Hasbian

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?

Beth’s real teenage diary is brought to life in vivid hilarity in Hasbian: a ‘simultaneously relatable and educational…unique insight on growing up queer in the 90s‘ (A Young-ish Perspective). Original animations, inspired by teen magazines, feature an all-star 00’s fantasy cast (in cut-out form), as Beth’s BFFs and first crushes are re-imagined, ‘played by’ 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 delves behind the rollercoaster of teenage life, into the reality 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”.

Set to a soundtrack of Y2K pop classics (B*Witched, Destiny’s Child, S Club), and indie angst anthems (Placebo, Weezer, Garbage), 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.

Supported by Arts Council England.

★★★★★ A Young-ish Perspective

★★★★ ‘Skilfully integrates both audio description and surtitles…It’s a bit Clarissa Explains It All if Clarissa was talking about having gay sex at sleepovers and seeing their Geography teacher in hot pants at Brighton Pride’ To Do List

★★★★ ‘An incredibly funny, charismatic performer, who absolutely embraces the silliness of the piece, whilst bringing earnest truth throughout’ West End With Me