London Theatre Doc interview with Sam Danson

Daddy’s First Gay Date comes to Seven Dials Playhouse with heart and bite. Sam Danson talks rom com structure, masculinity, late in life coming out and why northern stories matter.

Why use a classic rom com frame to tell a northern working class queer story?

When I was working on this next show, I immediately knew I wanted to use the structure of a rom com, and apply it to places and people rarely seen within that genre. So few of them represent northern voices, working class voices, or non white voices.

The more gritty and serious elements also came along naturally. It would not feel authentic to explore these themes without the difficulties people often face when going through them. Coming out as queer at any time can be difficult, and coming out later in life comes with a whole other set of challenges.

Parenthood, class and race issues are being scrutinised in our society and media. It is something the whole creative team is passionate about addressing, and I am glad we have found a way of doing that while keeping a high energy, comedic and ultimately uplifting show.

Why begin right at the breaking point for Ben?

Throwing the character straight into the mixer felt like the perfect high energy way to begin. If I started with him figuring out that he needs to leave his partner and come out as bisexual, I could have had a four hour play just about that. If people are choosing to spend their evening with this show, I want every minute to be essential to the story I am telling.

What did setting it in a northern industrial town let you do that a big city would not?

It is where I grew up so it felt natural to speak about what life is like there. I have never been to London or Manchester to see a play set in my hometown, so it felt like a great opportunity. Queer stories rarely address how different being LGBTQ plus is in a rural or industrial town compared to a metropolitan area, and it is often a very big difference.

You have reunited with Rikki Beadle Blair after BI TOPIA. How has working with a leading LGBTQ plus artist shaped this new piece?

Rikki is genuinely inspiring to work with. Every time we work together, I learn so much, not just about writing or performing, but also about how to be an authentic advocate for under represented stories, and how to forge a career in the arts. I feel very lucky to have worked with him on my first two projects and they would not be the same without him.

What has most surprised you in rehearsal?

We had to pre record a few sounds for this show, one of those was a pregnancy fitness instructor. During the table read, Rikki filled in for that part. We were going to hire somebody for that role, but Rikki was so naturally hilarious and outrageous that he had to be the one we recorded.

Tim’s arc with Dior Clarke looks at Black working class experience and racism within the queer community. How did you write his story with honesty and care?

I was in regular communication with Rikki, and I cast Dior Clarke before writing the character. That let me build Tim around him, and his experiences. Tim is fictional, but Dior’s real voice comes through.

His character is beyond my own lived experiences, so listening was essential, as was creating an open dialogue and a safe room in rehearsal.

What do you hope people chat about in the pub after the show?

I hope they have been entertained and are sharing favourite jokes or awkward moments. The best compliment is when people tell us how much they related to it. As with BI TOPIA, I want people to use the show to start conversations about their own experiences they have not voiced before.

BI TOPIA explored bisexual identity with humour and depth. How does Daddy’s First Gay Date continue that conversation and what is new?

The lead character Ben is bisexual, which feels important, as it is another chance to increase representation of bisexual characters. It lets me bring more of my own lived experiences.

This second show goes beyond my own lived experiences though, and I wanted that challenge. The show uses humour to talk about serious and under represented issues. For me that is a great way to get an audience onside and connect with the work.

You took BI TOPIA from Manchester to Edinburgh and Glastonbury. What lessons from touring and audience feedback feed into this London run?

I love sticking around after a show to chat to the audience. It is great to see how the work connects with a wide variety of people. I am always rewriting, so if enough people feed back the same thing, I can make tweaks.

What do you wish someone had told you before you started writing your first show?

Enjoy it. It is hard to enjoy rehearsal when you are stressed about the end product, and it is hard to enjoy the shows when you are stressed about the next one. I try my best to enjoy it more now.

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Daddy’s First Gay Date

Seven Dials Playhouse

28 October to 16 November

Book tickets here