My Son’s a Queer (But what can you do?)

The Belgrade Theatre 15 to 17 July 2024 and UK tour

Runs 75 minutes, no interval

5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: Hannah Phillips.

“We all came out singing your tune!”

This award-winning show’s success lies in the simplicity of its camp autobiographical storytelling. Writer and performer Rob Madge, delights us with their own personal flamboyant fairytale delivered through catchy musical numbers and nostalgic old VHS footage of them ‘putting on a show’ in their living room! We have all done it, some of us more than others, Madge maybe more than anyone else, ever. This moving tale of a young diva who doesn’t know if they are a ‘he’ or a ‘she’ but is certain that ‘they’ are born to be a star packs a punch which is covered in glitter! I laughed a lot and I unexpectedly cried as I suspect did every member of the audience. Rob sings to us that “anything is possible…when your family all sing your tune.” Well Rob Madge, we all came out singing your tune! It felt particularly special to watch this work which has toured extensively and been to the Edinburgh Fringe and the West-End in Rob Madge’s hometown of Coventry.

This beautiful show is bursting with both queer joy and unconditional family love which is a rare but heartwarming experience. Although it is clear that Disney loving Rob Madge did experience intolerance and a lack of acceptance for truly being their authentic self during the 90s, it is also very clear that Pride did indeed start at home. They were showered with love from their parents and grandparents, granny made them a Princess Ariel wig and the yellow Belle dress that their true heart desired. Nanny and grandad built them their own puppet theatre, whispering to Rob on video that they could be anything they wanted with these puppets. Their parents also had filming and set management duties alongside playing supporting roles and receiving strong directorial feedback from the young pro. This heartfelt musical show which culminates in a fabulous multi-frock finale certainly does shift the narrative around children and identity politics. It celebrates authenticity and calls out the fear of queer! Every parent and every teacher should watch this show as a matter of urgent teacher / parent training.

My Son’s a Queer (But what can you do?) was everything that I hoped for and more.

Written and Performed by: Robert Madge

Directed by: Luke Sheppard

Songs by: Pippa Cleary

Set and Costume Design by: Ryan Dawson Laight

Video Design by: George Reeve

Produced by: Bill Kenwright and Paul Taylor-Mills