The musical adaptation of the 2014 hit film is a must-see at the National Theatre
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGES BY MANUEL HARLAN
The new musical adaptation of the hit 2014 film Pride should come with three warnings. One: you will smile until your cheeks hurt. Two: you will cry – really ugly cry – throughout. Three: you will want to go dancing after, preferably somewhere playing disco.
Based on the award-winning film of the same name, Pride tells the incredible true story of the formation of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM). Set during the 1984 miners’ strike, a group of queer friends band together to help raise funds for a small village in South Wales. What follows is an unlikely bond between two groups fighting the same enemy (Thatcher) and a tale of how solidarity is essential for freedom for all.
Directed by Matthew Warchus and written by Stephen Beresford, the musical is utterly spectacular and gorgeously queer. Audiences first meet the band of soon-to-be activists at a Pride march, where Mark (Jhon Lumsden) has decided to round up buckets to collect money for the striking miners. In his eyes, their plight mirrors his own experience as a gay man: being villainised in the media and standing up against an oppressive, conservative government. Soon, the merry group find themselves taken in by a small Welsh village where they break down barriers, offer solidarity and support, and do a pretty iconic disco sequence.
Courtney Stapleton utterly shines in the role of Steph, the no-nonsense dyke who holds the group together. Fans of the original film will be pleased to know that the “Every woman is a lesbian at heart” scene is just as hilarious. From comedic highs to dance breaks, Steph’s character is multi-faceted and really, really funny. In a particularly emotional moment, Steph leads a song dedicated to the lives lost during the Aids epidemic, leaving not a single dry eye in the theatre.
On the whole, the cast delivers knock-out performances. Samuel Barnett takes on the role of Jonathan, the gay elder who is deliciously flamboyant and has the most divine tap number in the second act. Sarah Pugh blows the roof off as Siân, a Welsh mother who desperately longs to do more with her life. Gillian Elisa steals the spotlight every time she comes on stage as the ever-curious Gwen.
The musical’s ability to weave seamlessly from emotional ballads about feeling lost in the world to huge protest chants is exactly why it works so well. It encompasses the joy, the pain, the despair and the hope that this period of history represents.
Pride is in the Dorfman theatre until 12 September 2026. Pride is presented by P&P Productions with the National Theatre in association with Pathé, Calamity Films and David Binder Productions.
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