Calling all StageSiders, welcome back to another review here at StageSideUK! This time, we’ve stepped back into Thatcher’s era with Gary Clarke Company’s Detention at Northern Stage. A work rooted in history, politics, and protest, this is a production that doesn’t shy away from difficult truths.
Disclaimer: I was gifted two free press ticket in exchange for an honest review of the show.
Detention takes Section 28 (the 1988 law that banned the “promotion of homosexuality”) and places it firmly in its social and political context. It doesn’t just tackle the devastating effect this legislation had on the LGBT+ community, it also explores the wider landscape of the time: industrial unrest, the miners’ strikes, and the looming shadow of the AIDS crisis. The result is a work that feels poignant, informative, and fiercely important.
I have to admit, I really didn’t know much about Section 28 before now and, as far as I am concerned, that’s exactly why works like this matter.
One of the most moving elements is the use of real transcripts from the Lesbian and Gay Switchboard logbooks. We hear voices pulled straight from history: a young man thrown out of home, a woman terrified of losing her children, a man grappling with an HIV diagnosis. It was kind of haunting, but in a really thought-provoking way. These authentic testimonies cut through the interpretive style of the piece and root the whole show in a lived reality. These laws had direct, devastating consequences on so many people yet its a topic rarely taught or discussed.
The choreography of the show is powerful and raw as it weaves together moments of working-class grit, personal stories, and protest movement energy. Video, sound, and physical theatre combine to create an atmosphere that’s as unsettling as it is moving, a reminder of both oppression and resilience.
That said, the work leans heavily into interpretation. For me, that was both its strength and its challenge. I tend to prefer more literal storytelling, so at times I found myself on the outside looking in. But that’s not necessarily a criticism of the production itself, but a personal taste. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I wanted to attend. I think it’s important to see work that pushes you out of your comfort zone, and Detention certainly did that for me.
The professional company dancers alongside an on-stage narrator deliver performances that are powerful, precise, and provoking. Alongside them, five local LGBT+ community participants (aged 40+) join the stage, bringing their lived experience to the work. Their heartfelt performances add an authenticity that no amount of rehearsal could replicate. Whether deep in a scene or simply standing present, their presence grounds the piece in the voices of those directly affected.
On the technical side, I did find the sound design overwhelming at times. The volume was occasionally so high that it was hard to hear spoken words clearly, and I spent much of the performance wishing I’d brought my Loops. It’s worth flagging too that the show uses loud noises and flashing lights, which may affect audience members with sensory sensitivities.
Accessibility:
In terms of accessibility, Northern Stage is a welcoming venue, but the sensory impact of the production itself could be challenging for some. The company may benefit from noting this more explicitly in future runs.
Value for money:
On value for money, tickets at £12 feel more than fair for a production of this scale and ambition. What you get is not just a dance-theatre performance, but a piece of living history brought to the stage and one that amplifies the voices and experiences of those who lived through Section 28.
Overall, Detention is poignant and unapologetically political. It won’t be for everyone, and for me, it was sometimes too interpretive, but that’s part of its purpose. It demands you think, reflect, and confront a period of British history that too often goes unspoken. 4 out of 5 stars from me.
Have your say!
Have you seen Detention? How do you feel about storytelling via contemporary dancing? Let me know in the comments and let’s get a discussion going.
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Featured images have been referenced and are used in line with fair usage, in the copyright act.
Jonathan Harper