Stage & Screen

LGBTQI+ theatre and cinema features queer plays and queer films on both stage and screen. They have played a significant role in the representation and visibility of the queer community. These art forms have provided a platform for us to share our stories, experiences, and struggles. They ultimately contribute to the broader movement for LGBTQ rights and acceptance.

Queer Theatre

In the realm of queer theatre, queer-themed plays have been instrumental in challenging societal norms and promoting understanding and empathy.

Modern LGBTQI+ theatre began to emerge following the struggles of the gay liberation movement. Mart Crowley’s play Boys in the Band, a gay-themed play by Mart Crowley, was staged off-Broadway in 1968. One of the first musicals to portray a gay relationship was ‘Boy Meets Boy’, first staged off-Broadway in 1975. The musical-comedy was set in 1936 in a world that normalised homosexual relationships as if they were heterosexual.

The 1970s also saw the creation of groundbreaking queer production companies in the UK, such as Gay Sweatshop, founded in 1975. 1979 Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, London, staged Bent by Martin Sherman. The production later transferred to the West End. Playwrights like Mart Crowley, Harvey Fierstein, and Tony Kushner were able to bring LGBTQ stories to the forefront. They addressed issues such as coming out, discrimination, and the AIDS crisis.

These plays not only provided a voice for LGBTQ individuals but also educated and enlightened audiences about the struggles faced by our community.

Queer Cinema

Similarly, queer cinema has played a crucial role in representing diverse sexual orientations and gender identities on the big screen. The early days of queer cinema were marked by underground and independent films that explored queer themes due to the lack of mainstream acceptance.

However, with the rise of the New Queer Cinema movement in the 1990s (first coined by the academic B. Ruby Rich in Sight & Sound magazine in 1992), LGBTQI+ films gained more visibility and recognition.

Filmmakers like Todd Haynes, Gus Van Sant, and Kimberly Peirce created groundbreaking works that challenged heteronormative narratives and offered authentic portrayals of LGBTQI+ characters.

These films not only resonated with queer audiences but also helped to humanise and normalise queer experiences for wider audiences.

The impact of queer theatre and cinema extends beyond mere representation. These art forms have been instrumental in fostering a sense of community and empowerment for LGBTQI+ individuals. Creating and consuming LGBTQ-themed works provides a space for us to see ourselves reflected on stage or screen, validating our queer identities and experiences.

Moreover, queer theatre and cinema have also catalysed social change, challenging discriminatory laws and policies and promoting acceptance and equality.

Queer theatre and cinema still face challenges.

However, it is essential to acknowledge that LGBTQ theatre and cinema still face challenges and barriers. Despite progress, our queer stories are still underrepresented in mainstream media. Queer artists often struggle to secure funding and distribution for their projects. Trans artists have only recently been visible in theatre and cinema, and such appearances are still minimal.

Additionally, the portrayal of LGBTQI+ characters and narratives can sometimes be stereotypical or tokenistic, reinforcing harmful tropes and limiting the diversity of queer experiences.

In conclusion, queer theatre and cinema have played a vital role in the fight for LGBTQI+ rights and acceptance. These art forms have allowed us to share our stories, challenge societal norms, and foster community. While progress has been made, there is still work to ensure that our LGBTQI+ voices are heard and represented authentically in theatre and cinema.

The role of QX Magazine

QX magazine has been amplifying queer voices for over 25 years. We have been at the vanguard of trans visibility. We are delighted to be part of the growing movement that seeks to ensure that queer stories from all corners of our community are heard on the stage and screen and shared with the broader community.

You can visit the pages below to see some of the latest queer plays and films that we have highlighted.

Wild About You: Todrick Hall is among the stellar cast in this New Musical...

Wild About You: Todrick Hall is among the stellar cast in this New Musical In Concert. Wild About You is a New Musical In Concert...
Gala Fundraiser at Waterloo East Theatre

Keep the magic alive by attending Waterloo East Theatre’s Gala Fundraising Evening, 7 March.

Keep the magic alive by attending Waterloo East Theatre's Gala Fundraising Evening. The lights may have dimmed, but the magic of Waterloo East Theatre hasn't...
Cowboys and Lesbians by Billie Esplen at Park Theatre London

Billie Esplen takes us on a writer’s journey with Cowboys and Lesbians, Park Theatre...

Seventeen and wasting their youth on flashcards and fantasising about their teachers, Nina and Noa have never been to a party or been kissed,...
Close To You at BFI Flare, London queer cinema festival.

BFI Flare celebrates queer cinema, 13 to 24 March 2024.

BFI Flare is the UK's biggest queer film festival, screening the best in contemporary queer cinema from around the world. The festival also runs...
Gareth Watkins in The Gentleman Of Shalott at The Hope Theatre in Islington is a queer play.

QX interviews Gareth Watkins, writer and performer of The Gentleman Of Shalott at The...

Gareth Watkins is performing his queer one-man show, The Gentleman Of Shalott, at a small pub theatre, The Hope in Islington, from February 6th...
Thalía Dudek interview, the actor who plays Max in Hir at the Park Theatre.

Thalía Dudek: QX interviews the actor playing Max in HIR at Park Theatre, 15...

Thalía Dudek is a critically acclaimed actor who plays the role of Max, the transgender teenage child to Felicity Huffman's Paige in Taylor Mac's...
A gay play at Waterloo East Theatre in London.

Tony award-winning writer Joe DiPietro tells QX how he set out to write a...

Tony award-winning writer Joe DiPietro tells QX how he set out to write a play with an un-producible title – ‘Fucking Men’. An updated version...
Alexis Gregory's Future Queer

Future Queer, a future imagined by Alexis Gregory.

FutureQueer runs from 4th February to 2nd March 2024 at the Cabaret House in the brand spanking new King’s Head Theatre in Islington. Alexis Gregory,...
Cowbois at The Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, London.

RSC’s Cowbois at Royal Court Theatre: Photos and Reviews.

A rollicking queer Western like nothing you’ve seen before. Grab your stetson and spurs and join us for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of...
future Queer is a queer play at Kings Head Theatre in London.

FutureQueer: A subversive look at an imagined queer future, 4 Feb – 2 Mar.

February is LGBTQ+ history month, and FutureQueer is a subversive look at an imagined queer future. Set around the iconic Donna Summer queer anthem I Feel Love, the...

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