Have You Met Stan? was recently awarded the Brighton Fringe Musical Theatre Bursary Award and after a successful premiere at Oxford’s OFFBEAT Festival, it is set to return with upcoming performances in Brighton (The Grounds at platf9rm Hove, 21 – 24 May) and London (King’s Head Theatre, 26 – 28 May). Additionally, a cast album is currently in production. This new musical highlights the experiences of queer EU migrant voices in post-Brexit Britain.
“A promising new piece of musical theatre.”
A Young(ish) Perspective
Presented by Rainbow Stout Productions Ltd. and directed by Vivi Bayliss, Have You Met Stan? is a bold exploration of queer identity, migration, and belonging, featuring elements of both the Irish and Polish language.
The story follows Stanisław (Stan) from Poland and Seán, a recent arrival in London from Ireland. Over the course of eleven months, we watch them navigate life, love, and nightlife in a city that struggles to define them. As members of the 1.5 generation, their experiences reflect the challenges of balancing two cultures — they are neither fully immersed in their parents’ world nor completely at home in their new environment. Will they succeed? Will they take the leap toward the joyful life they have been envisioning?
The show also features a live onstage band, who double as the house musicians of the Mooncoin; the shabby Irish pub where the action takes place.
“It has real importance to current conversations around sexuality, migration and suicide.”
OFFBEAT Festival
Have You Met Stan runs from 21 – 24 May, 2025, at The Grounds at platf9rm, Church Road, Hove BN3 2AF, United Kingdom.
Have You Met Stan runs from 26 – 28 May, 2025, at King’s Head Theatre, 116 Upper Street, London N1 1QN, United Kingdom.
Have You Met Stan? Cast:
Jamie Douglas-Turner as Stan (left) and Zaki Ali as Seán (right).
About Rainbow Stout Productions
Rainbow Stout Productions is a queer-led theatre company dedicated to creating politically charged, musically rich, and joyfully defiant works. Founded by Bart Thiede, the company champions underrepresented voices, especially those of working-class and migrant artists who are in the early stages of their careers. Rainbow Stout focuses on music-driven storytelling and develops bold new productions that explore themes of queerness, identity, and belonging.
Have You Met Stan? workshop
