GATEWAY TO HEAVEN: By Clare Summerskill

Tour

GATEWAY TO HEAVEN
by Clare Summerskill

Runs: 1hr 45mins. Interval: 15 min
Review: Ranjit Khutan: Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton. 4th March 2005

Memories are made into this.From Gateways' - the first gay club in London - to the still hugely popular club Heaven' Clare Summerskill catalogues and records Lesbian and Gay history in the UK over four decades from the 1940's to the 1970's.

Summerskill interviewed 26 people about their memories of being gay. The stories presented in this play are written entirely from the memories of these older lesbians and gay men. The contributions span the variety of social and ethnic backgrounds and outline experiences of living as a distinct minority in a world where the majority of people didn't even recognise homosexuality and where lesbians and gay men were significantly more constrained, both legally and socially, than they are today.

The cast play a variety of characters and slip into each of these with an ease and fluidity that carries you with them through their experiences and emotions. The journey isn't easy it's a rocky ride where we are quickly moved from feelings of great sadness when we hear that people's children are taken away from them to the sense of loneliness as men and women had to hide their feelings.

And to the feelings of strength they gain from a political fight with the majority around them to obtain basic equality and affirm that they are as good as the NAFs' ('Normal as fuck's).

We are witness to tender moments of love that was, or love that could have been, but on the whole we are reminded of the discrimination these people faced - where expressing love would result in violence or even a prison sentence.

Fear of blackmail meant that gay men and women did not write any thing down - love letters were not sent to each other, diary entries avoided and stories not written. Summerskill has catalogued these memories so that they are not lost: memories both personal and political, including events in the lives of individuals, the CHE (Commission for Homosexual Equality) and GLF (Gay Liberation Front).

As you would expect with a gay and lesbian play there is plenty of humour, but this is managed sensitively and used to highlight past struggles and also highlight issues that are still unresolved today. Regardless of your sexuality this play won't cease to enlighten and entertain from beginning to end.

Cast:
Paul Cawley
Richard Hansell
Alwyne Taylor
Clare Summerskill

Director: Kate Crutchley
Designers: Kate Klinger, Belle Mundy
Lighting: Crin Claxton

2005-03-13 02:47:03