De/Construction(s) of Gay Men in Twenty-First Century British Theatre: 2001—2016

Hussain, Hassan Tassawar (2025) De/Construction(s) of Gay Men in Twenty-First Century British Theatre: 2001—2016. Doctoral thesis, Birmingham City University.

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Abstract

This study gives critical attention to the representation(s) of gay men in twenty-first century mainstream British theatre. In doing so, this research furthers discussions surrounding the development of British gay theatre by exploring how gay playwrights de/construct gay characters in their plays. Focusing on Mark Ravenhill’s Mother Clap’s Molly House (2001), Alexi Kaye Campbell’s The Pride (2008), Jonathan Harvey’s Canary (2010), John Donnelly’s The Pass (2014), and John Fitzpatrick’s This Much (or an Act of Violence Towards the Institution of Marriage) (2016) as case studies, I propose that these playwrights reject the rise of homonormativity. In doing so, I argue these playwrights utilise the British stage to offer alternative narratives that focus largely on the (re)invention of gay identities through staging a dialogue between the past and present.

Using queer theory as a theoretical framework, I identify and explore three key themes that emerge from my analysis of gay narratives presented in my chosen plays that, in turn, shape the structure of my thesis: first, the importance of staging alternative queer temporalities to explore the past and present to create a better future, second, gay shame and its effect on the de/construction of gay identities, And third, the staging of queer utopias that challenge the notion of homonormativity for gay men. In the pages that follow, I explore the ways in which contemporary mainstream British gay playwrights construct their gay characters and their comment on gay identities.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Dates:	Date Event 30 May 2025 Accepted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Gay, Queer, Theatre, Gay Men, Twenty-First Century British Theatre, Contemporary British Theatre, Queer Theory, Sexuality, Performance, Homonormativity, Homocuriosity, Gay Shame, Gay Pride, Queer Identity, Identities, Gay Playwriting, Playwriting, Gay Playwrights
Subjects:	CAH19 - language and area studies > CAH19-01 - English studies > CAH19-01-03 - literature in English
Divisions:	Doctoral Research College > Doctoral Theses Collection Faculty of Arts, Design and Media > College of English and Media
Depositing User:	Louise Muldowney
Date Deposited:	12 Jun 2025 09:37
Last Modified:	12 Jun 2025 09:37
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16425

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