My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) – Ambassadors Theatre

Picture: Mark Senior

My Son’s A Queer (But what can you do?) continues at the Ambassadors Theatre, London until 18 March 2023.

Star rating: five stars ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Following phenomenal runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and subsequently the Turbine Theatre and Garrick Theatre in London, not to mention a WhatsOnStage Best Off-West End Production Award win in 2022, Rob Madge is back with a third London run of their ever-popular and repeatedly sell-out autobiographical show My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?).

This time playing at the Ambassadors Theatre in the heart of Covent Garden, Madge’s piece stands worlds apart from many of the other shows and musicals typically seen in Theatreland, connecting to the hearts of the audience in a way very few can.

With an early childhood dominated by their natural flair for performance and all things fabulous, Madge staged multiple home performances and Disney parades for their parents and grandparents. Their endearing yet razor-sharp attention to detail during the many special effects and costume changes is all captured in a series of camcorder videos, clips of which are relayed to the audience via the giant television at the back of the ‘sitting room’ set where Madge re-creates their story.

Many theatre fans (and social media followers!) will have long been aware of Madge and their unfailingly witty presence online. Often focused around theatre, and with plentiful appearances from the afore-mentioned childhood home videos, Madge is gently self-deprecating towards their younger self.

That same engaging sense of hilarity and comedic exasperation is present in the show, but intertwined with autobiographical stories and songs which go much deeper to explain some of the less joyful moments of Madge’s youth. Beginning with a desire to own Belle’s yellow dress but instead ending up with a Beast costume, young Madge wonders why children – and society – must be so rigidly divided into ‘pink’ or ‘blue’. They are already aware that their happiness and true authentic self lies within the whole spectrum in between.

The moments of joy from the home videos are punctuated by snippets of Madge’s school reports, where teachers stated they would be more likely to make friends if they dropped the ‘dramatic facial expressions’ and stopped spending so much time in the classroom’s imaginative play area. The audience is captured by the internal quandary young Madge feels at being repeatedly told their choices and preferences are not ‘acceptable’, while knowing those exact aspects are what makes them the most happy.

Throughout the show Madge pays tribute to their wonderfully supportive parents and grandparents, who feature heavily in the home videos as audience members (and occasional cast!) in their Disney parades and, it appears, are ultimately responsible for supporting, encouraging and making Madge comfortable enough to continue to be their true self.

Upon hearing her child is being bullied at school, Madge’s mother applies for a job there as a dinner lady to keep an eye on their wellbeing. Despite some initial self-confessed hesitation from their father at realising Madge was ‘a bit theatrical’, he is never anything less than a fully supportive and loving father and plays a whole array of characters under young Madge’s direction. And the clip of Madge’s grandparents revealing an early birthday present of an entirely handmade puppet theatre complete with puppets is one of the emotional highlights of this story, demonstrating the true life-changing power of love and acceptance.

If ever there was a show deserving of more than five stars, this is surely it. The connection to real-life situations, experiences and personal predicaments for many makes this not only a powerful educational moment but also a compelling example of hope, individuality and beauty in diversity.

Directed by Luke Sheppard, My Son’s A Queer is an exceptional insight into the lives of those who commit to defying society’s ‘norms’ and make the world a better place for it. It is a rare feat to be able to so charmingly and humbly connect with an audience and have them laugh and cry with you, and Madge has succeeded with flying – rainbow – colours.

Sorcha Exworthy