During London Pride, After the Act focused on modern LGBT+ history, telling stories from the people that experienced it themselves.
Writers Billy Barret and Ellice Stevens compiled interviews and accounts to tell the story of Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988.
This legislation banned the promotion of homosexuality in schools, and affected an entire generation of the gay community before it was repealed in 2003.
After the Act voices the feelings of the activists and people affected in the Royal Court Theatre, telling their story through song and dance.
Stevens said: “We wrote After the Act originally because we wanted to merge our documentary-theatre devising process with music.
“We were very interested in making a show that spoke to themes of queer identity, queer joy and queer shame.
“It was Billy who said the 20th anniversary of the repealing was coming up, so we wanted to make something that looked at that legislation.”
Performer Ericka Posadas said: “I think we do not learn from before.
“As human beings, our default is to think ‘This doesn’t affect us, why should we care?’.
“After the Act brings us back to what has happened before, it reminds us why we shouldn’t accept certain things that are happening today because of what it can lead to.
“It empowers us with the knowledge to empathise with what has happened before, and tells us to act now.”
Feature image: Royal Court Theatre
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