Why Was a Sexy Poster for a Gay Play Banned by London Underground?

A new poster for the 20th anniversary London revival of Kevin Elyot's My Night With Reg, a classic AIDS-themed comedy, was deemed inappropriate for display by the London Underground.

The poster features actor Lewis Reeves with his bare bum obscured by David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust album.

According to the Evening Standard, the ad, which passed Advertising Standards restrictions, was banned by Transport for London (TfL), which governs the Underground. A TfL press officer, who had not yet seen the ad, said that "if it has been rejected it means that it doesn't meet the guidance that we have set."

The article also notes that "Justin Bieber's Photoshopped package has become a fixture on the daily commute."

Following a recent sold-out run at the Donmar Warehouse, My Night With Reg transferred to London's West End for a limited engagement. Set in London against the backdrop of the mounting AIDS crisis, the play follows a group of gay men linked by friendship and sexual encounters. Helmed by out director Robert Hastie, London's first major revival of the comedy began Saturday and officially opens Friday at the Apollo Theatre, where it is scheduled to run through April 11.

The play, which premiered in London in 1994 and moved to the West End the following year, won the Olivier Award for Best Comedy. It opened Off-Broadway in 1997 with a cast that included Maxwell Caulfield and Sam Trammell.

"At Guy's London flat, old friends and new gather to party through the night," read press notes about the new production. "This is the summer of 1985, and for Guy and his circle the world is about to change forever. Deliciously funny and bittersweet, My Night With Reg perfectly captures the fragility of friendship, happiness, and life itself."

Donmar cast members Reeves, Matt Bardock, Jonathan Broadbent, Richard Cant, Julian Ovenden, and Geoffrey Streatfeild all reprise their roles in the West End transfer. Elyot, who often explored gay issues in his work, died earlier this year.

For tickets and more information visit NimaxTheatres.co.uk.