Breach Theatre: After the Act
A new 1980’s-inspired musical about pride, protest… and abseiling lesbians.
Thatcher’s Section 28, which banned the 'promotion' of homosexuality in schools, was the landmark legislation that silenced a generation, offered a global blueprint for LGBTQ+ oppression and galvanised a movement. After the Act is funny, camp and unapologetically queer but also a clear-eyed exposure of the political playbook used to enact repressive laws.
Its joyously exuberant original live score accompanies the inspiring, sometimes heart-breaking, stories of teachers, students and activists impacted by the legislation. This is the story of how a moral panic gripped a nation – and a community decided to fight back.
‘Empowering and gut-wrenching... full of righteous anger and euphoric 80s synths’ – ★★★★ Telegraph
‘Fizzing, fiery… This musical feels exceptional’ – ★★★★ Guardian
Written by Ellice Stevens and Billy Barrett
Directed by Billy Barrett
Composer and Musical Director Frew
Recommended age 14+. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
The show features partial nudity, swearing, references to suicide and child abuse and uses homophobic language throughout. There will be loud noise, haze and bright flashing lights.
Cast:
Frew (he/they)
Frew has a Master’s degree in Conducting and Composition from the University of Hull. He is currently under commission from the Almeida Theatre to compose a new musical.
Composition credits include Chariots of Fire, Steel (Sheffield Theatres); The Canary and the Crow, Us Against Whatever, One Life Stand, I Hate Alone, Mercury Fur, Weekend Rockstars: An Album Play (with Hull Truck), Modern Life Is Rubbish: A Musical Manifesto, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (Middle Child Theatre); Joan of Leeds (New Diorama/Breach Theatre); The Hundred and One Dalmatians, Folk (Birmingham Rep); All We Ever Wanted Was Everything (Bush Theatre/Edinburgh Festival/Middle Child); Get Carter (Northern Stage/UK Tour); Twelfth Night (Orange Tree); Sketching (Wilton’s Music Hall); Mixtape (Royal Exchange); Rapunzel, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, A Taste of Honey (Hull Truck); The Thing About Psychopaths (Red Ladder Theatre/National Tour).
Musical Director and Performer credits include Seagulls (Bolton Octagon); The Snow Queen (New Vic Theatre); Dancehall (Cast Doncaster); The Night Before Christmas (Soho Theatre).
Sound Design credits include Road (Oldham Coliseum); Rebel Music (Birmingham Rep); The Season Ticket (Pilot Theatre/Northern Stage); This Land, Red Sky at Night (Pentabus); A Further Education, Deluge (Hampstead Theatre); Love Me Do (Watford Palace Theatre); The Ugly Sisters (Rash Dash/National Tour).
Ericka Posadas (she/they)
Ericka has recently finished playing Emi in Your Lie in April (Harrold Pinter Theatre – London)
Theatre credits include Can’t see for looking (The Cockpit – London); Miss Saigon (The Crucible, Sheffield Theatres), Butterfly (The Vaults); West Side Story (Royal Exchange Theatre); Sleeping Beauty (Theatre Royal Stratford East).
Film credits include Not Me (2023), The Gallery (2022), Trip The Light Fantastic (2022), Silent Disco in The Sky (2020), As You Know Me (2019)
Other credits include Kyoto (Workshop, RSC); Miss Philippines (workshop, National Theatre); Gentleman Anne (workshop, Fabulamundi).
Nkara Stephenson (he/they)
Nkara is a London based, Genderfluid/Non-Binary, Actor, Singer, Dancer and Theatremaker.
Training includes ArtsEd Musical Theatre (BA). He is also a recipient of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Scholarship.
TV credits include Heartstopper Season 3 (2024).
Theatre credits include Pippin Concert at Drury Lane (2024), Rent at the ALWF Theatre (2024), Sweet Charity at ALWF Theatre (2023).
You can find them on their Instagram @nkara.s or on Spotlight.
Ellice Stevens (she/her)
Ellice is a writer, performer and co-director of Breach. Her co-writing for Breach has been awarded two Scotsman Fringe Firsts (TANK and It's True, It's True, It's True), and she was part of the ensemble that was awarded The Stage Edinburgh Award for Acting (It's True, It's True, It's True).
She has worked with companies such as Barrel Organ and The Handlebards.
Most recently she has performed in Breach's short film GAIA which premiered at BFI Flare, the short film Hearts and Aubergine directed by Daniel Lundh, and has directed a two-hander of Macbeth for The Handlebards.
Zachary Willis (he/him)
Zac recently finished performances for After The Act at the Diorama Theatre and has been nominated as part of the Best
Ensemble Cast category for the 2024 Offie’s Awards.
The show also had a brilliant run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to rave reviews and sold out houses.
Zac is just finished filming a great supporting role in the upcoming studio feature film The Last Days of John Allen Chau.
He also played a supporting role in Renny Harlin’s latest movie The Bricklayer, as well as a guest lead in the latest series of Doc Martin.
Creatives:
Director: Billy Barrett (he/ him)
Writers: Billy Barrett (he/ him) and Ellice Stevens (she/ her)
Composer, Orchestrator and Co Music Production: Frew (he/ they)
Choreographer: Sung-Im Her (she/ her)
Designer: Bethany Wells (she/ her)
Creative Sound Designer and Co Music Production: Owen Crouch (he/ him)
Video Designer: Zakk Hein (he/ him)
Lighting Designer: Jodie Underwood (she/ they)
Music Supervisor: Martin Lowe (he/ him)
Sound System Designer: Ed Clarke (he/ him)
Video Design Associate: Hayley Egan (she/ her)
Video Programmer: Lucy Rodgers (she/ her)
Casting Director: Nick Hockaday (he/ him)
Credits
Commissioned by New Diorama.
Co-Produced by Brighton Dome, HOME, WAC and New Diorama in association with Traverse Theatre.
Supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
