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Fiona McPherson typed out the following transcript and wrote the following:
"There was the scene outside of the Pleasance theatre, with the protesters, and then Tony Wilson says "And later on I'll be talking to Stephen Billington". He looked ultra cute, all in black (mmm, very sexy). Black trousers, shirt and leather jacket. A clip of the play had just been shown, and it was Jesus/Joshua being crucified.The programme aired on Wednesday 10th November on ITV. I thought it was a good interview, if a little short. The programme is only 30 mins long, so it was never going to be a marathon in-depth profile. He looked relaxed and seemed to quite enjoy the interview. Transcript as follows:"
Interview
on
CONTEXT
by
Tony Wilson10 November 1999
Production Credits
Tony Wilson: That's Jesus; Stephen Billington, you play Judas, and you are his, you are the lover.
Stephen Billington: Yes, indeed.
TW: Is it any wonder people are upset?
SB: Well, I suppose not really, um, I guess the point that gets missed by the people who are protesting outside is that the play actually advocates Christian values, to the enth degree, in fact it's been criticised for being too soft.
TW: They don't think that Jesus being homosexual has any Christian value whatsoever Stephen.
SB: That's true. I guess what the play is asking for is tolerance. It's written by a man who is a Catholic and feels ostracised from his own faith.
TW: This is what, Terrence McNally?
SB: Yes.
TW: Who wrote Kiss of the Spiderwoman?
SB: That's right.
TW: OK, and he was gay and Catholic and feels outside...
SB: THat's right, it's kind of, a kind of a fantasised story of his growing up really. I mean he doesn't put himself in the Jesus role, but it's a kind of what if, what if Jesus was gay how would it have happened, and it probably would have happened just the same.
TW: OK, caused loads of trouble in America, but you think this will change in the time, in the next few years, don't you.
SB: Yeah, I mean, if you look back at Jesus Christ Superstar, at Godspell, there were people standing outside the theatre when they first premiered, and nowadays Christian theatre groups are doing them on their programmes and I think the same thing will happen to Corpus Christi.
TW: You think they'll do this, they'll do CorpusChristi?
SB: I think so, yeah.
TW: And will you do Corpus Christi, or will the play in itself, it's got ten more days to run, will it move to the West End?
SB: Yeah, I very much hope so, we're just finalising a venue at the moment. Obviously these things are never certain until they are kind of in black and white.
TW: And nothing is really certain as long as you are in jail, and so, I hate to harp back to Coronation Street (SB laughs) but you are in jail at the moment.
SB: Yes.
TW: Will you be coming back at some point?
SB: Em, I shouldn't think so. Granada certainly haven't approached me, but who knows.
TW: Who knows? Soap over, time for real theatre for you.
SB: Yeah, and I'm very much enjoying it. I'm getting a lot of theatre offers coming in at the moment, which I am very much enjoying.
TW: Stephen, thank you very much for joining us on Context.
SB: Thank you Tony.
Last updated: 17 November 1999
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