▁of ▁serious ▁purpose ; ▁affect ing , ▁h il ari ous ▁and ▁grave . ▁ ▁It ▁is ▁a ▁t apest ry ▁of ▁un for get table ▁characters ▁in ▁all ▁their ▁se am iness ▁and ▁sad ness , ▁their ▁ideal ism ▁and ▁des ires ." ▁ ▁Theatre ▁ ▁Seven ▁of ▁Col in ▁Sp encer ' s ▁plays ▁have ▁been ▁performed ▁since ▁the ▁first ▁production ▁in ▁December ▁ 1 9 6 6 ▁at ▁the ▁H amp st ead ▁Theatre ▁Club ▁of ▁The ▁Ball ad ▁of ▁The ▁False ▁Bar man . ▁▁ ▁It ▁was ▁directed ▁by ▁Robin ▁Phill ips ▁and ▁featured ▁Caroline ▁Bla k ist on , ▁Pen el ope ▁Keith ▁and ▁Michael ▁Pen ning ton . ▁▁ ▁The ▁play ▁is ▁a ▁musical ▁fant asy ▁set ▁in ▁a ▁beach ▁bar ▁run ▁by ▁a ▁bald - head ed ▁les bian ▁" bar man " ▁and ▁pe op led ▁by ▁wh ores ▁of ▁various ▁sex es ▁and ▁their ▁client ele , ▁including ▁a ▁trans vest ite ▁th ieving ▁vic ar . ▁ ▁His ▁next ▁play ▁to ▁be ▁performed , ▁Sp itting ▁Image , ▁also ▁first ▁appeared ▁at ▁H amp st ead ▁in ▁October ▁ 1 9 6 8 ▁before ▁moving ▁to ▁The ▁Duke ▁of ▁York ' s ▁in ▁the ▁West ▁End . ▁▁ ▁The ▁production ▁was ▁directed ▁by ▁James ▁Ro ose - E v ans ▁and ▁star red ▁D erek ▁F ow ld s , ▁Frank ▁M idd lem ass ▁and ▁L ally ▁Bow ers . ▁▁ ▁Further ▁produ ctions ▁followed ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 9 ▁off