Forbidden!, Believed to Be the World's First Coming-Out Play, to Make US Debut in Wilton Manors

Plays Of Wilton will present the US premiere of Forbidden!, a drama that is regarded by many scholars as the world’s first coming-out play. Translated by theater historian Laurence Senelick and directed by Ronnie Larsen, Forbidden! runs August 19-September 29, with an opening night on August 27, at the Foundry.

Written by Dutch novelist and playwright Jo M. van IJssel de Schepper-Becker and originally presented in Rotterdam in 1922 as Wat niet mag! (Mustn’t Do It!), the play was cancelled after just two performances due to hostile public reaction.

Forbidden!, believed to be the first play in which a lead character comes out as gay to his family, is set within the seemingly respectable home of an upper-middle-class family. Long-buried truths surface as one son’s hidden life forces those around him to confront their prejudices, fears, and capacity for acceptance.

The cast features Seth Trucks, Sara Grant, Nicole Hulett, Alex Martinez, and Chad Raven.

The creative team features scenic designer Jeff Walters, lighting designer Preston Bircher, and sound designer Panos Miltos.