THEGAYUK

Author: Paul Szabo

  • THEATRE REVIEW | A Life Backwards (The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield)

    ★★★★★ | A Life Backwards (The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield)

    After meeting at a protest to support two homeless charity workers, Alexander (played by Will Adamsdale) and Stuart (played by Fraser Ayres) develop an unlikely bond. Stuart becomes intrinsic in the organisation of Alexander’s public campaign and the two men find they have much more in common than they ever thought they would. But for Stuart, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, the reality of life on the streets is never far away and his psychological problems gradually get the better of him as his physical and mental health start to deteriorate. Alexander, who had promised Stuart that he would write a biography that Stuart’s son would want to read, starts to speak to those who knew Stuart growing up. He uncovers a troubled past for Stuart, and starts to understand the impact and implications of Stuart’s family, schooling and disability.

    Based on the biography of the same name, which chronicles the true life story of Stuart Shorter, this play was an outstanding piece of theatre. The intelligent writing of the piece shone through, having the audience laughing out loud one moment and sitting with teary eyes hanging on every word uttered the next. The unravelling of Stuart’s life was beautifully written; with the latter half of the play deconstructing the complex character it had so carefully crafted in the first half. Stuart is portrayed as likeable, funny, resilient and sensitive, yet at the same time violent, volatile, unpredictable and unstable. The script itself was, in equal parts, genuinely funny, moving, warm, touching and upsetting as you learn who Stuart really is and you are left wondering whether you should or shouldn’t actually like him.

    The acting in the play was of a very high standard all round with the minimal cast drawing in the audience with their performances, meaning that you could feel definite shifts in the atmosphere of the studio theatre as everyone became absorbed in the story.

    But undoubtedly, the primary focus was on Fraser Ayres, who gave one of the best performances I have seen in the theatre for many years with his exceptional portrayal of Stuart. His convincing, sensitive and genuine performance of a man tormented by his inner demons and his failing body was quite frankly brilliant, moving, accurate and wholly believable.

    The setting of the Studio Theatre, an intimate performance space at Sheffield Theatres, only added to the total immersion in the play. The production values were basic with a very simple, but astutely utilised, scaffolding set, but the real draw here is the story, performances and emotions of the piece.

    This extraordinary play, produced by Sheffield Theatres and High Tide Festival Theatre is an outstanding piece of work. It was wholly engrossing in terms of its performance, writing and characters and left the audience feeling as though they had been through the full spectrum of emotions with the characters on stage. The thought provoking nature of the play was perfectly balanced with the soul, warmth and humour that punctuates it and provided an incredible opening to Sheffield Theatre’s autumn season. A must see.

    Stuart – A Life backwards is currently playing at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield until the 28th September 2013. Details can be found at http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

  • FILM REVIEW | Bashment

    Developed from his original stage show, director Rickki Beadle-Blair explores the controversial subjects of class, racism and homophobia in dance hall music in this contemporary urban drama. (more…)

  • Six Of The Best Naked Scenes In Film

    Here are our “Six of the Best” films where the leads are not afraid to shed their clothes.

    Whether it is an expression of art, for the purposes of titillation or arousal or whether it is just for a good laugh, nudity is becoming more and more prevalent in mainstream cinema. Some well-established stars are becoming more comfortable with showing their bodies leading to more flesh on display than ever before. So sit back, relax, hide your modesty and enjoy six of the best…

    Bronson

    Telling the story of Charles Bronson, one of Britain’s most prolific prisoners, this hard, edgy and violent drama was surrounded in controversy upon its release for glorifying both violence and crime and, most notoriously, for Charles Bronson himself sending a phone message for the film’s premiere from a mobile smuggled into his cell. The film is uneasy viewing at times and relentless in its normalisation of violence, but the film also gained massive praise for the performance of Tom Hardy. Hardy not only gives what is arguably a career best performance but also delights gay men everywhere by a number of full frontal scenes and him engaging in naked fighting with an assortment of prison guards.

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    The Full Monty

    This feel good film tells the story of six unemployed Sheffield steelworkers who decide that they are going to make a quick profit by setting themselves up as male strippers. But what sets them apart from the other acts at the working men club is that for one night only, they are going “the full monty”. Crammed full of cheeky northern humour, genuine laugh out loud moments and a touching story of family and friendship underpinning the comedy, this low-budget British film went on to be nominated for four Oscar’s (landing one of them) and became one of the most successful British films of all time. What it lacks in eye candy, it makes up for in soul…. And who can forget the films memorable ending..?

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    Borat: Cultural Learning’s of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

    In his second and most successful big screen outing, Sacha Baron Cohen shocked audiences with his divisive comedy in this mockumentary about a hapless TV reporter from Kazakhstan. Borat travels across America in search of American culture whilst obsessing over Pamela Anderson. Audiences watched from in-between their fingers, not knowing whether to laugh or be horrified as Borat engages in a naked wrestle with his sweaty TV producer (it’s not as gay as it sounds…). Starting in their hotel room, where there are some scenes of uncomfortably close body contact, the pair round off their melee by streaking through the hotel and gate-crashing a business conference being held there. Raising more than eyebrows, Baron Cohen went on to push the boundaries of comedy even further with his gay Austrian TV presenter, Bruno.

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    The Pillow Book

    Peter Greenaway directs Ewan McGregor in this rich and visually intriguing film which fuses a dark, modern drama with Asian cultural ideals and standards. The film centres on a young Japanese model and her exploration of her cultural and sexual boundaries through calligraphy. Utilising her lover’s bodies, as well as her own, as her canvas, there is flesh in abundance, including enough of Ewan McGregor to write a few sentences on. The film is not the usual Hollywood fare, and at times is very heavy going, but the rich characters, beautiful visual presentation (with reams of overlaid Japanese scripture and heavy colour washes) along with an unusual story make this a rewarding watch for the patient viewer.

    Starship Troopers

    Bugs, spaceships, non-stop action, tongue in cheek humour and graphic gore all combine in Paul Verhoven’s classic sci-fi film. Set in the not too distant future, the story follows a group of friends as they go through their training in the futuristic armed forces to defend Earth from the attacks of giant bugs from space. The film is often described as a sideways swipe at fascism and the elements of fascism in American society. That aside, the film really is as silly as it sounds, and is immense fun for those with a slightly stronger stomach, given the high violence and gore content. It also has a ridiculously attractive “wholesome” cast, including the incredibly chiselled and perfectly formed Casper Van Dien and the beautiful Denise Richards, amongst others, displaying everything they own in a communal mixed-sex shower.

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    Love and Other Drugs

    Set against the backdrop of Pittsburgh, Viagra salesman, Jamie Randall, meets a young woman, Maggie, and seduces her for a one night stand. Maggie, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, simply wants a physical relationship with the bed-hopping salesman, but, despite their best efforts, they both find themselves falling in love. However, Maggie’s illness becomes progressively worse, leading to difficult choices for them both. This film is your typical romantic comedy fare with very little in terms of storyline and plot to separate it from most other films of the genre. But what it does have is two incredibly attractive leads that portray likeable characters and the film also has a certain charm which means you find yourself getting swept up in the fluffiness of it all. But even if you fail to engage with the story, there is eye candy aplenty in the form of a very frequently naked Jake Gyllenhaal and the beautiful Anne Hathaway showing more than anticipated giving both the boys and the girls something to look at.

    BUY IT ON AMAZON

     

  • INTERVIEW: Simon Morley – The Original Penis Puppeteer

    Let’s be honest, we have all had a little feel “down there”, but some people have taken this to the extreme which has led to lots of hilarity, world tours, a hugely successful career and one of the most original and well received shows in recent memory.

    (more…)

  • 6 of the best Birthday films

    As TheGayUK (TGUK) celebrates its first birthday, we cast a light hearted look over some of the best films which are about birthdays or feature a birthday party, with varying results.

    All of the films would make a great birthday gift for someone or a little treat for you. So sit down, get out your paper hats, light the candles on your cake and enjoy six of the best. Happy Birthday TGUK!

    Sixteen candles – In this John Hughes 1980’s classic, Samantha goes from one disaster to another as everyone forgets her 16th birthday because her sister is getting married the next day. With all the focus on her sister, the birthday girl finds herself ignored by her family, and more importantly, the guy that she has a massive crush on doesn’t seem to want to know. Will any of her family remember her birthday? Will she get the guy of her dreams? Will she get to blow out the candles on her cake? And with the hunky Jake Ryan, do birthday wishes really come true?

    The Rocky Horror Picture Show – Who would have thought that their first birthday would have involved a murderous, bisexual transvestite, cannibalism and a rather half-hearted attempt at singing happy birthday accompanying a celebratory toast out of jam jars and coffee mugs? Rocky, the creation of Frank N Furter, celebrates his special day by having some “alone time” with Janet and dining in the company of a geek, a showgirl and an incestuous brother and sister before rounding off proceedings by eating his organ donor. Happy Birthday Rocky!

    The Birds – Lots can go wrong at a birthday party. Your balloons can pop, your cake get dropped, your presents could be rubbish and that kid from your class turns up anyway, even though you didn’t invite him. But in this Alfred Hitchcock classic, a small town is inexplicably set upon by the birds around them, and for poor Kathy Brenner, her birthday party turns very nasty when her friends and neighbours are subject to a horrific attack by a group of seagulls. Bad luck, Cathy, you should have talked your parents into booking that pink stretch limo for three hours, just like you wanted.

    Parenthood – Who hasn’t been embarrassed by their parents at their birthday party? In this delightful comedy ensemble piece, Parenthood, young Kevin’s birthday is potentially a disaster, when the balloon modelling cowboy turns up drunk (although let’s face it, who hasn’t wished for a tipsy cowboy for their birthday?) So, in steps his father, played by Steve Martin, who, complete with carpet chaps, gives his son a birthday to remember by making balloon models that resemble your lower intestines, and winning over his son and his friends by making an exit to remember. Way to go, Pilgrim!

    The Game – In David Fincher’s dark thriller, Nicholas Van Orton, a wealthy investment banker, played by Michael Douglas, is a man who has everything. He is given a birthday gift by his brother which he would probably rather not have had. The gift is participation in “the game”, a series of staged incidents which intertwine seamlessly with his real life. As the lines between reality and the game become increasingly blurred, a huge conspiracy begins to emerge impacting not only on Van Orton, but on his family, friends and colleagues around him. But are his friends and family in on the game, or is there something more sinister at work out to ruin him? Perhaps a tie and cuff links set would be better received next year.

    The Omen – It’s your 5th birthday. You are a privileged little boy whose father is a powerful politician. You have a lovely house with big grounds and a couple of huge Rottweiler’s as your pets. Your birthday party is going well – balloons, a clown (not too so sure about that to be honest, I would still prefer the tipsy cowboy), and a handful of fairground rides. Your friends are all there and having a lovely time. So what could possibly spoil the day? How about if your nanny were to make a dramatic scene by declaring her love for you and then killing herself in front of all your guests – that would make even the antichrist shuffle in his seat. I bet that the “thank you for coming to my party” cards were a little awkward to write.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Jack Steele & Family

    ★★★ | Jack Steele & Family

    A proud, Northern family man celebrates his 70th birthday surrounded by his family in the converted steel mill where he used to work, but as the night unfolds, so does the fabric of his family in this modern take on the kitchen sink dramas of the 1960’s.

    Jack Steele arrives at his old place of employment which evokes memories of friends, his pride and dedication in his work and his deceased wife. His son, Nick is a university lecturer who has a difficult and tempestuous relationship with his brother, Chris, a successful property developer who has left Sheffield and shows no affection for the city that made him. Nick is the straight-laced son who has always acted as the rock for the family, whereas Chris is more self-serving and much less reliable. The relationship between Nick and Chris is soured further by Nick’s wife, Louise, who made an irreversible decision when she was misdiagnosed with a terminal illness.

    The grandchildren also have problems and pressures of their own and the cracks in the family start to show as the evening unfolds and the prodigal son returns. Torn between the loyalty to his family members, trying to deny the fact that he favours one son over the other and struggling to find where he belongs both in his family and his community, Jack’s northern pride and confused emotions come to the surface in this bitter sweet story.

    The stage was beautifully constructed, with corrugated iron sheets and huge forged crane hooks hanging from the ceiling. The set, coupled with a very well lit stage, flooded with oranges and reds, provided an authentic and engaging atmosphere. The costumes were simple and functional and the static layout of the stage was suited to the production. The show was not technically dazzling, but it was never meant to be and the draw here is the drama unfolding on stage as opposed to it being a visual spectacle.

    Fine Time Fontaye turned in the best performance of the evening as the titular Jack Steele, showing an old man who becomes overwhelmed by his feelings, which overflow his stiff upper lip and Yorkshire dignity. Good support was provided by Robert Angell as Nick Steele, Susan Cookson as Louise Steele and Ian Reddington as Chris Steele. The remainder of the cast was made up of drama students from Sheffield Hallam University who deserve credit for their involvement. Some of them showed particular promise, especially Sam Parkinson, who looked very comfortable and natural on stage.

    This original play, which I was fortunate enough to see at its premiere, was enjoyable and the characters were not only well written, especially the male leads, but were easily recognisable from the viewer’s own family, friends and colleagues. The play was a joint venture between Sheffield Theatres and Sheffield Hallam University and was littered with local references and a story, which went to the heart of the city. That said, whilst some of the local references may be missed by those who are not familiar with the area, the story has enough universal themes to negate the need for an in-depth knowledge of the city.

    This was, in many ways, local theatre as it should be; namely written, produced and performed by talent from the city where the story is set and the show itself is performed in. But aside from the fact that, like Jack Steele, this reviewer has a deep-rooted love for his hometown, it is not just a show for Sheffield people.

    Jack Steele and Family is currently showing at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield until the 20th July 2013.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Evita, Sheffield and National Tour

    ★★★ | Evita

    The glamour, passion and politics 1940’s Argentina are brought to life in this revival of one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most successful musicals which is back on national tour.

    In 1934, a young and naive country girl, Eva Duarte, falls for a singer and pressures him into taking her to Argentina. Filled with her ambitions to be a singer and actress, she quickly realises the harsh reality of life in the city when he leaves her. Sleeping her way up the ladder, from secretary to model and from radio star to actress, she attends a charity function held by Juan Peron, an aspiring politician with his sights on clawing his way to the presidential seat. They come together, both in love and to further their careers, much to the disapproval of a number of Peron’s political allies. But whilst Evita charms the nation, the corrupt nature of their reign starts to show, her greed and power hungry desires come to the forefront and her body starts to become increasingly frail as she begins to succumb to illness.

    There are a number of reasons to recommend this production. Starting with the music, the show is performed as a sing through musical, and is absolutely crammed with classic songs, including “Another Suitcase, Another Hall”, “You Must Love Me”, “”Oh, What a Circus” and the show stopping, “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”. The orchestra played beautifully together and the balance of the volume between the music and the vocals was perfect, allowing for both the music and the lyrics to be appreciated. It was also good to be reminded of how well written, enjoyable and powerful the music and songs are when performed live.

    The ensemble cast were incredibly talented and all performed strongly, sounding superb when singing both together and undertaking their solo parts. Mark Heenehan was well cast as Juan Peron, demonstrating his commanding voice and compelling stage presence.Sarah McNicholas gave a heart wrenching performance of “Another Suitcase, Another Hall” and Nic Gibey was ideal as the sleazy crooner Magaldi. However, the standout performance of the evening was by ensemble member Joel Elferink, who managed to consistently out-sing and out-act most of the cast in his numerous parts.

    The play itself was more political in its storyline than the well-known film version and the play moved along at a swift pace, meaning the near two hour running time flew by. There were some well put together set pieces, in particular, “Buenos Aires”, “Peron’s Latest Flame” and “A New Argentina”, which were well choreographed and performed. The set was versatile and well utilised, although did seem cluttered at times, the use of the lighting was atmospheric and effective and the costumes were beautifully put together.

    With so much to recommend it, it is a shame that the two leads were the weak link in both the production and the cast. Marti Pellow was better than expected as Che, but his, performance appeared both forced and strained at times, in contrast to the much more natural performances of the other cast members. Madalena Alberto played the title role with some enthusiasm and she had a good voice, but she lacked the charisma and presence of the character that she was playing, making her performance slightly less believable. Her delivery of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” and “You Must Love Me” were the stand out moments of her performance. Their performances did steadily improve over the course of the show and eventually won me over, but it is a shame when the “stars” of a musical are eclipsed by the rest of the cast for the majority of the show.

    Overall, the show was an enjoyable evening and was a well put together production which turned out to be better than anticipated. The music continues to stand up today and despite the show being around 35 years old, this production still sounded fresh and contemporary and was generally well performed by a talented cast, despite what could be argued as a slightly miscast pair of leads.

    Evita is currently playing at the Sheffield Lyceum Theatre until the 13th July 2013 before continuing its national tour.

  • COMMENT | Pride Why Stop There?

    As Pride month comes to a close at thegayuk.com, it doesn’t mean that Pride has to come to an end for the year.

    Pride has become many things to many people. It is a celebration of diversity, a political statement, a protest, a party and a way to bring together the community. It invites and welcomes everyone, regardless of gender or sexuality. What is always surprising about Pride is how it brings out people from all corners of the LGBT community who wouldn’t normally come together. For those who are not out or struggling with their sexuality, Pride is a way to feel empowered, by being surrounded by a huge amount of people proving that you are not alone. For others who enjoy going out on the scene, it is a chance to meet new and old friends, go to different towns and cities and a chance to simply have a great time. But what Pride does do very well is bring to the attention of the general public just how many LGBT people are out there and shows them that, actually, those marching or partying in the park are really not that different to them.

    Breaking down stereotypes that have long been established is part of what Pride is about. Whilst some people may argue that Pride reinforces stereotypes given the number of pink feather boas on display at times, what it also does is show that there are other sections within the gay community – the armed forces, rugby teams, the emergency services and lawyers to name a few – and shows just how diverse gay people can be. There is still, unfortunately, that old fashioned view held by some people that gay men are effeminate whereas lesbians are not. Pride shows them that the LGBT community are also doing jobs and activities which are or have been traditionally occupied by manly men and straight women.

    That is one of the most important things about Pride. It shows that gay men, gay women, transgender men and women and bisexual men and women are actually no different from anyone else. They work in factories, in laboratories, in offices, in shops and in the public services. They do the same leisure activities as everyone else, from scuba diving to baking, football to gardening. It is this breaking down of preconceptions which is one of the most important aspects of Pride and helps to reduce prejudice.

    But why should this be limited to one day or one weekend per year? Surely every day can be Pride day? There are those who are very open about their sexuality, those who are out in their place of employment or at the clubs and groups that they attend and those who are very vocal about their sexuality. But then there are those who are open and honest about their sexuality but go about their business without much fuss or constant references to the fact that they are gay. Both of these approaches are equally as important.

    There are ways to show pride every day. Sometimes, a rainbow flag sticker on the rear window of the car, a pink triangle on your coffee mug at work, a red ribbon on your lapel or even just a casual mention of your partner can do just as much for breaking down stereotypes, reducing prejudice and showing how those that are often seen as “different” can actually fit quite easily into the world. This is not about a huge party, it is not about taking over the local park and it is not about coming together in huge numbers for pride to be prevalent. It is showing pride in your sexuality every day. It is breaking down those prejudices on a daily basis. It is normalising the fact that your sexuality does not place limits on your abilities at work or influence your leisure activities.

    There is a Pride event taking place every single day of the year – and the venue is your desk, your club, your group, your factory floor, your supermarket and everywhere else that you go to either for work or for leisure.

    Isn’t that real Pride?

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • Kylie Minogue releases new song lyric video

    Pop star Kylie Minogue has released a lyric video for a new song “Skirt”, which is seen as a teaser of her long awaited new album.

    The lyric video, which shows Kylie looking stunning in a fitted dress, has been launched on her official web page. The stop motion style video is partially made up of a thousand photographs shot by fellow Australian photographer and director Will Davidson. The up-tempo dance track is somewhat edgier than the style of her last album, Aphrodite, and may be a sign of a different musical direction for her since her announcement that she had signed a management deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation earlier this year. Never one to shy away from a change of image, her official website does say that “the song which made its way from the studio straight to the DJs is just a taste of new music to come”. The album, which is a follow up to Aphrodite, will be her 12th studio album and is thought to be scheduled for release some time later this year; although no release date has been confirmed.
    Watch the video here http://www.kylie.com and let us know your thoughts on the song in our forums.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | High Society, Sheffield Lyceum Theatre and National Tour

    ★★★★ | High Society

    High Society, the timeless musical once again graces the stage in this spirited revival of the classic play based on the MGM Musical.

    It is 1938 and in Long Island, the socialite wedding of the year is about to take place. Tracy Lord is in the midst of preparing to marry in a lavish society wedding when her ex-husband, Dexter Haven, arrives to try to rekindle their romance. Understandably, this throws the plans into chaos, which is further confused by the arrival of an undercover reporter, Mike Conner, who is there to cover the society wedding of the year. Tracy and Mike instantly fall for one another, but with everyone vying for the bride’s attention, and a bride torn between three men, who will she end up walking down the aisle with?

    This musical was a pleasure to watch, being very traditional in terms of its “will they, won’t they” storyline, its simple plot and its rapid succession of songs and the play overall provides a great piece of old fashioned, top notch entertainment.

    The catchy songs were written by Cole Porter and provide a real feeling of the Thirties without ever feeling too dated. The popular score includes “Let’s Misbehave”, “High Society”, “True Love”, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and “Well Did You Evah!” and strikes a good balance between spectacular upbeat numbers and romantic ballads. The up-tempo songs were catchy and the cast took on the musical numbers incredibly well, especially the opening scene of each act and the thoroughly enjoyable tap dancing set piece for “Well Did You Evah!”

    Sophie Bould provided the best of the performances as Tracy Lord, with both her acting and singing being spot on. Daniel Boys did a good job as Mike Connor and displayed his incredible singing voice in spectacular fashion whereas Michael Praed proved he is more of an actor than a singer, as his performance was good, but his limited singing range was notable when surrounded by those around him who were much better vocal performers. Light comic relief was agreeably provided by Teddy Kempner as Uncle Willie and the entire ensemble were in fine voice and in perfect time.

    The set design was intelligent and well thought out, whilst not being overcomplicated. It had some nice art deco overtones and the transformation of one set to another was incredibly slick and undertaken as part of the play itself. The costumes were in keeping with the thirties style and looked lovely and the lighting design was incredibly well done.

    Having seen four different productions of this play over the years, I have to say that this was the best version I have seen. The pace was snappy and the cast were polished and professional. The natural performances never felt rushed and the cast were not shy of holding a long pause or taking their time with the slower songs.

    If you are looking for a pleasant evening of entertainment, you appreciate a traditional, old fashioned musical and if you enjoy the slightly twee nature of the MGM classic musicals, then you will enjoy this very well rounded production.

    High Society is currently playing at the Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield until 15th June 2013 before continuing on its national tour.

  • THEATRE REVIEW | The History Boys, Sheffield

    ★★★★ | The History Boys, Sheffield

    Based in the fictional Cutlers Grammar School in Sheffield, this award winning play tells the story of a group of young students as they prepare for university interviews at Oxford and Cambridge.

    The headmaster of the school is determined to propel the school up the ranks of the league tables by increasing the number of pupils who are accepted by the prestigious establishments. In his resolve to do so, he enlists a supply teacher called Irwin, whose sole responsibility is to fully prepare the boys by employing a rigid teaching structure and encouraging them to stick strictly to stock answers, whether they believe what they are saying to be true or not. This approach is in stark contrast with that taken by the boy’s favourite teacher, Hector, who is eccentric and laid back, revelling in the joy of knowledge, whilst encouraging the boys in their free thinking and exploration of their own interests, allowing them to forge their own educational path. Unfortunately, one of Hector’s interests is taking the young students out on his motorcycle and touching them up, something that the boys seem to readily accept as harmless fun, but which eventually leads to a confrontation between Hector and the headmaster. As the two teachers and their respective teaching styles clash and the young boys turn into young men, the relationships between the students, both with each other and with the staff, is examined which leads to tension, sexual angst and divided loyalties.

    Sheffield Theatres once again excels, this time with their production of this award winning Alan Bennet play, which has a wordy, warm and witty script. Within its critique of the education system and its social commentary on the almost hierarchical nature of learning, the play also explores, both gently and more blatantly, a number of themes surrounding the often painful transition into adulthood and aspects of accepting and coming to terms with homosexuality and sexuality in general. Posner (beautifully played by Oliver Coopersmith) says at one point “I’m a Jew. I’m small. I’m a homosexual. And I live in Sheffield. I’m f***ed”. This neatly sums up his frustration at his status as the youngest of the class and more importantly, his unrequited and unconditional love for his fellow pupil, Dakin (played by Tom Rhys Harris). Dakin is a cocksure and bravado filled young man, who relishes in his ladies’ man status, yet who develops a deep admiration for and relationship with his teacher, Irwin. This leads to the point where Dakin propositions Irwin and offers himself readily; causing Irwin to face his own closeted sexuality. There is also the darker undertone running through the play of the abuse of position and trust by the teachers, Hector who is touching the boys when he takes them out on his motorcycle (much to Posner’s annoyance that it is never “his turn”) through to the direct confrontation between Dakin and Irwin whereby Irwin’s teaching of the importance, or otherwise, of the truth is challenged.The set made excellent use of the Crucible’s unique stage, effortlessly merging the scenes and creating a real school hall feel, from the parquet gym floor to the strip lighting, the PE benches to the plastic chairs. The play was well directed, ensuring the whole audience felt included and addressed. The performances were all of a very high quality, especially from Edwin Thomas who excelled as Irwin in what is his professional stage debut. Matthew Kelly undertook his role of Hector with a quiet confidence, but his performance was overtaken by the lead boys, namely Will Featherstone as Scripps, Tom Rhys Harris as Dakin and Oliver Coopersmith expertly demonstrating the teenage angst of burgeoning sexuality.The play was scattered with bridging sequences for the set changes, which involved short, loud blasts of electro new romantic and punk music accompanied by over exaggerated schoolboy dancing. These segments which sharply transported you back to your own school days were entertaining and nicely contrasted with calmer, more classic aspects of the script. The script was wordy, with long soliloquies delivered by the characters, but was punctuated with warm and gentle comedy delivered by likeable characters. The play was slightly long for me (perhaps it could have been around 20 minutes shorter), but this is not a criticism of the production in any way and more a reflection on the type of theatre I prefer. Overall, it was exceptionally well performed, staged and presented and was a memory invoking, through provoking piece of quasi-nostalgia tinged theatre which tackles head on a number of social issues within the education system.

    The History Boys is currently at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield until the 8th June 2013.