Exploring Queer Masculinity Beyond the Metropolis: Daddy’s First Gay Date is coming to London

Sam Danson’s new play Daddy’s First Gay Date takes audiences far from London’s queer nightlife and into the heart of a northern industrial town, where coming out later in life means facing both the silence of small-town streets and the noise of your own self-doubt. Following the success of his acclaimed solo show BI-TOPIA, Danson returns with a two-act rom-com about Ben, a man in his 30s who leaves a long-term relationship with a woman after learning he’s about to become a father, and stumbles into his first-ever date with a man. With direction from Rikki Beadle-Blair and performances from Dior Clarke and Megan Edmondson, the play explores identity, shame, and queer masculinity in a world where visibility often hides behind closed doors - or only appears after midnight on Grindr.

The story is set in a northern industrial town. Why was it important to place the action outside of London or another big city?

I grew up between Preston & Chorley, and this is where the play is set. I lived in the same house until I was about 24, before moving to Manchester. I'm using my own experiences of growing up away from a metropolitan area which I do believe influenced my personal journey of only coming out later in life – I know this isn’t the case for everybody though, but I do think there's a lot to be talked about in terms of how different it is for those in less built-up areas to address their sexuality. 

What truths about small-town queer life did you most want to capture and how do you think small-town queer life differs from big-city experiences?

It differs from person to person, but if the area you grow up has very little diversity, then it’s easy to feel different, and feeling different is scary. There were no LGBTQ+ people in my life around that time, with Section 28 still in effect for a large part of my school life, schools couldn’t really talk about it either – so queerness felt very distant, and not something that should be explored.

How important was it for you that the play represents more than one type of “outsider” experience? What kinds of expectations or stereotypes did you want to interrogate on stage?

From the start I knew I wanted the show to explore more than one angle of being LGBTQ+, if there’s going to be two LGBTQ+ people on stage, it felt necessary to reflect two very different lived experiences. There’s a few stereotypes and expectations that we explore, but I think the main thing is highlighting the more nuanced elements too, the things people may not necessarily realise about the lived experience of the characters.

You’ve worked with Rikki Beadle-Blair on both BI-TOPIA and now on Daddy’s First Gay Date. What makes that collaboration special?

Rikki really understands the work I’m trying to make, and has always challenged me to make the shows as good as possible. From the first meeting we had I knew he was a fabulous person to work with, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with him again on this new, even bigger project.

How has working with Dior Clarke and Megan Edmondson shaped the piece?

I spoke to both actors ahead of writing their characters – this was because I wanted a deep level of naturalism in the show, to help the stories feel authentic. It was particularly important with Dior’s role because his lived experience is so removed from my own, so in order to write about it, I needed to spend far more time listening and understanding. Both of them are really wonderful performers, and since the play has been written, they’ve added so much to what was written on the page.

For you, what was the moment you knew you wanted to tell queer stories on stage?

It just dawned on me more and more over recent years that being put through any level of shame or difficulty due to your sexuality is completely ridiculous and unacceptable. My first show was born out of wanting to make something for my younger self, a show I needed to see and hear during my own difficult times. If I’d have been able to speak to more queer people at an earlier age, and experience queer stories, maybe I’d have had the confidence to come out a lot sooner, and not find it quite as difficult. I want to tell queer stories on stage to help people feel less alone, and to increase the understanding in the world for the difficulties LGBTQ+ people face.

Daddy’s First Gay Date is at the Seven Dials Playhouse from 28th October – 16th November 2025. For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.sevendialsplayhouse.co.uk/shows/daddys-first-gay-date