Review: Margaret Thatcher – Queen of Soho at The Rep, Birmingham

★★★★★

Created by Olivier Award winner Jon Brittain and Matt Tedford, Margaret Thatcher – Queen of Soho imagines a world in which, on the eve of the vote on Section 28, Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher gets lost in Soho (the heart of the LGBTQ+ community in London) and accidentally becomes a cabaret superstar. Will her night of glitter and dancing change her mind on this homophobic bill before it’s too late?

The smash-hit, drag extravaganza runs at The Rep, Birmingham for a limited time, following five sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe, UK tours and a West End season. Promising to be more fabulous than ever, this big gay odyssey dives into the late 80s exploring the political career of the Iron Lady in cabaret format, with some liberties taken, of course.

Matt Tedford reprises the titular role of Margaret Thatcher with sharply satirical humour that connects directly with audiences. Meanwhile, Paul Heath returns to the role of Hessell and Michael Clarke takes on the role of Tine, both serving classic 80s moustachioed gays in tank tops, shorts and timberland boots. Bringing fabulously silly comedy as they introduce cameos from activist figures including Peter Tatchell and Sir Ian McKellen, and political figures including simpering caricatures of Tory MPs and the historical voice of Winston Churchill.

Margaret Thatcher – Queen of Soho takes a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history and gives it a sparkling twist. A drag cabaret show meets pantomime meets jukebox musical, we join Maggie as she faces inner turmoil over LGBTQ+ rights on the cusp of a change that will bring a devasting impact to queer lives, that echo through the decades that follow. Surprisingly though, Thatcher is not the villain of the piece; that role is handed over to Jill Knight, who introduced the section 28 amendment.

This gloriously gay and wonderfully camp production is full of classic gay bar musical hits, alongside biting swings at Thatcher’s policies, not only on LGBTQ+ rights but also exploring topics including the miner’s strikes and the war in the Falkland Islands. Even contemporary politics isn’t safe from Soho Maggie, with piercingly topical punches on issues like Brexit, immigration, river pollution, privatisation, the current Labour government, and of course the ‘Think of the Children’ rhetoric that mimics the 80s attacks on the community.

Ridiculously and riotously fabulous, Margaret Thatcher – Queen of Soho is a brilliantly fun production with a heart of powerful political protest. With anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric on the rise and a new ‘Section 28’ posing a very real threat to trans lives and rights in British society, this satirical and politically punching production is, unfortunately, still extremely timely. If only all politicians could stumble into the glittering underworld of LGBTQ+ venues, and find the queer joy that is truly at the heart of the community and, indeed, this show too.

Margaret Thatcher – Queen of Soho is only in Birmingham until Saturday 25^th October so grab tickets while you can!

This review was written following a press invite to the production.