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/criti...
September 8, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
A guide to listening to critique:

Those who love you tell you what they liked.

Those who don't know you give clear-eyed critique.

Those who don't like you hunt eagerly for flaws.

All feedback is good.

#playwriting #playwritingtips #writingcommunity
September 7, 2025 at 4:47 PM
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
I know that look!
criticalmoment.bsky.social Critical Moment Theatre @criticalmoment.bsky.social · Sep 5
Dennis is having a bad day & he's making sure everyone knows it.

Rehearsal shot of Danny Laine by Emily Appleton.

OPEN DOOR – Queer Freedom Unlocked

🗓 Saturday 20th September, 8pm

📍Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton

📞 Box office: 01823 283 244

🎟 TIX
www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/criti...
Dennis, a young man in a 1950s suit, is taking surly to new heights.
September 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
criticalmoment.bsky.social
Thanks for your support, Pliny. It means the world! x
plinys23.bsky.social Pliny Soocoormanee. 🏳️‍🌈 🇬🇧 🇲🇺 🇫🇷 🇮🇳 @plinys23.bsky.social · Sep 5
A dark February night in 1954 🌙 A young gay lad boards a train from Exeter to Bristol… and changes queer history forever.

OPEN DOOR
📅 Sat 20 Sept, 8pm
🏦 Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
🎫 01823 283 244

Tickets: www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/criti...
September 5, 2025 at 5:36 PM
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
This #playwright thanks you, Pliny! x

I have loved working on this long lost episode of queer history.

#lgbtq+ #gayhistory #theatre
criticalmoment.bsky.social Critical Moment Theatre @criticalmoment.bsky.social · Sep 5
Thanks for your support, Pliny. It means the world! x
plinys23.bsky.social Pliny Soocoormanee. 🏳️‍🌈 🇬🇧 🇲🇺 🇫🇷 🇮🇳 @plinys23.bsky.social · Sep 5
A dark February night in 1954 🌙 A young gay lad boards a train from Exeter to Bristol… and changes queer history forever.

OPEN DOOR
📅 Sat 20 Sept, 8pm
🏦 Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
🎫 01823 283 244

Tickets: www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/criti...
September 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
tamisar.bsky.social
Ira Aldridge as Othello-William Mulready oil on panel c1840-63
#Actor #Playwright #theatre manager, Aldridge may be the most famous #African-American you’ve never heard of. The story of his groundbreaking career is remarkable. Pls read All about Him:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ira_Ald...
#painting #art
This painting by William Mulready shows groundbreaking African-American actor Ira Aldridge dressed as he may have appeared in a production of Shakespeare’s play, Othello. Aldridge, youthful here, is wearing an armoured breastplate over an orange shirt with striped edges at the top, orange fabric billowing out in the sleeves. His striking expression, wide eyes looking warily towards the right, suits the almost paranoid mood of the character of Othello-the Moorish king convinced by evil Iago into believing that his wife had been unfaithful. The handsome Aldridge’s black hair is cut short, though his natural curls still show. On the left hand side of the painting there is a long, draped length of ivory fabric, with an orange and gold design on it. This may be a stage curtain…or perhaps a flag? In the distance, on the right, there is the two-tiered stone turret of a castle - doubtless Othello’s own. Here I must divert from ALT description to add my own thoughts: in college, I studied theatre-including at least one course about the history of theatre. Several actors of centuries past were noted. And yet I had never heard of Ira Aldridge-nor his remarkable career-until I happened to stumble across this striking portrait whilst researching another painting by Mulready. I’m truly stunned this important figure in not only theatre, but African-American history, is not more well-known and celebrated. Yes, there are several Blue Plaques; an historic place of honour in Stratford-Upon-Avon; a grand memorial in Poland, where he died (tho it took decades before that was erected); and there has been a play and at least one short film about him in this century, as well as his being name-checked by that filmmaker in a podcast. It’s telling that Aldridge had to leave pre-Civil War America to find fame & acclaim-but still met with some racism-in England & Europe. Please read his Bio. There’s no doubt he broke barriers. Tragically too many of those barriers still exist. -tam💞
September 5, 2025 at 11:55 AM
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
Holiday reading!

#booksky #lgbtq
A copy of The Two Roberts by Damian Barr sits on a park bench. A Gay’s The Word bookmark is tucked into its pages.
September 5, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
plinys23.bsky.social
My Journey with LGBT+ Refugees.

Behind every asylum claim is a life unrepeatable, wounded, sacred.

We need to see beyond statistics and into the soul of the journey: from persecution to pride, from fear to healing.

Read the full blog: tinyurl.com/9wu67vte

@spiritoftherainbow.bsky.social
August 29, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
criticalmoment.bsky.social
Dr Sheldon. Icy & sarky, but maybe she has a warm heart? And a secret?

Rehearsal shot of Joanne Rogers by Emily Appleton

OPEN DOOR

🗓 Saturday 20th September, 8:00pm
📍Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
📞 Box office: 01823 283 244
🎟 TIX

www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/criti...

#LGBTQ+ #Theatre
Dr Sheldon, icy and sarky, but potentially warm-hearted. She's a 1950s professional in a tweed jacket and stylish green blouse. And she looks like she's getting ready to put someone in their place.
September 4, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
plinys23.bsky.social
So today again #RuCluck was on the street of #London on the #StopFeedingHate campaign against Chick-fil-A and this time we were in front of their secret office

Check out our news release here:

www.petertatchellfoundation.org/secret-londo...

#BoycottChickfilA in #UK
Secret London office of homophobic Chick-fil-A exposed
London – 3 September 2025 The Peter Tatchell Foundation has uncovered the hidden UK headquarters of homophobic US fast-food giant Chick-fil-A, which is bidding to open restaurants in the UK. It is ope...
www.petertatchellfoundation.org
September 3, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
criticalmoment.bsky.social
Robert Reid. Queer activist, lost to time.

🗓 Saturday 20th September, 8:00 pm
📍Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton
📞 Box office: 01823 283 244

www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/criti...
September 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
So exciting to see my new play out and about!

#pkaywriting #playwright
criticalmoment.bsky.social Critical Moment Theatre @criticalmoment.bsky.social · Aug 28
1954. On a dark February night, a young gay lad catches a train... and changes the life of every queer person in the UK.

OPEN DOOR is coming to Taunton Brewhouse!

TIX: www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/criti...

#LGBTQ+History #Theatre #Playwriting
August 28, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by Martin Malcolm
criticalmoment.bsky.social
Our hot new #LGBTQ+ play takes its next step!

#Theatre
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social Martin Malcolm @martinjmalcolm.bsky.social · Jul 12
On a dark February night in 1954, a young Exeter lad changed all our lives. Find out how…

OPEN DOOR
🗓️ Sat 19th July, 3:30pm
📍 Barnfield Theatre Exeter
📞Box Office: 01392 772 63 63

TIX
exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/open-...

#Theatre #Playwright #LGBTQ+
Poster for Open Door - Queer Freedom Unlocked. The image shows a dark, green-tiled corridor with a barred gate opening on daylight. There’s a logo for Critical Moment Theatre: on a red disc, the white shape of a figure about to cross a line.
July 12, 2025 at 9:11 PM
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
On a dark February night in 1954, a young Exeter lad changed all our lives. Find out how…

OPEN DOOR
🗓️ Sat 19th July, 3:30pm
📍 Barnfield Theatre Exeter
📞Box Office: 01392 772 63 63

TIX
exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/open-...

#Theatre #Playwright #LGBTQ+
Poster for Open Door - Queer Freedom Unlocked. The image shows a dark, green-tiled corridor with a barred gate opening on daylight. There’s a logo for Critical Moment Theatre: on a red disc, the white shape of a figure about to cross a line.
July 12, 2025 at 1:47 PM
martinjmalcolm.bsky.social
Who knew? The struggle for queer freedom in the UK started in Exeter!

Find out how at Exeter’s Barnfield Theatre on 19th July.

exeternorthcott.co.uk/events/open-...
E-flyer for Open Door - Queer Freedom Unlocked. The image shows a dark, green-tiled corridor, with a barred gate opening on daylight. Below is Critical Moment Theatre’s logo: on a red disc, the white shape of a figure about to cross a line.
July 4, 2025 at 3:40 PM