Hasbian (has-bee-un) noun A former lesbian.
Beth Watsons real teenage diary comes to life in the Groovy Chick-style animated world of Hasbian: A queer coming-of-age comedy set to a soundtrack of y2k pop classics (S Club, B*Witched, Destinys Child) and indie angst anthems (Placebo, Weezer, Garbage)
How did Beth go from a childhood dreaming of The Wizard of Oz, to cringey
Cruel Intentions-obsessed adolescence?
From proudly identifying as a teenage lesbian, to discovering that boys are also appealing?
Using animated magazine cut-outs of iconic teen movie stars, an all-star 00s fantasy cast steps in to play Beths friends (and crushes), who are re-imagined as the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Natasha Lyonne and Ashton Kutcher. Hasbian tells the true story of growing up queer in Brighton (the UKs Gay Capital) under Section 28 (1988-2003 law prohibiting teaching homosexuality as a pretended family relationship).
Dripping in equal measures with heartfelt earnestness , sharp irony, and humour that bubbles up in the place between youthful confidence and pubescent self-doubt, Hasbian fills audiences with buzzy nostalgia, while exposing queerphobia in the most liberal of cities.
From the creators of Queer Diary the night where LGBTQIA+ adults read their real teenage diaries on stage.
Hasbian features original animated projections by Edalia Day, and dramaturgy by Koko Brown.
Supported by Arts Council England.
Often funny, sometimes moving and heart-warming, and always entertaining.
- The Reviews Hub (on Queer Diary)
"If a Queer Diary event was held on the Moon, the most anti-capitalist Queers would be befriending Bezos in hopes of securing a rocket ride"
- DIVA Magazine (on Queer Diary)
Audience reviews for Hasbian:
The kind of queer show that heals your soul
I havent laughed as much as that in a long time
Visually superb
Pure realness
More about the show on social media:
Instagram @hasbianshow | Twitter @hasbianshow | Facebook @QueerDiaryCIC | TikTok @hasbianqueerdiary
ACCESS:
Omnibus Theatre is wheelchair accessible (Hasbian is in the Upstairs Studio, accessible via lift) with an accessible toilet.
All toilets in the building are gender neutral.
All performances of Hasbian feature projected captions, and artistically integrated audio description created with AD consultants Quiplash.
Performances of Hasbian are relaxed: audiences are free to move around, make noise, and enter/exit the auditorium as needed. Sound and lighting are at ordinary theatre levels for a theatre show. There are no loud/sudden sound effects or strobe lighting used.
Seating is unreserved as standard.
For any questions, or to reserve a seat for specific access requirements (step-free, close to the front, on an aisle, etc) contact Omnibus Theatre: 0207 498 4699 [email protected]
CONTENT:
This show contains descriptions of bullying, including homophobic and biphobic language, and passing (critical) mentions of sexually predatory/objectifying behaviour.
There is one description of an incident of physical violence.
The plot contains sexual activity and alcohol consumption amongst teenagers from 14-16.
