Immersive Theatre celebrating the UK’s first ever National Pride

Pride 1981 – The day the world came to Huddlesfields, pays homage to every section of LGBTQ+ people who suffered oppression in the 1980s at the hands of the police, the government and the laws of the time, which fortunately have been abolished in today’s world, but there still more that’s why we still keep fighting for what’s right, knowing that we stand on the shoulders of others that came before.

To set the scene when you enter the theatre you will be asked to take any seat except those with a sign. The signs are banners from famous pride marches. We got in toward the end so there wasn’t many seats left, so we sat down at a table of 4 with only 3 seats left, with a drag queen who turns out to be Bunny. Behind me was another character, Avril. It was all a bit surreal when they went from theatregoer to character.I knew it when the character of Avril  played by Jo Dakin started as shot out of my seat, as Avril is loud and proud. The immersive theatrical experience is fantastic as towards the end, the performance takes on the noise and movement of the Pride (protest) Parade and the space comes alive and feels like you are at Mark Ashton’s speech. Every character in the  performance was perfect, from  Simon Hallam’s portrayal of John Addy,  owner of the Gemini Club, to Patrick Price as Mark Ashton, famous gay rights activist. 

For me, the concept of 10 individual monologues seems a bit mundane at first glance, but I was very wrong.All of the characters stand  on their own, there creators and  directors Helen Parry, Olivia Schofield, writer Abi Hynes and writer/producer Stephen M Hornby have woven them around the history of LGBTQ+ rights in the 1980s with some  key figures shaping the Pride March in Huddlesfield. 

The characters of Bunny, played by James Steventon, David Milton, played by Martin Green, Harley, played by Jude Leather, and Iftikhar, played by Imran Borono, tell gripping stories of characters that engage us through their struggles and pain of the living in a world that doesn’t understand them, but the LGBTQ+ movement does and allows them to show their true colours through the rainbow. 

Now Moria, played by Sapphire Vewer-marchant, and Derbhile, played by Emily Spowage, have an intertwined history unlike any other, hapless lovers, with the twist that Maria is a police office, or as Derbhile puts it, “Pig’s”. The beauty for me is the moment when they kiss at the end, which brings together the love created in the 1980s that spearheaded the flight for LGBTQ+ rights. 

This is a must see and check it out when you can. Part of GMfringe 2022. Seen at the King’s Arms, Salford on 07/01/2022.