Play documents Liverpool’s hidden gay culture of 1980s – Liverpool Echo
A heartfelt tale of love and loss in the heart of a struggling Liverpool was inspired by the city’s hidden nightlife of the 1980s.
Birkenhead playwright Laura Lees, 38, was inspired by stories told by her uncle, Mark Lees, who was a DJ at the Masquerade Bar in the days of Section 28 [the law that prohibited the “promotion of homosexuality” in Britain] and the AIDS crisis, which covered Britain’s gay community under a cloak of fear.
Her new play, Masquerade, is based on the real-life experiences of Liverpool’s LGBT+ community who gathered at the now-demolished Cases Street venue. Affectionately known as The Mazzie, the club became a safe haven in a time when being gay was demonised, and was once frequented by famous faces such as Holly Johnson, Paul O’Grady, Paul Rutherford, and Margi Clarke.
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Laura said: “It was sort of hidden away, but also very well known. I knew I wanted to dig deeper and write a play about this club. The way it was put to me was so vivid I felt it was like something I’d experienced myself.
“I decided to write a story that would show both sides – that even though it was a great time, it was also a very hard time, especially for young gay men.”
Masquerade, produced by Bill Elms and directed by James Baker, opens at the Epstein Theatre on Hanover Street next week, coinciding with Homotopia, a month-long celebration of LGBT+ love and defiance.
It follows the story of Mike (Jamie Peacock), who is torn between two worlds: the gay-friendly Masquerade Club, where he finds work as a DJ thanks to his best friend Tony (Joe Owens), and a hostile society which leads him to hide his sexuality from his parents.
Other stars include Neil MacDonald as club owner Frank, Catherine Rice as barmaid Norma, Michael Bailey as Stuart and his alter ego, the resident drag queen Judy, Joey Colasante as “DJ Elvis”, Leah Gould and Michael Latham.
Laura said: “I learned how much I had taken things for granted. I’ve never experienced that, not ever being able to be my true self, not being able to open up about who I really am. I learned what a lot of homosexual men had to go through, they had nowhere to live, were disowned by their families.
“It made me realise just know tight-knit a community the LGBT+ community is. They looked out for each other, and it was places like the Masquerade Club that became like family to these men.
“It made me realise just how easy I had it as a straight woman, and I have nothing but respect for their incredible courage and how brave they all were to stick to being true to themselves and not let the government and society get in the way of them living their lives.”
She added: “It has been amazing to see the play live on stage. It all started off as this little idea in my head, and now to actually hear the actors saying those words and seeing it all come to life is a massive achievement for me.
“I’m very proud. My biggest inspiration was my uncle and the stories he told me; if it wasn’t for him I would never have written Masquerade, so I’m very grateful for that.”
Masquerade will run at the Epstein Theatre from Tuesday, November 22, until Saturday, November 26. Tickets start at £20 and can be purchased online.
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