Cruise is the most essential gay play in town right now – review
Cruise was the first play we saw in 2021, as we finally emerged out of lockdown after several months. Having not seen anything on the stage for quite some time, we described it as “a potent reminder of the power of live theatre” before awarding it a perfect score.
It was also the first play we’d seen since watching It’s A Sin; Cruise explores similar themes during the same era, and is every inch as powerful as Russell T Davies’ seminal hit TV show.
Focusing on London’s gay scene during the 1980s, we found it to be hilarious, heartwarming and poignant in equal measure. We’re pleased to report that – returning to London’s West End, in a new, bigger home at the Apollo Theatre – this Olivier-nominated play is just as good second time around.
For context, it tells the story of a recent-past which sees Jack, a young volunteer at LGBTQ+ charity Switchboard, take a call from an older gay man, Michael.
