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Beautiful Thing, groundbreaking gay play, to enjoy West End revival Beautiful Thing, groundbreaking gay play, to enjoy West End revival
(7 months later)
When Jonathan Harvey wrote Beautiful Thing, the gay age of consent was 21, section 28 was in place, and if there was a working-class gay character on TV he almost certainly "would end up becoming a rent boy".When Jonathan Harvey wrote Beautiful Thing, the gay age of consent was 21, section 28 was in place, and if there was a working-class gay character on TV he almost certainly "would end up becoming a rent boy".
Twenty years on much has changed but producers of a new West End production of what was an important play hope it will speak to audiences just as powerfully. "It sort of hasn't really dated in as much as it's not just about being gay," said Harvey. "It is about first love and coming of age, as well as coming out."Twenty years on much has changed but producers of a new West End production of what was an important play hope it will speak to audiences just as powerfully. "It sort of hasn't really dated in as much as it's not just about being gay," said Harvey. "It is about first love and coming of age, as well as coming out."
Cast and crew on Friday had the first read through for an anniversary revival of a play that was first performed at the tiny Bush theatre in London before becoming a phenomenon. It transferred to the West End, has been staged around the world and reached a far wider consciousness with the 1996 film directed by Hettie MacDonald.Cast and crew on Friday had the first read through for an anniversary revival of a play that was first performed at the tiny Bush theatre in London before becoming a phenomenon. It transferred to the West End, has been staged around the world and reached a far wider consciousness with the 1996 film directed by Hettie MacDonald.
The play, set on a brutalist concrete council estate in Thamesmead, south-east London, tells the story of teenager Jamie, who is infatuated with his neighbour Ste, originally played by Jonny Lee Miller. Ste lives with his drug-dealing brother and alcoholic father and from a grim situation, love triumphs.The play, set on a brutalist concrete council estate in Thamesmead, south-east London, tells the story of teenager Jamie, who is infatuated with his neighbour Ste, originally played by Jonny Lee Miller. Ste lives with his drug-dealing brother and alcoholic father and from a grim situation, love triumphs.
Harvey, who also wrote the sitcoms Gimme Gimme Gimme and Beautiful People, recalled writing the play at a time when the Lords were debating the age of consent by obsessing about buggery. "To me it was different to that, it was about falling in love and having feelings and not about a certain act. Mixed in with that there were fewer representations on screen of gay men and the ones I saw also didn't represent my experience.Harvey, who also wrote the sitcoms Gimme Gimme Gimme and Beautiful People, recalled writing the play at a time when the Lords were debating the age of consent by obsessing about buggery. "To me it was different to that, it was about falling in love and having feelings and not about a certain act. Mixed in with that there were fewer representations on screen of gay men and the ones I saw also didn't represent my experience.
"If you were a working-class gay person on TV, you would be kicked out by your dad and became a rent boy," Harvey said, and "if you were middle-class then perhaps you got Aids and died.""If you were a working-class gay person on TV, you would be kicked out by your dad and became a rent boy," Harvey said, and "if you were middle-class then perhaps you got Aids and died."
Harvey, who was a teacher when he wrote Beautiful Thing, admitted he was surprised by its success. "I guess I thought if it helps one person then it has done its job and the fact it has continued to do that over the years is very rewarding."Harvey, who was a teacher when he wrote Beautiful Thing, admitted he was surprised by its success. "I guess I thought if it helps one person then it has done its job and the fact it has continued to do that over the years is very rewarding."
The play has travelled round the world – to China, France, Australia, and Italy to name a few – but it is always set in Thamesmead, although the US versions struggle with words such as Gazza and the Gloucester pub, where Jamie and Ste go, wide-eyed, for a drink. Harvey joked that if he had known the play was going to last he might not have written references to Bill Beaumont on Question of Sport or East 17 or Richard and Judy. "I think it should be a bit of a museum piece: this was what life was like in 1993."The play has travelled round the world – to China, France, Australia, and Italy to name a few – but it is always set in Thamesmead, although the US versions struggle with words such as Gazza and the Gloucester pub, where Jamie and Ste go, wide-eyed, for a drink. Harvey joked that if he had known the play was going to last he might not have written references to Bill Beaumont on Question of Sport or East 17 or Richard and Judy. "I think it should be a bit of a museum piece: this was what life was like in 1993."
As MPs voted earlier this month to bring in gay marriage, the landscape is obviously very different. "But it doesn't mean homophobia has gone away and with the debate about equal marriage you have to read MPs, mostly Tory, knocking the gay community and MPs going 'I'm not homophobic, but …'As MPs voted earlier this month to bring in gay marriage, the landscape is obviously very different. "But it doesn't mean homophobia has gone away and with the debate about equal marriage you have to read MPs, mostly Tory, knocking the gay community and MPs going 'I'm not homophobic, but …'
"Things have changed an awful lot and things are better but there is still a load of shit to put up with, really, and it doesn't make it any easier for that kid in the classroom to come out and say they're gay.""Things have changed an awful lot and things are better but there is still a load of shit to put up with, really, and it doesn't make it any easier for that kid in the classroom to come out and say they're gay."
Jamie's mum, played by EastEnders actor Linda Henry in the film, will be played by Suranne Jones, while young actors Jake Davies and Danny-Boy Hatchard will make their stage debuts as Jamie and Ste.Jamie's mum, played by EastEnders actor Linda Henry in the film, will be played by Suranne Jones, while young actors Jake Davies and Danny-Boy Hatchard will make their stage debuts as Jamie and Ste.
The play opens at the Arts Theatre in London on 13 April and will tour to Liverpool, Leeds and Brighton.The play opens at the Arts Theatre in London on 13 April and will tour to Liverpool, Leeds and Brighton.
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