How did Beth go from a childhood dreaming of The Wizard of Oz, to cringey Cruel Intentions-obsessed adolescence? From proudly identifying as a teenage lesbian, to discovering that boys are also appealing?

Hasbian tells a true story of growing up queer in Brighton (the UK’s Gay Capital) under Section 28 (1988-2003 law, prohibiting teaching “homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”). With the help of animated magazine cut-outs, an all-star 00’s fantasy cast of iconic teen movie stars steps in, to “play” Beth’s high school friends and first crushes, comically re-imagined as the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Natasha Lyonne and Ashton Kutcher.

Dripping in equal measures with heartfelt earnestness, sharp irony, and humour that bubbles up in the place between youthful confidence and pubescent self-doubt, Hasbian fills audiences with buzzy nostalgia, while exposing prejudice in the most liberal of cities.

From the creators of Queer Diary – the night where LGBTQIA+ adults read their real teenage diaries on stage.

All performances feature projected captioning, and artistically integrated Audio Description.

“A unique insight into growing up queer in the 90’s… Hasbian is a story for our times”
★★★★★ A Young(ish) Perspective

“‘Clarissa Explains It All’, if Clarissa was talking about having gay sex at sleepovers”
★★★★ To Do List

“An incredibly funny, charismatic performer” ★★★★ West End With Me

Additional Information

Age guidance: 16+ (parental discretion advised: plot includes sexual activity and alcohol consumption amongst teenagers from 14-16)

Content warnings: whilst the tone of Hasbian is comedic, it is set in the late 90s/early 00s and contains truthful depictions of attitudes, language, and experiences of the time. This includes descriptions of bullying with use of homophobic and biphobic language, sexually predatory/objectifying behaviour, and one description of an incident of physical violence. The show also makes critical reference to contemporary transphobia.

Access: this is a relaxed performance that features both Creative Captioning & Creative Integrated Audio Description.

Venue: Studio 1, Exeter Phoenix

*Subject to a £1.50 ticketing system charge. We don’t charge this to make a profit. Find out more >>