Privates on Parade

Marlene Dietrich and the British military seem an unlikely marriage, but Peter Nichols achieves their seamless union in 'Privates on Parade'. In post-war Malaysia, Terri Dennis presides over the Song and Dance Unit South East Asia, a unit tasked with entertaining their fellow troops. The vaudevillian tone of this play facilitates its raucous story about soldiers, drag-artistry, and post-war colonial politics. 'Privates on Parade' was first produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1977, when it won the Olivier award for Best New Play.