'Pride' review — an extraordinary real-life story becomes a new British musical to be proud of

Read our review of Pride, starring Samuel Barnett and Lewis Cornay, now in performances at the National Theatre to 12 September.

Summary

• Musical Pride premieres at the National Theatre
• The 2014 film's writer Stephen Beresford and director Matthew Warchus reunite
• The show is inspired by real-life 1980s activist group Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners
• Samuel Barnett is remarkable as flamboyant Jonathan

I adored the 2014 movie Pride, based on an extraordinary real-life story, but the keenly awaited, lovingly crafted stage musical version, once again nimbly written by Stephen Beresford and directed by Matthew Warchus, is just as rich and funny, and even more moving. Centring on the unlikely union of two very different groups during a time of crisis, it’s like a cross between Come From Away and Billy Elliot, and deserves to have a similarly long life.

It’s 1984, and, while listening to the news, visionary socialist firebrand Mark Ashton spots a parallel between his LGBTQ+ community and the striking miners. Both are under attack by Thatcher’s government, the police, and the tabloid press. This leads to an incredible act of solidarity as Ashton forms LGSM: Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners.

There is conflict between and among both groups, however. Mining widow Maureen accuses LGSM of co-opting the cause to further their own agenda, while exiled gay Welshman Gethin punctures Mark’s romantic view of the villagers by sharing his story of brutal rejection. There are also intergenerational clashes: young gay man Reggie pleads with flamboyant veteran Jonathan to “tone it down” so they can fit in, sparking a passionate defence from the latter of living out and proud.

Samuel Barnett, as Jonathan, is sensational throughout, but has two really standout numbers. The first is a blissful impromptu disco performance, the second a superb new addition in this stage adaptation: essentially a miniature cabaret act, in which Jonathan reveals his status as one of the earliest men in the UK diagnosed with AIDS. He is embracing life while he can, he declares, and does so while tap-dancing up a storm amid sequins and feather fans: remarkable courage and joy in the face of horror.

But this is also a stellar ensemble piece. Lewis Cornay beautifully sketches newcomer Bromley’s coming-of-age and coming out journey; Sarah Pugh, as Siân, confesses her dreams of being more than a wife and mum in a delicate lament; and Jhon Lumsden is an unstoppable force of nature as Mark, equally inspiring and infuriating.

Excellent too are Courtney Stapleton’s no-nonsense Steph and Kirsty Malpass’s plain-speaking Hefina, while Jordan Shaw and Gillian Elisa both deliciously steal scenes as, respectively, the gorgeous Reggie and ever-curious Gwen, who wants to know if it’s really true that all lesbians are vegetarians.

Christopher Nightingale, Josh Cohen and DJ Walde’s music reflects the blended communities, mixing rousing pop-punk with choral and brass band. There is an over-reliance on empowering ballads, however, especially in the second half, and Beresford’s book likewise hand-waves away some darker elements, characterising the end of the strike as an instructive lesson in dignity. The devastation wrought on the LGBTQ+ community, particularly via AIDS, is utterly heartbreaking here, but slightly eclipses the shattering loss of a way of life in the pit villages.

More effective is the paralleling of different people who have been wrongly forced to feel shame: the gay characters branded “perverts”, the patriotic miners unfairly labelled “the enemy within”, individuals like Siân who long to transcend their prescribed social roles.

The show is also gloriously witty, packed with cheeky one-liners, features vivid 1980s design, including a stirring, pink-lit re-creation of LGSM’s landmark fundraising concert, and has a giant heart. The emotional final moments feature projected video of the real people who fought this fight, marching shoulder to shoulder at Pride. This wonderful new British musical does them justice.

Pride is at the National Theatre to 12 September. Book Pride tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Pride (Photos by Manuel Harlan)