Alexi Kaye Campbell’s The Pride is this month’s must-see in London’s West End, and its timely revival is far from incidental. Jamie Lloyd’s brilliant young cast will not only leave you feeling entertained and intellectually stimulated, but it has a very empowering feel. As I marched along Whitehall among a sea of jubilant girls holding hands and men embracing one another, it felt like a metaphorical middle finger was being raised at the recent mess that is Russian equality. This has a lot to do with the final applaud in which the cast hold up placards reading ‘To Russia with Love’, but also to do with the tone of the play. The Pride is punchy and defiant – it uses language that was at times too crude for my aging parents sat next to me, but which aptly conveys the anger felt over intolerance. When in the second act Philip (Harry Hadden-Paton) attempts to ‘cure’ his homosexuality through psychiatric treatment, this is all too reminiscent of the 35% of Russians today who believe homosexuality to be an “illness or the result of psychological trauma”.
Protest against Russia’s banning of Moscow Gay Pride, 1 July 2011, outside the Russian Embassy in London. Image credit: Peter Gray
In tackling such sensitive issues, the play achieves a brilliant gritty quality. Indeed, it was refreshing to see Matt Horne in such a serious piece. My doubts about his suitability for the role quickly vanished in a compelling scene in which his character recalls visiting his Aids-suffering uncle in hospital. This hard-hitting emotion reminds us of the sad reality that nearly 34 million people in the world are living with HIV.
Bizarrely, I think the main reason theatre-goers have fallen in love with The Pride is its optimism. The play spans two time periods – the 1950s and the present day – with scenes alternating between the two. In the former, Philip (Harry Hadden-Paton) and Sylvia (Hayley Atwell) are a married couple yet we become aware that Philip is hiding his homosexuality. In the latter, Sylvia is a friend and Philip and Oliver (Al Weaver) are together. This complex love triangle demonstrates how vastly attitudes have changed but that there is progress yet to be made. References to the modern gay man’s dating app Grindr are a stark reminder of the stereotypes facing the gay community today. Just because British gay men can compete in the Olympics, does not mean the battle has been won…
Catch The Pride at Trafalgar Studios until 23rd November, or on its nationwide tour from January.
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