The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Show reviews
    • Interviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Cannes
      • Sundance London
      • Venice
      • London
  • Music
    • Live music
    • Album reviews
    • Interviews
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
    • Fringe
    • Vault Festival
    • Interviews
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Interviews
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join the team
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

Culture Theatre

Director Jamie Lloyd examines the politics of sexuality in The Pride

Director Jamie Lloyd examines the politics of sexuality in The Pride
1st August 2013
Francis Davies
Avatar
Francis Davies
1 August 2013

Written by Alexi Kaye Campbell and directed by Jamie Lloyd, The Pride is the latest play in the Trafalgar Transformed season. Joined by members of the cast, Campbell and Lloyd sat down to talk about The Pride on 31st July at Trafalgar Studios.

“Yes it’s commercial theatre,” stated Lloyd, “but it’s created with a social conscience.” Since the initial production in 2008 the socio-political landscape of the western world has changed with the legalisation of gay marriage. This however doesn’t diminish the potential impact of the play in the eyes of Campbell. He hit on the current polarisation of the politics of sexuality on a global scale, noting that while the west becomes more tolerant other parts of the world have become increasingly homophobic in reaction. Recently this trend has been exemplified by Russia with Vladimir Putin signing a bill against “propaganda” in support of  “non-traditional” relationships.

They discussed the play’s exploration of homosexual relationships in western culture, bringing up questions of the potential impact that legalised marriage could have on the gay community. Now that a more “traditional” form of relationship is recognised and enabled under law, the question is raised as to how this changes an individual need for the “idiosyncratic sex-culture,” as Lloyd artfully put it. Now that the real-world political landscape has changed, the play can naturally explore the alternatives that come with those changes.

The actors themselves commented on their encouragement to broaden the discussion through social media platforms such as Twitter. They were very excited by social media’s ability to generate an instant response from the public.

There was some talk on theatre economics, ticket prices and audience demographic changes, specifically touching on younger generations and the less wealthy that attend £15 Mondays and buy cheaper tickets. They came to a unanimous consensus that these less predictable crowds made for consistently interesting and lively shows, though Lloyd made the point that cheaper tickets are only available through subsidy via the more expensive ones. He reported ongoing efforts to increase the availability of affordable theatre tickets.

Clearly The Pride isn’t afraid to tackle some big issues and ask difficult questions. Neither are the director or the cast afraid to pick up those issues and see how people respond, appearing eager to widen their audience and increase the public debate.

Francis Davies

The Pride is at Trafalgar Studios from 8th August until 9th November 2013. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Related Items

More in Theatre

The Homecoming at the Young Vic

★★★★★
Jonathan Marshall
Read More

The Nutcracker at the Turbine Theatre

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story at Alexandra Palace

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

The House of Bernarda Alba at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Constance A
Read More

Peter Pan Goes Wrong at Lyric Theatre

★★★★★
Benedetta Mancusi
Read More

The Witches at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More

A Christmas Carol at the Old Vic

★★★★★
Sarah Bradbury
Read More

Feeling Afraid As If Something Terrible Is Going to Happen at Bush Theatre

★★★★★
Jonathan Marshall
Read More

Wishmas

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap
  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Your Christmas or Mine 2
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Earth Mama
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • The Homecoming at the Young Vic
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Nutcracker at the Turbine Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Anselm
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • The Homecoming at the Young Vic
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Nutcracker at the Turbine Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Your Christmas or Mine 2
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Anselm
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • The Homecoming at the Young Vic
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor at Hammersmith Apollo
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Nutcracker at the Turbine Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Wonka
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
The Upcoming
  • Contact us
  • Join the team
  • Subscribe to the mailing list
  • Support us
  • Writing for The Upcoming

Copyright © 2011-2023 FL Media