After The Act

"Queers in classrooms!” “Perverts panicking parents!” - a new musical about pride, protest…and abseiling lesbians.

Section 28: the landmark legislation that silenced a generation and offered a global blueprint for LGBTQ+ oppression. Two decades after its repeal, multi-award-winning theatre company, Breach Theatre (It’s True, It’s True, It’s True) sing and dance on the grave of this watershed moment in LGBTQ+ history.

In this verbatim musical, (almost) every word is taken from interviews the company has undertaken with students, activists, and teachers, as well as from tabloid articles and news clips. After the Act’s cast take us from the adolescent anguish of the classroom to the heated debates of Parliament via euphoric celebration and impassioned street demonstrations.

Returning with the full original cast and creative team, After the Act was commissioned by New Diorama and premiered at New Diorama Theatre in March 2023.

After The Act is part of the Traverse's £1 Ticket Project.

Co-produced by Brighton Festival, HOME, New Diorama and Warwick Arts Centre and presented in Association with Traverse Theatre. Supported by Arts Council England.

The Traverse Theatre is funded by Creative Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council.

Recommended by:

Reviews

★★★★★ ‘Entertaining, provocative and important’ – The Arts Desk

★★★★★ ‘Groundbreaking’ - All That Dazzles

★★★★★ ‘Leaves its audience entertained, educated & enthralled. A vital use of the art of theatre’- Musical Theatre Review

★★★★★ ‘Inspired’ - The Spy In The Stalls

★★★★★ ‘Simply a must see show’ – THE STUDENT

★★★★ ‘Empowering and gut-wrenching... full of righteous anger and euphoric 80s synths’ - The Telegraph

★★★★ ‘Heart-rending yet joyful... brilliantly conveys the hysteria and outrage of Section 28 in propulsive musical form’ - The Stage

★★★★ ‘Fantastically daring... The company's powers are undiminished’ - Time Out

★★★★ ‘A powerful and important piece of theatre’ – Broadway World

★★★★ ‘A triumphant piece of theatre’ - Bouquets and Brickbats

★★★★ ‘A queer epic’ - Everything Theatre

★★★★ ‘Powerful’ - Reviews Hub

★★★★ ‘A treat’ - North West End

★★★★ 'Exceptionally powerful' - Scots Gay Arts

★★★★ ‘Clear and vital' - The Queer Review

★★★★ ‘Astonishingly good’ - Fest Magazine

★★★★ ‘Its distinctive aesthetic is compelling’ - Financial Times

★★★★ ‘Chimes with authenticity’ –Britishtheatre.com

★★★★ ‘Superbly executed’ – Three Weeks

★★★★ ‘This production shines’ – BRITISH THEATRE GUIDE

Watch the Trailer

If you have access requirements, please contact our Sales and Welcome Team on boxoffice@traverse.co.uk or 0131 228 1404 so we can arrange reserved seating for you and discuss how else we can best support your visit.