The Curtain Is Rising on Lesbian Stories
Ten years after Fun Home changed Broadway, lesbian stories are finding new life on stages in both Britain and the United States.
In London, audiences are filling theatres to see The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs, about the only lesbian choir in England and Pride, the new musical based on the inspiring true story of the alliance between lesbian and gay activists and striking Welsh miners during Britain’s 1984 miners’ strike. At the same time, The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs has become one of London’s breakout successes, proving there is an eager audience for funny, heartfelt stories centered on lesbian lives and community.
At Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania, Starstruck reimagines the classic Cyrano de Bergerac as a romantic comedy featuring a middle-aged lesbian park ranger who unexpectedly falls in love. The musical brings together an impressive creative team that includes Beth Malone, who earned a Tony Award nomination for originating the role of Alison Bechdel in Fun Home, and Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls, who composed the score.
The project also boasts producers Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach, and Tig Notaro—three women who have each helped expand the visibility of LGBTQ+ voices in American culture.
Perhaps the most refreshing aspect of Starstruck is that it tells a love story rarely seen on major stages: a queer woman in midlife discovering romance. As Glennon Doyle noted, many of life’s greatest love stories begin well after our twenties, yet theater has rarely reflected that reality.
Taken together, these productions point to something larger than a successful season. They suggest that lesbian stories are no longer confined to the margins. Whether it’s a joyful comedy about a lesbian choir, a musical celebrating solidarity and activism, or a fresh take on one of literature’s great romances, audiences are embracing stories that reflect the richness and diversity of lesbian lives.
Across the Atlantic, another exciting production is taking center stage. Pride recently opened in London and is set in the summer of 1984. With miners on strike across the country, 24-year-old activist Mark Ashton tries to rally a disparate group of gay men and lesbians into supporting the beleaguered miners. Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) quickly finds itself entwined with a small mining village in South Wales.
For readers of Your Lesbian World, that’s something worth applauding. Theater has always helped us imagine who we are and who we can become. Today, more of those stories are finally placing lesbian characters where they belong—center stage.
Your Lesbian World Newsletter™, published by LesbianEarth.com, is a growing national community and digital publication for lesbian+ and queer women featuring news, culture, relationships, travel, wellness, events, retreats, music, friendship, and real-life queer connection.
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