Our 1972 at Riverside Studios Review
Written by Becky K for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Following its sell-out debut at The Hope Theatre last year, Springbok’s queer rom-com, ‘Our 1972’, returns to Riverside Studios. Simplistically yet emotively written, the hour-long show delivers successful storytelling of a relationship that fills you with butterflies while making a clear demonstration of the importance of queer history and its relevance today.
Set during a groundbreaking moment of queer British history, Our 1972 follows the love story of Benjamin (Peter Hadfield) and Andrew (Josh Maughan) after meeting at London School of Economics. Ben, a ‘laddy’ first team cricketer, strikes up a connection with smart yet stubborn politics classmate Andy, who is looking to keep his head down at university in fear of being judged for his sexuality. As the unlikely pairing’s relationship intensifies, they plan to be a part of the first ever Gay Pride march in London, claiming 1972 to be their year.
Director Joshua Dowden does a great job of building Ben and Andy’s relationship. From their first awkward encounter on the train, to their painful disputes, Dowden establishes a clear dynamic between the two from the get go. Ben is enthusiastic yet naive, energetically embracing his new queer identity within himself. Andy however, is more reserved, initially sceptical about their relationship and terrified of the consequences of being publicly gay. This, accompanied by the thoughtful movement direction from Dowden and the intimacy director, Foxy, brought across some electric on stage chemistry between Hadfield and Maughan. Every kiss, embrace and act of affection between the two was carried out with purpose and sensitivity, leaving a heartwarming impression throughout the performance.
Despite their strong relationship development, there could have been further exploration of Ben and Andy as individual characters. While Hadfield’s portrayal of Ben was delivered with endearing enthusiasm, his constant positivity and immediate acceptance of his new-found identity felt confusing to watch in the historical context the show was placed in. While Dowden made the right choice of not including predictable scenes of Ben trying to hide his relationship with his male peers as seen in a lot of film and TV, there were perhaps missed opportunities to explore realisation in his narrative and add moments of jeopardy to his character. Likewise, Maughan’s performance as Andy was sometimes one-tone, with the persistently-conflicted, nature-denying moments of showing Andy’s true self and breaking down those protective barriers.
The set, designed by Tobias Abbott, made for some simple yet effective imagery, with a table and a chair on each side of the stage that could be used to represent the same or multiple different spaces. A lovely visual includes when Ben and Andy attend a screening of Cabaret, where they push the chairs in the middle and have a projection of the film in the background. It would have been nice to see more projections displayed in the performance, potentially incorporating archival footage from the LGBTQ movement in the 70s to reinforce the historical context.
Activism remained a strong theme throughout, with Dowden tying up the show nicely in its ending at that first Gay Pride march. The presentation of Ben’s women’s rights activist mother (Mark Carlisle) reinforced the importance of standing up for those you don’t identify with, because it is the right thing to do, while poignantly accepting Ben coming out to her over the phone. This theme is highlighted at the end, where the actors turn over their pride placard to reveal a Trans Lives Matter message, reflecting why Pride parades are still so important to this day and standing with those who are still being persecuted by the government and society.
Overall, Our 1972 is a joyful queer romance that flowed with the natural humour and charm of a Richard Curtis film. While there’s room for further development, the play’s strong heart makes for an incredibly enjoyable hour.
Our 1972 played at Riverside Studios
★ ★ ★
