Review: PRIDE, National Theatre
Photo credit: Manuel Harlan
In recent years, there has been a tendency to turn matters beloved within pop culture into stage shows in search of easy but perhaps unoriginal success...the rise of the jukebox musical demonstrates this. However, the National Theatre’s musical adaptation of the 2014 film Pride could not be further from this. Instead, Matthew Warchus and Stephen Beresford, director and writer of the hit film respectively, have reunited to produce an utterly joyous and triumphant musical.
Often the best stories are true, and Pride tells the incredible story of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) who formed in 1984 and raised thousands of pounds to support families affected by the Miner’s Strike. Against a backdrop of persecution, the dismantling of a historic industry and the early years of a devastating pandemic, 24-year-old activist Mark Ashton (Jhon Lumsden) has the idea to unite two unlikely groups and make history in the process. The music by Christopher Nightingale, Josh Cohen and DJ Walde takes inspiration from protest anthems, pop, rock, disco, and the Welsh choral tradition to create an electric sound that fills the Dorfman Theatre. The lyrics are quick witted, funny and heartbreaking, and the music is central to the magic of this show that will bring audiences laughter and tears.
Bunny Christie’s set and colourful period costumes give the show the agility it needs to transform from London to the small Welsh mining village of Onllwyn. The space feels wonderfully intimate during the quieter moments when characters such as Sian (Sarah Pugh) and Bromley (Lewis Cornay) sing beautiful ballads, and expansive during the glitzy upbeat numbers such as the sensational opening of the second act, and scenes with powerful choreography by Lizzi Gee. The cast of Pride are fabulous but Samuel Barnett as Jonathan is a real standout especially during his showstopping solo ‘You Might as Well Live’, about how he dealt with his HIV diagnosis. The AIDS Crisis is a haunting backdrop to this moving but heartwarming musical charting a country in turmoil. So many were not as lucky as Jonathan and ‘Light Perpetual’ remembers all those who lost their lives during the epidemic.
The opening of the show during Pride Month and a period when LGBTQ+ rights are being threatened is a harsh reminder that we still have a long way to go. ‘You Stood By Me" is an outstanding ensemble number which captures the solidarity between the LGSM and the Welsh mining communities and highlights that we must put aside any differences and unite to make progress. One of the most heartwarming aspects of Pride is its celebration of minorities and the variety of characters that fall under this umbrella. Courtney Stapleton plays Steph, the sole founding lesbian of the support group; her straight-talking nature balances the passion of Jhon Lumsden’s Mark and flamboyance of Jordan Shaw as Reggie. The cast of Welsh villagers do not all welcome LGSM with as open arms as Gwen (Gillian Elisa) who wants to know if all lesbians are vegetarian, but this is reflective of society and people’s nervousness to take a stand. Matthew Durkan plays Mike, who acts as a kind of storyteller to guide us through this wonderful true story. It can sometimes feel jarring when actors break the fourth wall but in Pride, these moments feel incredibly natural, bringing humour and nuance, and allow us to learn more about the lives of these inspirational people.
Pride describes itself as a joy-filled musical and that it is. The show exemplifies that anyone can make a difference and hopefully the arts will do as it often does and use the power of theatre, song and this fabulous true story to inspire people to continue to take action in the face of adversity.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Luck
Pride plays at London’s National Theatre until 12 September, with further info here.
