Up4aMeet at the Courtyard

Up4aMeet at the Courtyard Theatre is an exciting new comedy about gay dating in the age of social media and the search for love that is, for many, now conducted online.

The play examines the relationships between a group of men and their friend Caroline, a Z-list celebrity agent, who live in the same block of flats. Using a new phone app, the men all look online for some action, but a few fake profiles down the line and they find themselves in a complicated situation where nobody is quite sure who they’re in love with anymore. 

The show features a stellar cast including Penny Tasker, star of stage and screen, who has previously appeared in ITV’s Secret Diary of a Call Girl, and Benedict Garrett who has appeared in shows such as Batboy: The Musical and West Side Story, and is also well known as a campaigner for greater sexual liberalism. 

Michael Blore and Chris Wills give strong performances as Julian and Grant, an aging Shirley Bassey enthusiast and an insecure young man respectively, who both want to find their soulmate. Some surprising new talent comes in the form of Big Brother’s Nikki Grahame and X Factor contestant Lloyd Daniels. 

The concept for the storyline was inspired by writer Jeff Moody’s own experiences with online meeting sites, where he gave in to the temptation to exaggerate on his own profile, leading to a “bonkers world of confusion – all of my own making”.

Up4aMeet is a genuinely funny show that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Filled with dirty jokes, bad language and more than a little nudity, it isn’t for the easily offended, but makes for an enjoyable and highly amusing experience. The show can be recommended to anyone interested in nude theatre, gay comedy or just having a hilarious night out. 

Verdict: ★★★★★

Melanie Weaver

Up4aMeet is on at the Courtyard Theatre until 14^th July 2013, for further information or to book visit here.