Leeds Playhouse – until 28 October, then on UK Tour until November 2023
Reviewed by Dawn Smallwood
5*****
Jonathan Harvey’s Beautiful Thing first premiered in 1993 at the London’s Bush Theatre. Thirty years later it returns with a new revival, co-produced by Stratford East, Leeds Playhouse and HOME Manchester.
The play is about two teenage boys, Ste (Raphael Akuwudike) and Jamie (Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran), neighbours on a housing estate in Southeast London. The boys are so different and yet they are experiencing bullying, Jamie in school and Ste in the home. When Ste faces a crisis at home, he turns to Jamie and seeks refuge in his flat and soon a relationship between them is formed. Unknowingly and knowingly, they learn from one another how to articulate their honest feelings, affirm their sexuality and come to terms with coming out. Set in the background of family, community and friendship spheres, both boys explore what it is like to be in love and turning sixteen.
The title of the play sums up how the story is beautifully, thoughtfully and sensitively told and it narrates about navigation of life and love and its challenges, which resonates well today individually, collectively and in society. Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike there are excellent portrayals from Owokoniran as Jamie and Akuwudike as Ste. Owokoniran and Akuwudike are robustly supported by rest of the cast with Shvorne Marks as Sandra (Jamie’s Mum), Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge as Tony (Sandra’s young man) and Scarlett Rayner as Leah (a lonesome teenage neighbour).
Rosie Elnile’s set represents the housing estate neighbourhood the boys live in, and the space is used well for the narration of the story. The set is complimented with Elliot Griggs’ lighting and the music and sounds of the 1990s from XANA.
Beautiful Thing is beautifully told with humour with touches of deliberations, poignancy, reflections and hopes for the future. An unmissable production which is highly recommended.