A heartwarming story of two London lads who fall in love.

Diversionary’s production will be directed by Rosina Reynolds, and features Matt Barrs, John DeCarlo, Jillian Frost, Joseph Panwitz and Rachael Van Wormer.  The stage manager is Sean Alexander.  David Weiner, Jeff Fightmaster, Shulamit Nelson and Lesley Fitzpatrick make up the design team.

  “Beautiful Thing” is a tender love story set during a hot summer in a South-East London housing project.  Jamie, a relatively unpopular lad who skips school to avoid soccer, lives next door to Ste, a more popular athletic lad who is frequently beaten by his father and older brother.  The story tells of their growing attraction for one another, from initial lingering glances to their irrefutable love.  It deals with the tribulations of coming to terms with their sexuality and of others finding out, in light of Sandra's (Jamie's mum) unwavering loyalty and defense of Jamie and the fear of repercussion should Ste's family find out.

The plot is set against sub-texts of Sandra's desire to manage her own pub, and thus escape the housing project, and of her new relationship with her hippy boyfriend Tony; and of Leah, the brassy girl next door who has been expelled from school and spends her time listening to Mama Cass records and tripping on a variety of drugs.

The stage play was written in 1993, and a popular movie of the same name came out in 1996.  Hettie McDonald, the director of the film, had this to say about “Beautiful Thing:” Jonathan Harvey's screenplay (based on his stageplay, which I also directed) is proud and very funny. His writing has great charm and poignancy but it is never sentimental. It is a story about the power of love and is rooted in a belief in the human spirit. I think this optimism is central to the film, and it is wonderful to have the opportunity to show what a beautiful thing the love between two people can be no matter what sex they are.

I hope the film will help bring encouragement and affirmation to many young people who are going through the same experience as the two boys. I hope it will bring understanding and support for them from their friends and families. I hope it will make everyone who sees it feel that the things they want in life are possible.

Playwright Jonathan Harvey was born in Liverpool in 1968, and was educated at Hull University (Psychology and Education) before moving to London, where he worked for four years as a special-needs teacher at a comprehensive school in Thamesmead, the area where "Beautiful Thing" is set.  He started writing at the age of 16, with his play "The Cherry Blossom Tree.”  He continued writing while studying and teaching, and it was for his play "Wildfire" that he was awarded an attachment to the National Theatre's Studio at the end of 1992, prompting him to give up his teaching post and write full-time. He now lives in London with his boyfriend.