Theatre / Queers. Curated by Mike Gattis, directed by Steph Roberts and Jarrad West at ACT Hub Theatre, Kingston until February 24. Reviewed by LEN POWER.

Seated with us in a typical British pub setting, The Prince’s Arms, seven individuals bring to life the changing social and political attitudes of the last 100 years of gay history by relating deeply affecting and human personal experiences.

A young soldier returning from the trenches of World War I recollects a love that dare not speak its name. Almost one hundred years later, a groom-to-be prepares for his gay wedding. 

Elsewhere, a woman tells of coming to terms with her husband’s closeted gay life and a young actor struggles with the impact of the AIDS epidemic. Their stories are tragic, funny, outrageous and moving.

Curated by Mark Gatiss, the monologues were commissioned to mark the 50th anniversary of Britain’s Sexual Offences Act 1967, which decriminalised homosexual acts in private between two men over the age of 21. They were broadcast on BBC Four in the UK in 2017, directed and produced by Gatiss.

The ACT Hub theatre has been turned into an atmospheric British pub with a bar where drinks are available, and the audience is seated at tables with the performers positioned amongst them. 

There are music interludes with singer Louiza Blomfield expertly performing songs that set the mood for each of the monologues. Blomfield changes costumes to suit each period of the show.

Directors Steph Roberts and Jarrad West have produced an emotionally charged evening in a perfect setting. They have obtained detailed, in-depth performances from each of the actors. Alexander Hoskison, Natasha Vickery, Karen Vickery, Geoffrey Borny, Joel Horwood, Patrick Galen-Mules and Joe Dinn hold the audience’s attention throughout their monologues, bringing these people skilfully to life.

At three hours, it’s a long show but a satisfying, enjoyable and memorable one.