After the Act

AFTER THE ACT IS PHENOMENAL - AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF DRAMA THAT EDUCATES AND ENTERTAINS THE AUDIENCE IN EQUAL MEASURE!

After the Act has arrived at HOME in Manchester, with its amazing stories and message about living through Section 28 and the aftermath and implications that came from it. I, of course, as a queer person, know about Section 28 but did not know anything about this musical before seeing it, apart from a short trailer I had seen. I was very excited to see what this show entailed and how it would deal with the heartbreaking tales that were caused by Section 28.

The show itself takes you on a journey through time, from the beginning, and explains the reasoning behind the creation of Section 28 in the Local Government Act of 1988. It begins with the  6 o’clock news on the BBC in 1988, where a group of lesbians stormed the studio in protest of the suggestion of the clause that would eradicate the existence and acknowledgement of LGBTQIA+ in the eyes of the law, stopping people from ‘promoting’ and not even acknowledging homosexuality. I loved the way that the headlines from the time, which were homophobic slurs against the brave women, were used in the song - such as ‘Loony lezzies attack TV Sue’.

We are then taken back a few years, to the catalyst of Section 28, and a book which showed a family unit of two dads and their daughter, called ‘Jenny lives with Eric and Martin’. This story showed pictures of two men in the same bed, and it infuriated parents who did not want their children to know about homosexual people, in the fear that it might make their children gay. This book, coupled with the local council of Haringey wanting to promote positive images of gay and lesbian people, parents protested and even boycotted sending their children to school. This part of the show was laden with signs and angry parents, but also the voice of councillor Maya, who was just trying to improve the way lesbians and gays were perceived. It was truly heartbreaking to see the desperation Maya was feeling. She only wanted to be seen.

The beginning of the AIDS crisis, which was seen as a gay disease, also saw the hate towards the gay community rise, with people not knowing what it was, only that people were dying and no one could find a cure. This also triggered the want for Section 28 from the government.

The tale then takes us to the House of Commons, where the Conservative government was pushing for the clause to make sure children were not being taught about gay and lesbian people. I was in love with the way that cast changed characters seamlessly, going from sympathetic lesbians and gays, fighting to squash what was going to erase their existence, to embodying the people who were determined to make the lives of gays and lesbians a living nightmare.

The second act kicked off with an outstanding number from Margaret Thatcher herself - something I never thought I would say. Using her actual speech, the satirical and, quite frankly, fabulous way that mocked the Iron Lady was such an amazing way to begin the second half of the tale. I must say, it was my absolute favourite part of the show. The audience loved it and you could just tell that the people on stage were having the time of their lives with it too.

On a more serious note, the second act then shifted and told of the heartbreaking way a lsebain PE teacher could not help her student when they were struggling with their sexuality and how she regretted it for the rest of her life.

The show came to a close with the retelling of the protests that came about as a result of the clause, in our lovely Manchester, as well as the amazing story of some fabulous lesbains who abseiled into the House of Commons in protest of the passing of Section 28. I don’t want to give too much away because I don’t want to ruin it for those who are going to see it - which I couldn’t recommend enough, by the way!

The stage itself was set out like a school hall, with benches and climbing frames, which the cast moved about the stage to create different levels and created different dynamics. The parent protestors standing tall over the oppressed, giving physicality to the downtrodden lesbains and gays, who just wanted to live in peace.

Each actor on the stage portrayed so many different characters all throughout the piece, accompanied with different actors. The cast was made up of four actors and the wonderful ever-present musical director. The absolutely fantastic Ellice Stevens (TANK; It’s True, It’s True, It’s True) wowed as Margaret Thatcher, with her wig teased high, but also brought the most beautiful moments as she portrayed the teacher that couldn’t help her pupil, in the way that she should be able to, and the heartbreak of having to hide who she from everyone around her.

The phenomenal Nkara Stephenson (Heartstopper; Sweet Charity) transfixed the audience with his stunning vocals and had me nearly in tears with his portrayal of a character forced to go through conversion therapy. His versatility as an actor really was a marvel to watch.

The portrayal of Maya, a lesbian activist trying to promote the positive image, was played by the wonderful Ericka Posadas (Miss Saigon; West Side Story). She, like the others, seamlessly switched from a hard-hitting activist, to an uptight politician, to a belligerent school boy making fun of his peers. This whole cast had me agape in wonder at their talent.

Zachary Willis cemented his part in the cast with his fantastically camp and evocative dancing but also his beautiful portrayal of a wonderfully strong man who lived with the effects of Section 28 all through his school life, and covered the topic of self harm with sensitivity and grace. It resonated with me on such a level. I was in awe throughout the whole show. His talent for accents also blew me away - the Scottish being a personal favourite.

The show cannot and would not be complete without Frew (The Snow Queen; The Night Before Christmas) who was on the stage the whole time, playing live and contributing to soundscapes through the use of his voice. His presence really added to the atmosphere on stage and helped the already on-point vocals to shine even more.

I learned so much from this show, from the personal turmoil that the LGBTQIA+ community went through, to the way that it affected the safety and growth of those who were unable to speak up, in fear of facing legal repercussions. The fact that Section 28 was only repealed in 2003 - in my lifetime - seems absolutely crazy to me. I, as a young queer woman, has been allowed to express myself and my sexuality freely, thanks to those who stood up against Section 28 and finally got it repealed, and I could not be more grateful to those in history and those telling the stories on the stage. I really believe that anyone can go and see this show and learn and take so much from it, whether they are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community themselves or not. The standing ovation from the audience, at the end, speaks volumes about how good this show is. Get down to HOME and see the phenomenal After the Act before it is too late!

WE SCORE AFTER THE ACT...