Daddy’s First Gay Date at Seven Dials Playhouse
Imagine announcing you’re bisexual on the same night your girlfriend tells you you’re going to be a dad – that’s the situation Ben (Sam Danson) finds himself in as we open mid dinner at a restaurant. While his girlfriend of 15 years, Helen (Megan Edmondson), struggles to process the bombshell he’s just dropped, Ben becomes distracted by their waiter, Tim (Dior Clarke), who seems more than interested in showing him the ropes of the new world he’s stepping into. As Ben’s relationship with Helen unravels, he begins what he hopes could be a romantic connection with Tim. But before that can happen, he’s got to prepare for his first big gay night out, and we’re along for the ride as he borrows a slinky vest from Helen to “look the part” and ventures out.
Danson, who also wrote the play, is brilliantly funny as he takes us on the emotional rollercoaster of coming out later in life. Some of the show’s strongest moments are when we’re alone with him and he breaks the fourth wall to talk directly to us. In one memorable scene, he imagines we’re locals at the village pub and reprimands the small-town gossip and judgment he’s faced since coming out as bisexual. The mix of humour, frustration and vulnerability really lands, and his lines are sharp, introspective and consistently have the audience cracking up. Not to dismiss the energy and significance of the other cast and characters, but the piece could easily work as a one-person show, given Danson’s stage presence and command of the room.
The action often veers into farce with Helen, heavily pregnant, repeatedly driving out to rescue Ben from his wild new nightlife, but Edmondson captures Helen’s inability to hate Ben despite his poor timing with care. Clarke brings charm and energy to Tim, playing him as both a guide to Ben and someone yearning for genuine connection amidst superficial relationships. It seems highly unlikely that he and Helen would become friends, but their connection reminds us that in the messiest and most uncertain moments, compassion and understanding can shine through.
The play tackles themes of sexuality, race, identity and fatherhood, and while it leans into comedy, this sometimes comes at the expense of complexity. When Tim opens up about facing both racial and homophobic discrimination, the moment feels fleeting, and a deeper exploration might have added weight to the play’s core and more insight into the nuances of Tim’s experiences.
Daddy’s First Gay Date is a witty, warm, compassionate story about identity, love and learning who you are, even when the timing couldn’t be worse.
Chloe Vilarrubi
Photos: Jason Locke
Daddy’s First Gay Date is at Seven Dials Playhouse from 28th October until 16th November 2025. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.
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