Search

Saved articles

You have not yet added any article to your bookmarks!

Browse articles

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

Rob Madge: My Son's a Queer (But What Can You Do)

 
Kate Nora Review by Kate Nora 4 Published: 15 Aug 2024 Underbelly, Bristo Square Show Dates: 1 Aug 2024-16 Aug 2024

Rob Madge has a seven-step plan to throw the perfect Disney parade, and nobody would DARE to rain on it (unless instructed to do so by the stage directions).

Pride starts at home

With a mix of family home videos, catchy original songs, and a sprinkle of glitter, Madge takes us through their coming of age journey as a queer child growing up in the UK while feeling pressured to conform to gender stereotypes.

As a child, they were precocious to the point of possibly bullying all the adults in their life (based on the video footage)! Each recorded clip emphasises Madge’s artistic vision, even at such a young age, and their determination to put on the perfect show — with the willing, and comical, participation of their parents, grandparents, and extended family.

Madge cleverly uses this footage to get the audience on side, laughing at their younger self along with us, before driving home the central message of the show. Their impassioned plea for parents to just accept their children for who they are hits at the emotional crescendo of the performance, the perfect moment to sneak through the cracks in any reluctant audience member’s armour.

It seems as though Madge is so grateful for their supportive family upbringing that they feel a responsibility to spread that message of love and acceptance to all LGBTQ+ youth. You get the feeling that they are really trying to change hearts and minds by employing the most effective tool you can use on the British public — comedy.

But it wasn’t all cheers and giggles. There were quite a few sniffles in the audience as Madge hit those last few high notes, revealed their beautiful, yellow, Belle gown, and proclaimed to the world: “Pride starts at home.”

Related to this article:

Location:

Performances

The Blurb:

When Rob was 12, they attempted a full-blown Disney parade in their house for their Grandma. As Rob donned wigs and played Mary Poppins, Ariel, Mickey Mouse and Belle, their Dad doubled as Stage Manager, Sound Technician and Goofy. This is the joyous, chaotic, autobiographical story of actor, writer and social-media sensation Rob Madge as they set out to recreate that parade – and this time, nobody, no, nobody is gonna rain on it. Nominee, Olivier Award 2023. Winner, What's On Stage's Best Off-West End Production Award 2022.