Shaper/Caper proudly presents the award-winning production Small Town Boys - a bold and moving dance-theatre experience exploring the vibrant escapism of queer nightlife during the 1980s and early ’90s AIDS crisis.
Told through electrifying dance and spoken word, Small Town Boys follows a young man who leaves his small-town life behind in search of freedom and belonging in the big city. There, he finds joy, love, and liberation within the LGBTQ+ club scene…until the devastating impact of a health crisis, neglected by those in power, begins to unfold around him.
Small Town Boys won the Creative Arts Award at the 2024 Proud Scotland Awards!
After a series of sold-out performances across Scotland in 2024, Small Town Boys returns with eight powerhouse dancers and a vibrant Community Cast, transforming the stage into the legendary Paradise Nightclub. With a pulsating soundtrack of iconic 80’s and early 90’s anthems, alongside original compositions, the show captures the joy, chaos, and resilience of a generation dancing through the darkness.
Audience members are invited to blur the lines between club and theatre - whether you choose to join the cast on the dance floor or soak in the atmosphere from your seat, Small Town Boys is a celebration of connection, defiance, and the unshakeable power of community.
Select performances will be accompanied by a Q&A from Waverley Care, our charity partner, giving vital context on queer history and sexual health — and where we go from here.
Small Town Boys is produced in association with Terrence Higgins Trust and Waverley Care, and is generously supported by The National Lottery and Creative Scotland’s Open Fund. Small Town Boys toured Scotland in 2024 thanks to Creative Scotland’s Touring Fund and Creative Scotland’s Multi Year Fund.
Small Town Boys won the Creative Arts Award at the Proud Scotland 2024 Awards and is part of the Made in Scotland 2025 Showcase!
Show Dates
NEXT STOP…EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE FROM 1ST TO 17TH AUGUST 2025 AT ZOO SOUTHSIDE AS PART OF THE MADE IN SCOTLAND SHOWCASE.
Photos
Photos by Maria Falconer
Playlist
Listen to the music from Small Town Boys here.
Cast & Creative Team
Concept, Choreography and Direction:
Thomas Small
Set and Costume Design:
Becky Minto
Lighting Design:
Emma Jones
Composer and Sound Design:
Mark Franks
Dramaturg and Contributing Writer:
Natalie McGrath
Associate Designer:
Fraser Lappin
Devised by:
Thomas Small and the Company Dancers
Rehearsal Director:
Ellis Saul
Special thanks to original cast members Shawn Addison, Naissa Essart-Neilsen, TJ Firmin, Alex Gosmore, and Dominic Rocca for their valued contributions to the devising of the show, to Dylan Baillie for his lighting design in the initial research & development of the show, and to Patrick Dalgety for his production expertise and insights.
Cast
Jake Evans (he/she/they)
Originally from the Wirral and now based in Manchester, Jake started dancing at a community youth theatre before going on to train at Northern School of Contemporary Dance where he received both his BPA and MA degrees. During this time he performed throughout the UK, Europe and in the USA, working with choreographers such as Angus Balbernie, Rod Dixon, Odette Hughes, Dam van Huyn, Anton Lachky, Efrosini Protopapa and Athena Vahla.
Jake has worked with companies including Vincent Dance Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Opera North and Gary Clarke Company. His own ACE-funded solo work ‘Queer’ New World’ was selected for Kala Sangam’s ‘Back to there Studio’ programme, Northern Connections 2022, and Turn 2024. He was also selected for HOME’s collaborative arts programme PUSH Lab 2024, and most recently acted as rehearsal director for ACCA Dance Theatre. His poetry appears in 'Queer Icons: A Queer Bodies Anthology’ published by Broken Sleep.
Jake is also a drag artist, performing at events throughout the UK, shows including Harry May Bedell’s ’The End is Queer’, and filming for Channel 4. Artists he has worked with include Brooke Candy, Charli XCX, Hercules & Love Affair, Mykki Blanco & Dennis Sulta. @itspureblyss
Miles Kearley (he/they)
Miles is a dancer, choreographer & teacher based in London. He trained at La Escuela Profesional de Danza de Mazatlán, Mexico and London Contemporary Dance School. As a performer he has worked for James Cousins, Arlene Phillips, Holly Blakey, DeNada Dance Theatre, Benjamin Jonsson, Mobius Dance, Netflix, Delfos Contemporary Dance Company, Caitlin Barnett Company, La Intrusa Danza and more.
In 2018, he founded Dynamicaa - a dance theatre company that has produced several works and workshops that have toured throughout Latin America and in 2025, received ACE funding for his original project, QUEER’D. He’s had commissions from London Contemporary Dance School, TFYD University & MADE Dance Collective and has choreographed for Justice in Motion, enNingúnlugar & El Departamento Coreografico, amongst others.
His interest in community-based work has led to roles such as Young Company Director for Justice in Motion, Locum Youth Worker for Single Homeless Project & Performer/Facilitator with Flute Theatre and Second Hand Dance. As a teacher, he has taught at numerous organisations including The Royal Academy of Dance, The Albany, London Contemporary Dance School, The Professional School of Dance Mazatlán, The National University of Asuncion Paraguay & The HUB Studios London.
Benji Knapper (they/them)
Benji is a London based freelance artist. They trained at Rambert School, graduating with a first class honours degree before joining Balletboyz in 2018. During their time with BalletBoyz, Benji has performed many programmes with works by Maxine Doyle, Xie Xin, Holly Blakey, Christopher Wheeldon, Vidya Patel, Thick & Tight, Russell Maliphant, Edd Arnold, Ivan Perez, Shelley Maxwell and more. They have also performed numerous work for TV and film.
Benji has also worked with James Cousins Company for National Theatre, DeNada Dance Theatre and Staatsoper Unter Den Linden under direction of Aletta Collins.
Benji has lead workshops internationally for BalletBoyz and has facilitated classes for Rambert School, Central School of Ballet, Laban, Yorkshire Ballet Seminars and for many professional companies.
Benji is thrilled to be returning to Shaper/Caper with SmallTown Boys.
Alex McCrossan (they/he)
Alex is non-binary, semi-human, masc leaning and disco loving (not necessarily in that order). They started working with Shaper/Caper as a dance trainee 6 years ago, fresh out of college but not yet out the closet.
They’ve had the privilege to work on multiple LGBTQ+ projects and shows on the lead up to playing Cardinal Disco in Small Town Boys which has helped bring extra context and comfort to their own queer and trans experience, and also allowed them to represent the drag excellence so prevalent and important not just in the 80s but in the present day also.
Queer nightlife and dance is a staple of our community across the globe, while our cast is not exactly in the hundreds, they hope that the microcosm of Small Town Boys will speak to various facets of the community, sometimes painful and often times joyous.
David Pallant (he/him)
David is a dance artist based in Berlin, Germany. He trained at Central School of Ballet, London, and the Conservatoire National de Paris.
He has since worked across Europe with companies and choreographers including National Dance Company Wales, Demestri + Lefeuvre, Costa Compagnie, Joshua Monten, Roberto Zappalà and Ursina Tossi among others.
David has also written about dance for Aerowaves Springback Magazine, Tanz im August, and tanzschreiber Berlin, and has presented his own work at soundance festival berlin.
Louis Partridge (he/they)
Louis is a freelance dancer born and based in London.
Having studied at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Louis worked with choreographers such as Lea Anderson and Gary Clarke. He gained a BA (Hons), and later an MA (Hons).
After training, Louis began his career as an apprentice for Tanzmainz in Germany. He then joined the Akram Khan Company, where he was part of the production ‘Outwitting the Devil’. This piece toured worldwide for two and a half years. Louis is currently a guest artist for Scottish Dance Theatre, under the direction of Joan Cleville.
As a freelance artist, Louis has also had the privilege to work with artists and companies such as DeNada Dance Theatre, Chris Jäger, Max Revell, Matsena Productions, and Soufiane Ababri. Also collaborating in the creative endeavours of choreographers Hannes Langolf, John Ross and Tom Dale. Louis also works as a rehearsal director and workshop leader for various choreographers and educational institutes.
Ellis Saul (she/her)
Originally from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Ellis found dance at Dame Allan's Schools and began training as part of the Dance City CAT scheme. Ellis graduated from London Contemporary Dance School with a first-class honors degree and a recipient of the Peggy Hawkins Scholarship for outstanding potential.
Upon graduating, she was part of the post-graduate company EDge 2016, touring widely around the UK and Europe. Ellis went on to complete her Master’s degree with distinction at LCDS.
Ellis has since performed with Tony Adigun’s Avant Garde Dance, in the role of Nancy, touring ‘Fagin’s Twist’ around the UK as well as China and South America. She has performed works by Crystal Pite, Mathieu Geffre, Alexander Whitley, James Cousins, Renaud Wiser, Shaper/Caper and Joseph Toonga.
Ellis became an alumni choreographer in Youth Dance England Young Creative’s programme and choreographed work in collaboration with Wimbledon College of Art and for the Newcastle CAT. She is the choreographer to circus artists, Nikki & JD and collaborated in ‘Knot’, which has since won the Total Theatre & Jacksons Lane award for Circus 2019.
Alongside performing and choreographing, Ellis now works as a freelance company manager for Avant Garde Dance and as a rehearsal director.
JJ Williams (they/them)
JJ is a contemporary dance artist based in London. After attending Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, they went on to join the postgraduate company of VERVE, forming part of the 2022 cohort lead by Matteo Marfoglia.
Performing across stage, screen and gallery spaces throughout the UK and Europe, JJ has been part of a diverse range of productions and projects. Tough Boys Dance Collective, Holly Blakey, Corey Baker, Sita Ostheimer and Ryan Herrington are just some of the choreographers that they have had the pleasure to work with.
About Terrence Higgins Trust
Terrence Higgins Trust is the UK’s leading HIV and sexual health charity, offering support, information and advice services for those living with HIV and affected by HIV or poor sexual health. Our vision is a world where people with HIV live healthy lives free from prejudice and discrimination, and good sexual health is a right and reality for all.
The first named man to die of AIDS related causes, Terry Higgins died in July 1982 and his close friends formed a support group to help men like Terry and their friends. Charity status followed soon after and now, celebrating our 40th Anniversary year, we’ve been remembering Terry and reflecting on the work we’ve accomplished together over the past 40 years. We’ve seen incredible advances in prevention, testing, treatment and care for those living with HIV. But we still have big challenges if we’re to make sure that everyone can access the tools to protect themselves and others, so we finally end HIV transmissions.
HIV has changed, but we see time and again that many people’s views of HIV remain stuck in the decade when Terry Higgins died. Stigma can have devastating consequences in the lives of people living with and affected by HIV. Stigma can prevent someone from taking a test and getting the care and treatment they need. It can prevent those newly diagnosed from getting the support they need from those around them.
Our work to educate and dispel myths through changing perceptions and knowledge in the general public is as vital as it’s ever been – it’s also key to our goal to stop HIV transmissions.
If we find and test everyone living with HIV and get them onto treatment so HIV can’t be passed on, we can stop an epidemic. Working together, we can end new transmissions of HIV in the UK by 2030.
Support & Resources
In Scotland, Terrence Higgins Trust provides the following services from its hub in Glasgow and regional office in Dundee:
Face-to-face & postal testing
Support for people living with HIV and/or hepatitis C
Condoms by post
Training
Awareness raising
Volunteering opportunities
CONTACT
For emotional support or information on HIV & sexual health from THT Scotland, get in touch:
Phone: 0141 332 3838
Email: info.scotland@tht.org.uk
You can also contact THT Direct for support, advice and information:
Helpline: 0808 802 1221(Available Mon – Fri | 10AM – 6PM)
Live Chat: Accessed here. (Available Mon - Fri |11AM - 1PM & 3PM - 5PM)
Find out more about their work at tht.org.uk.
About Waverley Care
‘Waverley Care is Scotland’s leading HIV and hepatitis C charity. Everything we do is guided by the experiences of the people we work with, from shaping the services we deliver to influencing national policy around sexual health and blood borne viruses. Our vision is for a Scotland where no one faces HIV alone. We will achieve this by fighting stigma and empowering people living with HIV to live full and healthy lives.
Waverley Care was founded in 1989 at the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis. Nearly 35 years later, we are working to end new transmissions of HIV in Scotland by 2030.’
Find out more about their work at www.waverleycare.org
Information for Promoters
If you are interested in accessing marketing materials for Small Town Boys, or want to find out more about the show, you can get in contact with:
Melissa Rutnagur
Artistic Creation Producer
