Writer: Rob Madge
Music: Robert Madge and Pippa Cleary
“Are you filming?”, “Are you filming?”, “Are you filming me?”. Rob Madge can be truly thankful that their loving mum and dad were filming. Filming every eccentric self-penned, self-choreographed, self-cast and self-performed production of their theatre-obsessed son’s childhood. These home movies form the heart of My Son’s a Queer (But What Can You Do?)
The show has been running to sold-out audiences and universal plaudits since 2021 and is back for a limited two-week run at the Fringe for 2024.
Ultimately, Madge recreates the Disney parades staged in their living room in the Midlands in front of their long-suffering family members. And while these video clips are the basis of the play and celebrate Madge’s prodigious talent, it is his wonderfully loving family who are the true stars of the show.
This is the story of an average working class family from middle England and how they navigate having a child who doesn’t necessarily conform to the norms of society. What radiates from every clip is how truly loved and lucky Madge was. Not every non-binary, gay, trans or just different child had support like this. From one Granny making costumes to Gran and Grandpa handmaking a puppet theatre and all the characters within it to encourage their little loved one. That said, it wasn’t all plain sailing and Madge’s writing skilfully weaves as many moments of poignancy as joy.
While, I’m sure Madge is fully aware of how funny these films are, he doesn’t shy away from showing how much of a demanding little monster he could be. The tiny impresario barking orders, never failing to demonstrate on camera his disdain for his backstage crew (mum, dad & grandparents) not quite measuring up to his unattainably high standards.
For once, this is a work that lives up to its hype. I defy anyone not to be genuinely moved both with joy and heartbreak by My Son’s a Queer... It perfectly demonstrates, as in the lyrics to one of the songs that there is no reason for things to be “a choice of just two” – things don’t have to be just pink or blue. There’s a whole rainbow out there to be celebrated and this show does it perfectly. Unmissable.
Runs until 16 August 2024 | Image: Mark Senior
The Reviews Hub Score
Practically perfect in every way
