Let me take you back to a time when the British government introduced legislation banning the promotion of homosexuality in schools trying to silence educators and the only gay role models on the TV were tired old parodies.
It must seem scarcely believable to Gen Z, but for those of us who lived through those dark days it’s a delight that Beautiful Thing has been revived on its 30th anniversary as its core message that love is love was the perfect antidote to the rampant homophobia given credibility by Mrs T. Jonathan Harvey’s warm and funny play was part of an artistic response at the time to bigotry, including the much rawer My Beautiful Laundrette.
Harvey went on to write hundreds of episodes of Corrie, so there is a touch of soap opera as sensitive teenager Jamie living with his single mum Sandra while secretly crushing on football mad Ste, who lives in the next flat on their tough South London council estate. Coming along for the ride is their other neighbour, neglected teenager Leah, who has an unhealthy obsession with the late great pop star Mama Cass, and Sandra’s posh artist lover Tony.
When Ste’s alcoholic dad batters his son once too often Sandra takes him in and as the boys share a single bed Harvey sensitively traces how hidden feelings become physical. There is nothing as powerful and confusing as first love, but even more so if you’re dealing with those heightened emotions in a world where it’s seen by many as shameful, and there was national panic about HIV/AIDS.
This is at heart a moving love story, and Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran is sensational as Jamie, who you suspect has always known exactly who he is. His intelligent playing of a boy feeling his way into manhood marks him out as a star of the future, and his often raw interplay with the much more experienced Shvorne Marks as his feisty mum is one of equals. Rapahel Akuwudike is not quite convincing as the boy everyone fancies, but he more than makes up for it with his sheer likeability, and deftly handles the more difficult task of the two teen lovers as Ste’s coming out is fraught.
Marks brings a vulnerability to a tough cookie who worked every hour to make sure her beloved son has a chance to leave the estate, and Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge is great fun as well-meaning, but naïve, posho Tony struggling to make sense of a very different world to his normal milieu. Scarlett Rayner as Leah is comedy gold belting out Mama’s hits, but does get to the core of a damaged young woman who knows her prospects are bleak, yet remains a steadfast friend to the boys.
Harvey and director Anthony Simpson-Pike have wisely resisted the temptation to bring Beautiful Thing up to date so nineties fans can wallow in some big chart hits, and lots of cultural references from that time earning a few knowing laughs from the Gen Xers. To his credit Harvey doesn’t give us the usual tripe that privileged creatives often offer about the nobility of working-class communities as Ste knows only too well his violent father will kill him if he finds out.
This is a well-staged and timely revival, with a quality cast who have obvious chemistry. It’s a beautiful thing that it feels something of a nostalgic piece as we have made so much progress over the last three decades to the point where Ste and Jamie would likely have a much less tortured route to their true selves.
Beautiful Thing is at Leeds Playhouse until Saturday 28th October. To book 0113 213 7700 or online at www.leedsplayhouse.org.uk
Reviewer: Paul Clarke
Reviewed: 24th October 2023
North West End UK Rating: