If you’ve been craving a night of lesbian theatre in London that’s equal parts funny, political, and heartfelt, then mark your calendar for The Switchboard Project. This brand-new queer play from Doubletake Theatre runs at The Hope Theatre, Islington, from 2–13 September 2025, bringing a vital slice of LGBTQ+ history to the stage.
The year is 1985. Shoulder pads are massive, homophobia’s even bigger, and four lesbians are tucked away above a bookshop in King’s Cross, manning the phones for the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard. Their mission? To connect the city’s scattered queer community. But first, they’ll need to finish arguing about politics, sex, and whether penetration is inherently patriarchal.
We meet Jackie – the new recruit with fresh energy, Lou and Joan – die-hard activists, and Nana, who’s not sure she can take another crisis. Together, they field calls from the city’s most isolated lesbians and gay men, offering everything from safe sex advice (changing daily thanks to the rising AIDS crisis) to suicide prevention, to tips on where to find Heaven… and yes, that’s both the metaphorical kind and the iconic nightclub.
You’re in for a trip down memory lane, plus The Switchboard Project is a sharp, funny, and deeply human look at what it took to hold the LGBTQ+ community together in one of its most challenging decades. Drawing from real interviews with past and present volunteers and premiering during Switchboard’s 50th anniversary year, the play delivers both belly laughs and gut-punch moments.
Following its sold-out work-in-progress run at Camden People’s Theatre, it’s already been hailed by Theatre & Tonic as “alive, questioning and resonant… a highly polished production that goes by in an instant.” Whether you’re into queer history, powerful lesbian representation on stage, or just love a cracking night at the theatre, this one’s not to be missed.
When & Where
- Where: The Hope Theatre, 207 Upper Street, London, N1 1RL
- Dates: 2–13 September 2025
- Time: 7:45pm
- Tickets: £18 / £16 concessions — Book here or call 0333 666 3366
For more info, follow Doubletake Theatre on Instagram @doubletaketheatrecompany or visit doubletaketheatre.org.
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Nonchalant x
This article was written by one of our creative team writers here at Nonchalant Magazine.
