Gay London Life | Dec '25 Edition - Magazine - Page 24
Life of a Luvvie
Thomas Magill reflects on another bumper
year of London theatre, from glitzy West
End shows to off-beat queer productions
With Joe Locke
With Sally Lindsey and Linda Robson and Thomas at rainbow awards
As we hurtle towards the end of
David Rivers’ play was “necessary”
this year, I thought I’d take some
and I can’t help feeling he hit the nail
time out to reflect on my first year of
on the head.
writing for Gay London Life and all
It’s now December and my
the wonderful shows I’ve seen and
Christmas festivities kicked off
people I’ve met. Queer theatre really
super-early this year. By the middle
made its mark over the last 12 months
of November, I’d already been to The
with lots of successes, particularly for
Nutcracker in Havana at Stratford
new shows like Stalled at the Kings
East and Elf at the Aldwych Theatre,
Head and Midnight Cowboy at the
two shows that couldn’t be any more
Southwark Playhouse, both of which I
different. Despite this, they are now
loved from start to finish.
both firm staples of the Christmas
My year kicked off on a high at
cycle of ‘must-see’ shows. I was lucky
the Royal Vauxhall Tavern with queer
enough to grab five minutes with the
reimagining of Tim Burton’s 1990 cult
amazing Carlos Acosta during the
classic Edward Scissorhands called
interval of The Nutcracker in Havana,
Scissorhands: A Musical Reinvented,
which is now on tour. He thanked
which was co-produced by Michelle
me and my friends for coming along
Visage. It was an absolute scream
before slowly mingling through the
and truly celebrated those of us
crowds in a very humble and down to
who dare to be different, alongside
earth fashion..
what can only be described as a
Elf had taken up residence at
killer soundtrack. 2025 was off to a
the Dominion Theatre for the last five
cracking start!
years, but thanks to The Devil Wears
It was a year full of firsts for many
Prada, it’s now moved to the much
and I feel very lucky to have been a
smaller Aldwych Theatre. For me,
small part of some of them, even if it
the experience was even better this
was from the stalls. There was a lot
year in its new, more intimate home.
of chat and anticipation around Joe
The energy levels are off the scale
Locke ahead of his West-End debut
from Joel Montague who plays Elf
in Clarkston. Although I didn’t love
spectacularly.The rest of the cast is
the show entirely, it confirmed that
wonderful as well, including Carrie
Joe, Ruaridh Mollica and Sophie
Hope Fletcher and Aled Jones,
Melville are all superb actors with real
who plays Elf’s grumpy old dad to
talent, and I predict three superstars
perfection. There’s nothing bad to
of the future. I should also say that
say about this uplifting, fun, camp,
Clarkston’s aftershow party was
colourful Christmas musical, so go
by far the best in 2025, out-shining
see if you get the chance.
all others — even the Pantomime
Looking back on this wonderful
Awards in April, which takes the prize
year of theatre, it’s almost
of campest night ever!
impossible to outline a favourite
Thanks to the team at Thomas
show or performance, mainly
Hopkins Productions, we were
because there were so many. But
lucky to have Billy Porter in town
also, I’m mindful of the thousands
for not one, but two shows in
of people doing such hard work to
2025. In June, Porter directed
bring all of us a busy, full and diverse
This Bitter Earth, an intimate play
range of theatre, day in and day out.
about a young black writer and his
So, with that in mind, I’d just say a
white activist lover. Starring Omari
massive thank-you to every one of
Douglas and Alexander Lincoln, it
them for doing exceptional work in
told an important story about a very
tough circumstances. Keep up the
dangerous time in America’s recent
good work. Merry Christmas!
history. Billy told me in an interview
for BBC London that he felt Harrison
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@thomasmagill1
