Beautiful Thing – Harpers Theatre Cafe

It is hard to believe that Jonathan Harvey’s play is 30 years old. Despite the progress made in some areas of LGBTQ life, there are many elements that are just as difficult and for that reason, if nothing else Beautiful Thing is still worth performing in 2025.

A company like The Drama Department is to be applauded for staging a piece of theatre that is both heart breaking and humorous, often at the same time.

To achieve both of those elements is a bit of a juggling act, and one that was sometimes missed in Michael McCaw’s production. When some of the humour comes from an angry situation, as it does in this play, it needs balance in pitch and tone to bring the elements through and here there was a bit too much shouting to convey anger, and that masked the humour within. A bit of quiet anger would have helped to vary the rhythm of the play.

One thing this play needs is strong and experienced performances from the actors playing Jamie, the one bullied at school and Ste the one battered by an abusive family. That both these characters are 15 or 16 years of age needs young actors of a rare quality and in Toby Fullman and Billy Clarke, this production has age-appropriate actors who certainly know how to act. As they take us through their early banter, into a tentative relationship and then into a more physical commitment, they lay before us a whole range of emotions and this pair delivered all the humour, anger, confusion and affection that the play demands. These are performances of the highest calibre and I’m sure both actors will go onto great stage success if that is their chosen path.

Matching the boys in equal measure is Catlin Sturgeon as the wayward Leah, a girl trying to find her way in life. Catlin delivered her one liners with great timing and more that held her own against Jamie’s mum Sandra played by Sarah Thewis, from whom I think the director should have encouraged more variety of pitch. The cast was completed by Deni Griffiths as Tony, Sandra’s younger lover who tries to bring some order to the Gangel family whilst trying to fit in.

Simple lighting worked well but there were a couple of sound glitches on the first night.

Finally, I want to say to the people behind The Drama Dept., great thanks for the work you are clearly doing to encourage young actors. The company operate as a theatre training academy mainly for young people.  I happened upon this production from a social media posting and I’m jolly glad I did. Go see it yourself, I think you will be glad you did. Theatrical arts are suffering from funding cuts and this company are, I suspect increasingly making a difference – bravo!

Runs until Saturday 22nd February.  The Drama Department event tickets from TicketSource.

Reviewer: Phil Edwards

Reviewed: 19^th February 2025

North West End UK Rating: