Theatreland Wishes You A Happy Pride Month!
Celebrate Pride Month with these dazzling shows!
We are now coming to the last week of June also known as Pride Month around the world. This month is dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community after the Stonewall riots, which were protests for gay liberation in 1969. After the riots and pride marches the community grew immediately in numbers and the movement spread across the US and then the world.
Today Pride Month happens yearly and is here to allow us to honor and celebrate the LGBT culture rights and understand the struggles, violence and discrimination they face. Although we are in a time where the community is recognized and showcased in TV, Music, Film and Theatre, discrimination is still an issue and we still have a long way to go. As the month comes to an end, we need to continue the movement and support the community every day.
Here are a few of our shoutouts that have stormed the Broadway and West End stages throughout the years and some you can catch today!
Fat Ham
First premiered on Broadway on March 21, 2023
Currently on Broadway until July 2, 2023
Fat Ham is a wildly imaginative and socially-charged reimagining of Shakespeare's classic, Hamlet. However, instead of a Danish castle, this time our story takes place at a BBQ cookout in Southern America where Juicy, a queer college student, must decide whether to avenge his father's death or carve a new path for his future.
Everybody's talking about Jamie
First premiered on February 8, 2017
Currently touring the UK
Based on the story of Jamie Campbell, a gay 16-year-old who stunned his school by heading to prom in heels and frock, Everybody's Talking About Jamie is an infectious, funny and touching exploration of sexuality, ambitions and coming of age when you're destined to stick out from the crowd.
Kinky Boots
First premiered on October 2, 2012
Joining the stage again on July 26, 2023
Set in Northampton, England, London-bound Charlie Price is surprised to suddenly inherit his beloved father's shoe factory and even more surprised to find that handmade men's dress shoes are no longer quite as in vogue as they used to be. Facing closure, a dejected Charlie takes a chance on Lola, the charismatic, brassy, and fabulous drag queen and finds himself forming an unlikely business partnership, creating custom shoes for drag queens, which will change their lives forever...
A Strange Loop
First premiered in 2019
Currently in the West End until September 9, 2023
Proudly calling itself the "the big, Black, and queer-ass Great American Musical for all", A Strange Loop could also be described as 'Inception' meets the #BlackLiveMatter movement meets Beckett. This brilliantly written ensemble piece shows the various thoughts, beliefs, affirmations our main character has on a daily basis as they jostle for his attention. It's something we can all relate to, whilst at the same time drawing our attention to the lived experience of the Black LGBTQ+ theatre community.
Jagged Little Pill
First premiered on May 5, 2018
Currently touring across the US
The story follows a family on the brink. Seemingly happy on the surface, each of the wealthy Healy family members hides their own dark secret. Matriarch Mary Jane keeps her emotional trauma and relationship with her husband Steve at bay by popping pills, whilst he deals with their lack of connection and the pressures of work with an addiction to porn. Their overachiever son Nick's moral compass goes awry when his best friend is accused of rape and their adopted daughter Frankie struggles with racial and identity politics whilst coming to terms with her blossoming sexuality.