Using true stories from a teenage diary kept by Beth Watson, Hasbian (noun: a former lesbian) is an autobiographical comedy about coming out as a lesbian only to discover that boys are also appealing.
Created using Beth’s real diaries, nineties and noughties music, and animated projections of teen-movie actors from the era, Hasbian tells a story of growing up queer in Brighton under Section 28, (the 1988 – 2003 law prohibiting the “teaching of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship”). The creation of the show is inspired by the popular Queer Diary reading events created and hosted by Beth, where LGBTQIA+ adults are invited to read extracts from their teenage diaries to a live audience, in the spirit of celebration, solidarity and silliness. Dripping in equal measures with heartfelt earnestness and sharp irony, Hasbian exposes queerphobia in seemingly the most liberal of cities.
Beth Watson said, “Making Hasbian has felt like a time-travelling collaboration with my teenage-self. Reading my old diary is like jumping back to the 00s (but with an adult perspective, to help unpick what was going on). Looking back to that era has been surprisingly joyful: Considering we weren’t allowed to be taught anything outside of heteronormativity, it’s affirming to see how clear it is that I was always Queer. There was nothing the government could do to stop me! My coming-of-age years were unusual: growing up in Brighton, I got to see But I’m A Cheerleader at the cinema and experimented with both girlfriends AND boyfriends (sometimes simultaneously). But despite a relatively liberated upbringing, Hasbian reveals adolescent angst that’s relatable for many people – when life doesn’t provide the happy-ever-after arc that teen movies sold us!
When I host Queer Diary nights, audiences often want to hear more of my weird (sometimes wild) teenage diary. It’s been a dream working with a team of incredible Queer creatives to bring Hasbian to life at Omnibus: a theatre who’ve championed this project since the start. I hope this rollercoaster ride through 00s Brighton will bring a lot of laughs to Queer audiences, as well as a reflection on how important it is for young people (where-ever their hometown, however supportive their home-life) to have proper access to inclusive education and positive cultural representation that reflects all the identities and histories under the LGBTQIA+ rainbow.”
Beth Watson is a performer, writer and the host of Queer Diary as well as the founder of queer feminist theatre organisation Bechdel Theatre and co-host of Bechdel Theatre Podcast. Other work includes Leave Something To Remember at Stanley Arts; Sing-derella at Omnibus Theatre; MANdemic at VAULT Festival, Omnibus Theatre, and Camden People’s Theatre.
All performances of Hasbian are relaxed, (audiences are free to come-and-go, and move about the space), contain audio description which has been creatively integrated as part of the show (created in consultation with Quiplash), and feature projected captioning designed by Edalai Day.
Omnibus Theatre’s Festival 96 is London’s only queer arts festival under one roof, with an eclectic fest of theatre, comedy, cabaret, music, art and activism that’s named in honour of the year when Clapham Common hosted the Pride after-party. The festival is headlined by Joe Carstairs (4 – 22 June), an exploration of the power boat-racer, war hero and one of 20th century’s boldest queer figures; and GEORGE (25 June – 14 July) a show inspired by the true story of queer French playwright George Sand and the correspondence shared with potential lover Marie Doval.
Hasbian is at Omnibus Theatre 25th – 29th June
