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.
“It means so much to be working at CPT, it’s such a good opportunity to work in a professional environment at my age. I didn’t think that was ever going to happen and it means the world to me. It’s really going to help prepare me for my future and where I want to go”
CYT participant and Camden student
