After the Act Tickets
About After the Act
Don’t miss After the Act; following its acclaimed national tour, the documentary musical comes to the Royal Court Theatre. Book After the Act Tickets on TodayTix.
See this piece of verbatim theatre, which tells the story of Section 28, a law beginning in 1988 that banned the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools. Based on first-hand interviews, the gripping tale tells the true story of shame, trauma, and loneliness for those who grew up gay under Section 28—from church-based conversion therapy to a closeted teacher and students trying to come to terms with their sexuality, this musical is a poignant tale of resistance in the face of adversity.
The talented cast includes Calie Hough (Showstopper! The Improvised Musical), Ericka Posadas (Your Lie In April), Nkara Stephenson (Heartstopper), Zachary Willis (The Naughty List), Ellice Stevens, and Frew.
Run time
2hr. Incl. 1 Interval.
Venue
Categories
Age
Ages 14+.
Start date
21st May, 2025
End date
14th June, 2025
Venue
Directions
Location: Off-West End
Railway station: Sloane Square
Bus numbers: (Sloane Square Station Stop D) 19, 22, 137, 452
More information about After the Act
After the Act is a musical by Breach Theatre (Wannabe, Joan of Leeds), written by Billy Barrett and Ellice Stevens.
As Barrett explained, “Audiences can expect to be moved, entertained. And hopefully inspired by the stories of those who spoke out against a really repressive, censorious law.”
The creative team for After the Act in London includes direction by Billy Barrett, music by Frew, set and costume design by Bethany Wells, lighting design by Jodie Underwood, choreography by Sung-Im Her, and sound design by Ed Clarke.
The Manchester Evening News 4-star review said of the musical, “As the show, directed by Billy Barrett, flips between different moments in Section 28’s lifetime, there is often a sense of recognition and familiarity that comes from the audience - lingering from an occasional chuckle as someone remembers a certain occasion from their own perspective, or a collective sigh from others as the ugly examples of homophobia refuses to be glossed over by the cast.”
What to watch for
- Breach Theatre, who created After the Act, has been around since 2015 when they earned a Total Theatre Award for The Beanfield at the Edinburgh Fringe.
- The idea for After the Act came when the 20th anniversary of the repeal of Section 28 was coming up in 2023; that’s when Billy Barrett suggested to Frew and Ellice Stevens that they create a musical about it.
- Many interviews were conducted for this show, as Barrett said, “Oddly enough, the very first person that we interviewed for the show was Sir Ian McKellen. He was a really key figure in the fight against Section 28 and the establishment of what became Stonewall. They are the UK’s leading LGBT campaigning organisation.”
- There are some parallels between this historical story and what’s happening today. Barrett told The Guardian, “The discourse is being rerun today in the hysteria around trans rights. Our show is saying: ‘Does this ring any bells?’”
Frequently asked questions
What is After the Act about?
Don’t miss After the Act; following its acclaimed national tour the documentary musical comes to the Royal Court Theatre. Based on first-hand interviews, the gripping tale tells the story of Section 28, which was a law beginning in 1988 that banned the ‘promotion’ of homosexuality in schools.
Which theatre is After the Act at?
After the Act is at London's Royal Court, which is located at Sloane Square, London, SW1W 8AS.
What is the running time of After the Act?
After the Act runs for 2hr. Incl. 1 Interval.
How do you get tickets for After the Act?
Check the top of this page for current availability and exclusive offers on After the Act tickets on TodayTix.
What is the age recommendation for After the Act?
Ages 14+.
How much are tickets for After the Act?
After the Act tickets start at £18.
Is After the Act good?
After the Act is an impactful verbatim musical that highlights real stories of those who grew up under Section 28—these stories tell of loneliness and shame, but also of hope and resistance.
Who wrote After the Act?
Ellice Stevens and Billy Barrett of Breach Theatre are the writers of the play.
Who directed After the Act?
Billy Barrett directs the show.
Is After the Act appropriate for kids?
This show includes themes of homophobia, child abuse, and references to suicide, so it’s best for children ages 14 and above.
What songs are in After the Act?
The 80s electronic dance score utilizes first-hand interviews with those impacted by Section 28 and turns their words into songs.
Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.