Review: The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs at Kiln Theatre

21 Jun

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Five Stars)

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs at the Kiln Theatre is a rare gem of a show: an uproariously funny and deeply moving piece of theatre that does not shy away from tackling themes such as transphobia and the damaging impact of TERFs. Marketed as a musical comedy, it feels more accurate to describe it as a play with music as the songs (ranging from traditional choir standards to Chappell Roan) are performed diegetically within the context of choir rehearsals or performances.

Iman Qureshi's script is intelligent, relatable, laugh-out-loud funny, and emotionally devastating in equal measure. It begins with the relatively light-hearted premise of a rag-tag lesbian choir vying for a performance slot at London Pride, but the story soon takes a turn to tackle themes of inclusion, transphobia, and what it means to be a community. There are moments in the second act where the audience are so enraptured with the storytelling on stage that you could hear a pin drop in the auditorium.

The entire ensemble cast is exceptional, each actor creating a vivid, nuanced character that feels authentic and complex. Shuna Snow shines as Connie, the enthusiastic choir leader determined to find harmony both musically and interpersonally. Serena Manteghi gives a layered performance as Dina, navigating new desires outside of a loveless marriage to her husband. Mariah Louca delivers an equally devastating and endearing performance as transgender choir member Bridget, while Georgie Henley and Leah Harvey explore the strains of being in a long-term relationship where one partner is not able to come out to their religious family. Fanta Barrie provides plenty of humour as the confident and flirtatious Ellie, Liz Carr is pitch-perfect as Fi, who is navigating a divorce and awaiting the church hall to finally install a wheelchair ramp so she can access the rehearsal space independently, and Zak Ghazi-Torbati deftly handles every male role in the show.

Under Hannah Hauer-King’s sharp direction, the production finds its rhythm straight away and is very well-paced. Anna Reid’s set design effectively evokes the run-down, leaking church hall where the choir rehearses. Reid’s costume design also does effective work in rooting each character in their world.

The musical elements are beautifully integrated, thanks to the work of Nicola T Chang (composer, co-sound designer, and co-musical director), Tingying Dong (co-sound designer), and Viki Calver (co-musical director). The choir's sound is rich and full of heart.

It’s a joy (and unfortunately all too rare) to see lesbian stories on stage, especially ones as well-crafted as this. The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs is a strong contender for my show of the year, and I hope it has a further life after its run at the Kiln Theatre so it can reach more audiences: I, for one, have already booked to see it again during this short run.

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs runs at Kiln Theatre until 12th July 2025.

Tickets are available here: https://kilntheatre.com/whats-on/the-ministry-of-lesbian-affairs/