Queer love story Paper Cut comes to London’s Park Theatre

New play Paper Cut from American writer Andrew Rosendorf will run at London’s Park Theatre this summer.

A timely exploration of queer men in the military, Paper Cut is a queer love story that looks at how a man’s identity is affected by injury, and by fighting for a country that doesn’t fully accept you.

Running 7 June – 1 July 2023, Paper Cut is performed by Callum Mardy (Ash in BAFTA nominated Big Boys), Joe Bolland (Othello and Our Generation, National Theatre) and Prince Kundai (Bootycandy, Gate Theatre). Tobie Donovan joins them in his professional stage debut following his TV role Isaac in the Emmy nominated Netflix series Heartstopper.

A young gay American soldier, Kyle, returns from Afghanistan after being injured in an IED blast. Only a paper cut. Or that’s what he wants his friends, family, and a potential new love to believe. Paper Cut is a raw exploration of the physical and emotional toll of returning soldiers and how they navigate their way through another minefield – returning home.

Directed by Scott Hurran, the production has set and costume design by Sorcha Corcoran, lighting design by Lucia Sanchez Roldan, sound design by Chris Warner with dramaturg Carlyn Aquiline and producer Charlotte Holder.

Playwright Andrew Rosendorf said: “When I started researching Paper Cut, Obama was president, Osama bin Laden had been killed, and ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was finally repealed — a policy that began when I was a closeted gay teenager growing up in the 1990s. Ever since, I’ve been fascinated with queerness in the military. How our queer soldiers fight for their country — and then often come home and have to fight their country.

“You only have to look at former President Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military or presently “Don’t Say Gay,” anti-drag, and anti-transgender legislation going through state legislatures in the United States. At its core, Paper Cut is an exploration of love and courage and all the minefields we have to navigate to live our lives. It’s a reminder that heroes don’t always wear uniforms.”

For more information and tickets, visit parktheatre.co.uk