Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho

About This Project

Aine Flanagan, Producer

About: Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho is a drag musical comedy cabaret extravaganza starring the titular Iron Lady herself. Over the course of the show Mrs Thatcher tells the story of how the homophobic legislation Section 28 came to be, however whereas in real life it passed, in this version Maggie gets lost in Soho on the eve of the vote, realises the error of her ways, overturns the bill, and leaves Whitehall to become a gay rights championing cabaret superstar. A comedy that also has serious points to make about tolerance, the history of gay rights in the UK, and the difference one person could have made. The show was performed at festivals throughout the UK in summer 2014.

Outcomes: The show toured to the International Gay Festival in Dublin and the Brighton Fringe Festival in 2014. The company will take Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho to Leister Square Theatre, Norwich Playhouse and are in talks with the International Gay Theatre Festival to be part of the 2015 festival. The company also hopes to return to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015.

“As we used the grant for the fundamental structure of the show, the impact of the grant was massive.”