Beautiful Thing

Beautiful Thing

★★★★★ “One of the funniest, most uplifting and wonderfully optimistic queer love stories ever” Attitude
★★★★★ “a very human story that defies you not to leave the theatre wrapped in a warm, nostalgic glow” The Telegraph
★★★★ “A tender-hearted triumph” The Guardian
★★★★ “As timeless as ever” Evening Standard
★★★★ “This production is quite the beautiful thing” Time Out

Written by Jonathan Harvey
Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike

Teenage boys Ste and Jamie are neighbours on a South London estate. Jamie is more knowledgeable about The Sound of Music than football, while classmate Ste never misses a sports day. Both are being bullied, Jamie at school and Ste at home by his violent father and brother. One night, when things get too much, Ste seeks refuge in Jamie's flat and, sharing a bed, the boys strike up a new relationship. Together they come to terms with their sexuality and explore their feelings alongside their Mama Cass loving, rebellious friend Leah and with the much-needed emotional support of Jamie's lioness mother, Sandra.

Raphael Akuwudike and Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran play Ste and Jamie in this 30th-anniversary revival of Jonathan Harvey's iconic, coming-out and coming-of-age story, alongside Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge as Tony, Shvorne Marks as Sandra, and Scarlett Rayner as Leah.

A Theatre Royal Stratford East, Leeds Playhouse and HOME, Manchester Production.

Concessions
Available for under 17s

Click here for details about companion/carer tickets

Schools Rates
Newham schools: £12 per person
All other schools: £14 per person

Group Bookings
If you buy nine standard rate tickets then you get the 10th free. Group bookings (of nine or more tickets) can only be booked over the phone or in person.

Booking Enquiries
Our online booking system doesn’t allow customers to leave isolated seats. We do this in order to prevent gaps in the auditorium.

Currently seats are on sale from Row B in the stalls, and it is possible that Row A will go on sale at a later date, so please be aware that purchasing seats in Row B does not guarantee that you will be in the front row.

Please note that our boxes have a slightly restricted view. Seats marked with an ‘i’ on the seating plan have a restricted view.

If you require any help with your booking then please contact our Box Office by emailing tickets@stratfordeast.com or calling 020 8534 0310.

Our ticket prices increase as the theatre fills. We always recommend booking early to secure the best seats at the best price.

CAST
Ste Raphael Akuwudike
Tony Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge 
Sandra Shvorne Marks 
Jamie Rilwan Abiola Owokoniran 
Understudy Jamie Kojo Quainoo 
Leah Scarlett Rayner

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CREATIVES
Writer Jonathan Harvey
Director Anthony Simpson-Pike
Set & Costume Designer Rosie Elnile
Lighting Designer Elliot Griggs
Sound Designer Xana
Movement & Intimacy Director Annie-Lunnette Deakin-Foster
Casting Director Isabella Odoffin CDG
Associate Director Robert Awosusi
Voice & Dialect Coach Joel Trill
Fight Director Bret Yount
Costume Supervisor Jackie Orton
Production Dramatherapist Wabriya King
Casting Assistant Joanna Sturrock
Design Associates Hazel Low, Noemi Daboczi
Sound Assistant Kayode Gomez

Associate Director position funded by Fenton Arts Trust, Idlewild Trust and Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation.

PRODUCTION
Production Manager Jess Harwood  
Deputy Production Manager Daniel Steward 
Company Stage Manager Vanessa Sutherland  
Deputy Stage Manager Chloe Chancheong 
Assistant Stage Manager Phoebe Francis 
Stage Manager for Leeds & Manchester Rachel Rieley  
Head of Lighting Charlie Mann 
Lighting Deputy Bram Walkling-Lea 
Head of Sound Jeremy George 
Wardrobe Manager Bethany Dover  
Set Builders Ridiculous Solutions  

More Information

Age guidance: 14+ (click here for Content Advisory Notes)

 

Running time: approx. 120 minutes (including an interval)


Access Performances:
BSL interpreted: Thu 28 Sep, 7.30pm 
Captioned: Fri 29 Sep, 7.30pm
Audio Described: Sat 30 Sep, 2.30pm
Relaxed Environment: Sat 23 Sep, 2.30pm 
Masked and Socially Distanced: Tue 19 Sep, 7.30pm

 

Pay What You Can performance (what's this?): Tue 12 Sep, 7.30pm

 

Post-show Events:
Thu 28 Sep
Fri 06 Oct
Read more

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