Dungeness

by Chris Thompson

In a remote part of the UK, where nothing ever happens, a group of teenagers share a safe house for LGBT+ young people. While their shared home welcomes difference, it can be tricky for self-appointed group leader Birdie to keep the peace. The group must decide how they want to commemorate an attack that happened to people like them in a country far away. How do you take to the streets and protest if you’re not ready to tell the world who you are? If you’re invisible, does your voice still count? A play about love, commemoration and protest. Written fifty years on from the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England, this is a unique play for young people about the struggles and joys of being gay. Published alongside Stonewall Housing, a charity that works to ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people live in safer homes, free from fear, where they can celebrate their identity and support each other to achieve their full potential. This new edition features a new Q&A with the author alongside teaching resources and information from Stonewall Housing.

76 pages, Paperback

Published August 10, 2020

About the author

Chris Thompson is the Artistic Director of St Martins: The Victorian Centre for Youth Arts. A writer and director of many plays for young performers and young audiences, he has also written two feature films and is a regular reviewer of youth literature for Viewpoint magazine and youth theatre for Lowdown magazine. Chris was a member of the Writers' Jury for the 1993 Australian Film Institute Awards. He is currently working with author Geoffrey McSkimming on a stage adaptation of Cairo Jim on the Trail to ChaCha Muchos. His first short story 'The Passing of Aunty Erl' was published in the anthology 'Family: A Collection of Short Stories'.

Reviews

[Szymon · Rating 4 out of 5]

But solidarity is a bond that unites us. It says I'm not scared because I've got you, and you're not scared because you've got me.

Short but loaded play about a queer youth group that tries to decide what to do in order to commemorate a queerphobic (implied terrorist) incident "in a country far away". Tackles themes of found family, coming out, bravery and community in-fighting. Great classroom material to present diversity from a specific lens.