The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me

From Hive North, producers of the hit play Jock Night, comes a searing one-man theatrical event that has electrified audiences worldwide – The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me!

Written by Obie Award-winner David Drake, this groundbreaking solo piece became one of the longest-running solo plays in New York theatre history. Directed by Offie-nominated Adam Zane and starring Gabriel Clark (Hollyoaks/Jock Night/Tip Toe), Hive North brings this seminal work roaring back to the stage.

At once funny, furious and heartbreakingly tender, The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me charts one man’s personal journey through self-discovery, desire, loss and activism. With a kaleidoscope of characters and vivid vignettes, the play captures the passion and urgency of the 1980s AIDS crisis, inspired by the indomitable spirit of playwright and activist Larry Kramer.

Every bit as vital today as when it first premiered, The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me speaks to the power of community, the fight for justice, and the resilience of queer lives. It is a fierce reminder of how far we have come and how much further we must go.

Urgent, unforgettable, and unmissable.

On selected nights, we will be hosting In Conversation With events. On these nights, the show runtime will be:

Act 1: 75 minutes

Interval: 15 minutes

Act 2: 40 minutes

10th February: Dr Monica B. Pearl

Monica B. Pearl is a Lecturer of twentieth-century American literature and film whose work centres on HIV/AIDS and queer activism. She teaches literature, film and queer studies at the University of Manchester and is the author of AIDS Literature and Gay Identity: The Literature of Loss. A veteran of ACT UP/New York, Monica is committed to public engagement and runs the Queer Salon, an intimate forum for provocative queer conversations.

12th February: ACT UP Manchester

Dick Longdin, Sarah Harris & Mike Hux

Hear from surviving members of ACT UP Manchester — Dick Longdin, Sarah Harris and Mike Hux — as they reflect on the tactics, courage and community that defined Manchester’s fight during the AIDS crisis. Their post-show conversation connects local action to the global movement, from ACT UP New York and ACT UP Paris to ACT UP London, ACT UP San Francisco and ACT UP Philadelphia — illuminating a legacy of resistance that still inspires today.

14th February: Russell T Davies as part of our Gala Event

Russell T Davies is a Welsh screenwriter and producer whose groundbreaking work has shaped modern British television and queer storytelling. He created Channel 4’s Manchester-set Queer as Folk, the multi-award-winning It’s a Sin, and relaunched Doctor Who, returning as showrunner in 2023. A BAFTA-honoured writer and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, his dramas fuse wit, heart and political urgency.