Culture Now: Penny Arcade

Join Penny Arcade, queen of the underground and New York performance legend in lunchtime conversation with Mark Shenton, about her life and career.

Penny Arcade climbed out of her bedroom window at age thirteen to join the fabulously disenfranchised worlds of queers, junkies, whores, stars and geniuses. By the age of 20 she had become a star of John Vaccaro's seminal Playhouse of the Ridiculous and Andy Warhol's Factory and is now, still one of the most influential performers in the world.

Her most famous show Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore! was originally created as a brilliant and fearless retort to censorship in the arts, and went on to become one of the most exuberant events ever to emerge from New York's downtown art scene. A huge celebration of sex, freedom and art, Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore! played the ICA Theatre in 1993 and is now celebrating it's 20th anniversary in a new production at the Arcola Tent from 27 June - 22 July.

Mark Shenton is a London-based theatre critic (for the Sunday Express and The Stage, and chairman of the Drama Section of the Critics' Circle), with a particular passion and interest for Broadway, musicals and gay-themed work. He has regularly conducted public interviews with leading theatrical figures, including Stephen Sondheim, Peter Shaffer, Nick Hytner and Trevor Nunn. 

With thanks to Maryam and Edward Eisler.