My Son’s A Queer (But What Can You Do?) will play at the Apollo Theatre in London’s West End, from 16 September to 03 October 2026.
My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) written by and performed by Rob Madge and directed by Luke Sheppard celebrates the joy and chaos of raising a queer child.
It premiered originally at the Turbine Theatre in 2021, moved to the Edinburgh Festival, played a national tour followed by two West End runs and a Broadway season in New York. Now Rob has decided to bring the show back for one last hurrah, before deflating their yellow armbands for good.
THE SHOW
When Rob was 12, they attempted to stage a full-blown Disney parade in their house for their Grandma. As Rob donned a wig and played Mary Poppins, Ariel, Mickey Mouse and Belle, their Dad doubled as Stage Manager, Sound Technician and Goofy.
Unfortunately, Dad missed all his cues and pushed all the floats in the wrong direction. Mum mistook Aladdin for Ursula. The costumes went awry. Ariel’s bubble gun didn’t even work properly. Grandma had a nice time though.
My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) is the joyous autobiographical story of social-media sensation Rob Madge as they set out to recreate that parade. And this time, nobody, no, nobody, is gonna rain on it!
Paul Taylor-Mills, Producer, said
“My Son’s A Queer, (But What Can You Do?) is the epitome of everything I dreamed theatre could be. It is a story rooted in hope and acceptance and is a reminder of the extraordinary power of celebrating people exactly as they are.
To see it go from a DM on Twitter during lockdown, to a fully produced sell out show in both the West End and New York has been nothing short of extraordinary and we’ll always be incredibly grateful to Rob for letting us bring their beautiful story to life.
Bringing the show to the Apollo Theatre for one final hurrah is a chance to celebrate everything this journey has meant to everyone who has been a part of its production, to reflect on how far it has come, and to give audiences one last opportunity to be part of a story that has changed lives of so many.”
CREATIVE TEAM
Written and performed by Rob Madge
Directed by Luke Sheppard
Composition by Pippa Cleary
Orchestration by Simon Nathan
Mixing by Chris Fry
Designs by Ryan Dawson Laight
Projection Design by George Reeve
Video Engineering by Neil McDowell Smith
Associate Sound Designs by Anna Short
ROB MADGE WRITER/PERFORMER
Rob is a Theatre-Maker, Writer and Actor. They began working professionally in theatre aged nine, having spent most of their childhood forcing family to help them put on shows in the living room.
Rob’s credits include:
Diva of Dreams in Sleeping Beauty (The London Palladium)
Emcee in Cabaret(Playhouse Theatre)
The Spirit of Sherwood in Robin Hood (The London Palladium)
Alex in Buyer and Cellar(King’s Head and Theatre Royal, Plymouth)
Tink in Peter Pan and Pat, the Cow in Jack and the Beanstalk (The London Palladium)
Millenials (The Other Palace)
Bedknobs and Broomsticks (UK tour)
Les Miserables (UK tour)
Matilda the Musical (RSC)
Gavroche in Les Miserables (25th anniversary tour and concert)
Artful Dodger in Oliver! (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane)
Macbeth (Gielgud Theatre)
Mary Poppins (Prince Edward Theatre).
MY SON’S A QUEER, (BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?) PLAYS AT THE APOLLO THEATRE 16 SEPTEMBER – 03 OCTOBER 2026
