Review of ‘Detention’: “Don’t say gay — scream it out”

The Gary Clarke company opens this new dance montage, depicting the consequences of the infamous Section 28. Guillermo Nazara shares his views on the show, to let us know if audiences have an inalianable right to be gay about it.

I may speak posher than the King of England and be more flamboyant than Dame Edna. But underneath all that glittering fabulousness I can’t help radiating, I’m still just another extraordinary boy from Spain. I may not have lived through Section 28 — a spiteful legal embarrassment that protected nothing but hatred. Yet, the suffering and involution it caused to the LGBT+ community resonates with every member. Regardless of the place or era, all of us have found ourselves pinned under the grip of bigotry and ignorance — and though we always get back on our feet no matter how many times they try to crush us, these are wounds that never fully close.

As Pride month takes its first steps this year, and homophobes around the world vocalize their anger to the amusement of anyone with half a brain, the London scene gets even gayer (if that’s at all possible) with the opening of new shows bringing all types of queer stories to the stage. Amidst this rainbow-coated wave of pink-powered spectacles, London’s The Place hosted last night the opening of Detention — a dance montage combining movement, tiny bits of spoken dialogue, and conceptual video designs to portray the burden the Government forced upon LGBT+ people for committing the heinous crime of existing.

It’s painful to watch at so many moments. But that’s what makes it so genuinely good. From amusing reenactments of Thatcher’s gay-threat warnings to savage depictions of school bullying, the piece takes us on a stirring journey of art and advocacy — holding a mirror into our present, letting its reflection materialize by looking into the past. It captivates the viewer almost immediately, filling them with conflicting sentiments of fury, resilience, frustration, and encouragement — and it makes the most striking statement by uttering next to no words.

The visual poetry of its execution and the crude reality it encapsulates form an untarnished symbiosis. Some of the things you’ll see will disgust you. And yet, you’ll never want to stop looking. It’s beautifully staged — with no more elements than a black-box space containing some scattered prop chairs, tables, and flags. On top of it, its intricate lighting enhances a masterfully constructed emotional atmosphere — serving as a perfect example of how the direst subject can lead to the most enchanting evening, as long as it’s true artistry that takes the wheel.

The company does an excellent job of drawing out the piece’s poignancy. Featuring a mixture of professional performers and community actors, their chemistry, rooted in their rapport and honest connection with the themes, is remarkably palpable. There are blemishes in their delivery — but to some extent, that’s what accentuates the visceral strike of the material. In the end, their passion and versatility counterbalance the rare moments when the show loses part of its fuel.

Four years ago, in the country where I come from, a young man was bludgeoned to death by a group of 10 men and women — it all started when he was called ‘a bloody fag’, and those were the last words he heard before he was gone. In a time when even the simplest notions of human decency are at stake in allegedly advanced nations, theatre should reclaim its role of philosophical guidance more than ever.

Gary Clarker’s Detention honours that commitment by bringing thought, pathos, and meaning into their endeavour. There’s nothing edgy or groundbreaking about it, but the fire it holds within is more than enough not to need it. It’s soulful and unfeigned. And above all, it exudes love, vigour, and determination. It will give you the strength to get out on the streets and keep shouting while wishing Maggie Thatcher a very Merry Christmas — and probably J.K. Rowling, too, for that matter.

All pictures credit to Joe Armitage.

Detention plays at London’s The Place until 7 June. Tickets are available on the following link.

By Guillermo Nazara