Bad Lesbians is a messy, provocative exploration of intimate partner violence in queer relationships. It pokes at the shifting, uncomfortable terrain between witness, perpetrator and victim - and asks whether these roles are fixed, finite, or constantly in flux.
In an age where gender itself is arguably dead (yet permeates everything), what even is a lesbian? What exactly makes one bad? And who gets to decide? What happens when accountability fails? When intimacy becomes unreliable? And when your villain no longer looks bad at all?
This is a work about queer euphoric relationships, gradually broken apart by subtle, eroding mistreatment. About harm that goes unnoticed because both people are women — or perhaps more precisely, because neither of them are cis men. About gender as something volatile and dangerous.
Set inside a domestic space turned combat arena, expect villain cabaret, smashed squashes, red flags a-plenty, and a spotlight - sometimes literal - on conversations we’d rather avoid and observations we’d prefer not to make.
Bad Lesbians is currently in mid-stage R&D. After spending time in the rehearsal room being very, very bad lesbians indeed, we’re now figuring out how to put that on stage—without pulling any punches. The work is expected to preview in Autumn 2026.
Bad Lesbians is a Selina Thompson Limited production, led by Associate Director Toni-Dee Paul, made in collaboration with Samra Mayanja and Liv Ello, with Jo Tyabji. Wellbeing support from Rose Thorn.
Tobi King Bakare and this theatre deserve a shout-out for such a young, diverse audience. There is so much talk about audiences being full of over 60s and why, why can’t theatres get the crowds in to reflect society in general? Well, I’m happy to say that on a rainy Thursday evening, the theatre was completely full.
Caiti Grove on Before I Go in CPT's Spring 2023 season London Theatre Reviews
