Beautiful Thing Archives - North West End UK

20Feb

By Philip EdwardsNo Comments

North West

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...

12Sep

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Beautiful Thing – Storyhouse, Chester

Disley Theatrical Productions return for their third production, this time making their debut at Storyhouse, Chester. The Garrett Theatre is usually a bare studio space, so it was nice to see it used in a different way with a set that brought the piece to life. Designed by Phil Cross and built by Mark Disley, the main set is the front of three flats in which the characters live, and the communal area outside the front of the flats is where the story is played out, where issues are aired and dealt with. We are occasionally taken to Jamie’s bedroom where a bed is brought to the centre of the stage area and where some tender scenes take place. Beautiful Thing follows the story of three teenagers struggling with their own issues. Jamie who is being bullied at school for being gay, Ste who i...

2Nov

By Damian RiverolNo Comments

North West

Beautiful Thing – HOME Mcr

As part of its 30th Anniversary tour, Jonathan Harvey’s Iconic, coming-out and coming of age story comes to HOME Manchester. Set in the 90s, we delve into what it’s like to be 16 and in love in a time when the subject was not talked about, where the British Government brought in a legislation banning homosexuality being promoted in schools and educators were silenced. Following struggles of three teenagers, Jamie, a young boy who is bullies at school for being gay. Ste, a football fanatic who is always at the brunt of his brother and Father’s temper. And Leah, a misunderstood Mama Cass fan who has been excluded from school and struggling to find her way through life, seemingly alone. When things become too much at home, Ste takes refuge at Jamie’s flat, and this is where the boys str...

25Oct

By Paul ClarkeNo Comments

Yorkshire & Humber

Beautiful Thing – Leeds Playhouse

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 ...

Beautiful Thing – Theatre Royal, Stratford East

26Sep

By Stewart Who?No Comments

London

Beautiful Thing – Theatre Royal, Stratford East

In 1994, when Beautiful Thing transferred from the Donmar to the Duke of York’s Theatre, I bought a pair of tickets for my sister, as a gift for her birthday. She took her boyfriend. I met them after, expecting post-show joy. To my extreme distress, undiluted homophobia spilled from both parties. The following day, her partner called me at work, threatened me with violence and spat further abuse down the phone at me. A week later, the pair of them drove me from the family home. I left, sobbing, prompting a period of homelessness and a nervous breakdown. My sister dated that man for several years. To this day, the pain of that episode causes heartbreak and family conflict. Beautiful Thing led to a Very Ugly Thing that in 2023 remains unhealed and grimly toxic. In many ways, Harvey’s bril...