What stories get told—and who gets to tell them?
In the Spotlight: Queer Stories On Stage is a bold and timely evening of conversation, community, and celebration centring queer voices in contemporary theatre. Join us for a dynamic panel and group discussion exploring representation and resistance in queer theatre today.
From the stories that challenge the mainstream to the moments that make us feel seen, we’ll dig into the politics, power, and possibilities of putting queer narratives centre stage.
- Featuring a panel of artists, writers, and directors pushing boundaries in UK theatre
- Open group discussion with the audience - come share your voice
- End-of-night networking with creatives, producers, and community members
Whether you’re a theatre-maker, performer, or lover of live storytelling, this is a space to connect, reflect, and imagine the future of queer theatre, together.
Panellists
@Dior Clarke
A British Jamaican actor, writer, director, and producer, Dior Clarke is driven by a deep commitment to amplifying underrepresented Black LGBTQ+, Black, and working-class voices. Their screen credits include BOYS (The Pappy Show), The Brewing Up Series (Bloody Bandit Productions), Baby Boy (Channel 4), Demon (Go Fish Films), and Batty Boy (Sky Arts), a powerful film they co-wrote and directed. On stage, they have appeared in How We Sing Our Bodies (Talawa Theatre Company), Yemi & Femi Go Windrush (Team Angelica), and Passion Fruit (New Diorama Theatre), for which they received a Best Male Actor nomination at the Black British Theatre Awards. Passion Fruit is set to begin its limited UK tour as a newly evolved production at the Barbican (30th April–3rd May) and Cambridge Junction (7th–8th May).
@Liv Ello
Liv Ello is a writer-performer and ‘anarchist clown’ (New York Times, Scotsman) based in London. Liv’s blend of poetic language, comedy and crucial subject matter has earned them praise from The Guardian, Time Out, The Independent, The Scotsman, The Stage and i. Their debut solo show SWARM (Stage's Best of the Fringe 2022, Pleasance Award, ★★★★ Guardian), received much praise for it's absurdist and satirical take down of British political parasites. Their show BODY SHOW (Stage's The Fringe Five & Top shows of 2023, ★★★★★ Guardian - "a total takedown of gendered expectations") co-created and performed with Frankie Thompson, received high critical acclaim, selling out both it's runs at the Pleasance Courtyard and Soho Theatre. At the heart of Liv's work is an urgency for compassion.
@Rosie Day
Rosie Day is an author and playwright. She was named a Star of Tomorrow by Screen Daily and a Future Trailblazer by Red magazine. Her debut play, Instructions for a Teenage Armageddon, opened in the West End in spring 2024 and her debut non-fiction title of the same name was published by Hachette. Her sophomore play, This is Not a (Happy Room), opened in spring 2025 at the King's Head Theatre. Her first novel, Vipers, will be published by Serpent's Tail, and she is currently writing an audio original for Audible. As an actor Rosie's credits include: Outlander, All Roads Lead to Rome, Down a Dark Hall, Good Omens, Living the Dream and many more. Rosie is training to be a psychotherapist and lives in London with her three cats.
Hosts
@Lakesha Arie-Angelou
Lakesha is a London based (Wolverhampton born and bred) Theatre Director, Playwright and Dramaturg. Currently Associate Artistic Director at Clean Break and previously Associate Director at Soho Theatre. Lakesha has a passion for telling empowering stories that centre Black diasporic communities with much spectacle and heart. The live performance work often incorporates striking music, movement and other visual elements to create bold theatricality.
@Safaa Benson-Effiom
Safaa Benson-Effiom is a playwright and theatre-maker from London. She was a finalist for the 2020 Theatre503 International Playwriting Award and the 2019 Tony Craze Award. Her debut play Til Death Do Us Part, premiered at Theatre503 in May 2022 to four and five-star reviews, subsequently winning ‘Best Production – Premiere’ at the London Pub Theatre Awards. Safaa has previously been part of the Soho Theatre Writers’ Lab, Tamasha Playwrights’ and BBC Writersroom – London Voices. She is currently under commission with Soho Theatre/Cardboard Citizens as part of Soho Six.