‘’A hilariously camp, politically sharp show that leaves you laughing and wanting more.’
Margaret Thatcher – Queen of Soho is an absolute riot from start to finish, and I can honestly say I haven’t laughed that hard in ages. The show is this wild mix of political satire and camp humor, all set to a banging 80s gay club soundtrack that just makes you want to get up and dance. It’s the kind of performance that hooks you right from the start and keeps you laughing all the way through.
The story’s set in the 80s and centers around Section 28, which was this homophobic law Thatcher’s government brought in to stop schools and councils from promoting homosexuality. But instead of being heavy or too political, the show takes that serious bit of history and flips it on its head, turning it into something hilarious and a bit bonkers. It’s full of cheeky jokes and clever digs, but it’s also a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and their resistance to the government’s nonsense.
Now, let’s talk about the actor who plays Thatcher (Matt Tedford). He’s honestly brilliant – came across as one of those people who’s naturally funny without even trying. Every expression on his face and every little ad-lib was spot-on. He stayed in character the whole time, even when he was riffing off the audience. At one point, he threw in a cheeky line about Keir Starmer’s winter fuel cuts, saying, “Hope you’ve bought your winter coats!” It was a perfect little dig at the Labour government that felt completely off-the-cuff.
There were some really outrageous moments in the show too, but that’s part of what makes it so great. One of my favourites was a talking portrait of Winston Churchill, where he goes on about his sexual exploits in graphic detail – completely over-the-top but had everyone in stitches. The writing’s just brilliant; it’s full of political satire but never feels too preachy or serious. It’s more about taking the mick out of Thatcher and her policies, while also having a laugh about some pretty ridiculous things.
A lot of the humor is wonderfully dark and outrageous. At one point, Thatcher delivers the line, “Homosexual feelings are something they [schoolchildren] grow out of, like empathy.” It’s both shocking and funny, a perfect example of how the show manages to balance the absurdity of the time with biting humor.
Honestly, the only downside for me was that it wasn’t long enough. I could’ve easily watched another half hour or more of Tedford prancing about as Thatcher, with all the hilarious characters he meets along the way. The show crams so much into its running time, and I was gutted when it ended – it left me wanting more.
The music is another big highlight. The soundtrack is packed with those classic 80s gay club anthems that give the show so much energy and nostalgia. It really captures the vibe of that time and makes the whole thing feel like a proper party. You could feel the audience buzzing along with the music, and it’s a great nod to the LGBTQ+ culture that Thatcher’s government tried so hard to silence.
All in all it is an absolute gem of a show. It’s hilarious, clever, and full of heart. The mix of political satire and camp humor is just spot-on, and the performance by Tedford as Thatcher is something you need to see. If you’re after a night of non-stop laughs with a bit of history thrown in, this show’s got it all. Just make sure you’re ready for it to end all too soon because my only wish was that it was longer.