Gary Clarke Company proudly presents its highly anticipated new dance theatre show.

DETENTION follows the multi award-winning COAL and critically acclaimed WASTELAND.

DETENTION explores the impact of SECTION 28: a piece of largely hidden legislation from Margaret Thatcher's Conservative Government in 1988, which 'prohibited the promotion of homosexuality', forcing people from the LGBT+ community into a place of secrecy, fear and shame at a time when the country was in industrial turmoil and the gay community was being ravaged by the onslaught of AIDS. 

Gary Clarke's powerful and personal working-class storytelling draws on public and private stories and testimonies, including a rare insight into the LGBT+ Switchboard Logbooks, combined with vivid choreography performed by a company of exceptional dancers, an evocative narrator, a local cast of LGBT+ people, striking designs in film, sound, light and costume and music tracks by the iconic band TEST DEPT. DETENTION is a bold and moving exploration of the violence, loneliness, protests, debates, unlikely allies and the remarkable individuals and organisations of the time. 

“A truly wonderful piece of dance-theatre”  

★★★★★ - The Stage (on WASTELAND)

“Powerfully dramatic”

The Guardian (on WASTELAND)

“It’s stunning combination of movement, music and imagery makes for an unforgettable work of angry, emotional, celebratory, political dance.”

★★★★★ - The Herald on Sunday (on WASTELAND)

DETENTION is produced by: GARY CLARKE COMPANY LTD

Co-commissioned by: Nottingham Playhouse, Grand Theatre Blackpool, Lawrence Batley Theatre, Cast, The Place, Midlands co-presenter: FABRIC 

Gary Clarke Company is supported using public funding through Arts Council England and core funding from  John Ellerman Foundation.

SWITCHBOARD
The national LGBTQIA+ support line. If you need to discuss any of the themes raised in the show the support line is available from 10am to 10pm everyday on 0800 0119 100.