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After The Act

Unlike the 1960s, if you can remember the 1980s, you were almost certainly in the thick of some protest or other. Breach Theatre’s Ellice Stevens and Billy Barrett’s new verbatim musical looks back in showtunes at the implementation by the UK government in 1988 of Section 28, a hysteria-led legislation which prohibited the so-called ‘promotion of homosexuality’ by local authorities.

 

By making a song and dance of things using four performers, two musicians playing a brand new synth-led score played live by Frew and Ellie Showering, Barratt’s production excavates an important piece of social history before celebrating those who protested against it prior to its eventual repeal in 2003 (2000 in Scotland). 

 

The result, as Stevens, Tika Mu ‘tamir, EM Williams and Zachary Willis lead us on a whistlestop tour of invading TV studios, abseiling into the House of Lords, and the irresistible rise of marching for gay and lesbian rights, is a piece of old-school pub theatre agit-prop, but with brighter suits.

 

If hearing one of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s speeches set to music is worth the ticket price in itself, the show also points up how protestcan galvanise communities as they learn to not just say it loud and proud, but sing it too. 


Traverse Theatre until 27th August. Various times


The List, August 2023

 

ends




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