The apt title of Sam Danson’s compact two-act play poses a challenge: can a bisexual man navigate the complexities of coming out and end up on a gay date rather than just a sexual encounter? Written by and starring Danson himself, Daddy’s First Gay Date follows Mancunian bisexual Ben, who over a candlelit dinner learns that his girlfriend Helen (Megan Edmondson) is pregnant—just as he plans to break things off so he can explore his attraction to men. Moments later, Ben seduces their waiter, the flamboyant and proudly out Tim (Dior Clarke), in the restaurant loo. Tim, with his own struggles around drink, housing, and work, becomes both Ben’s sexual partner and the catalyst for his uneasy journey through queer dating and hook-ups, toward greater self-awareness and acceptance.
Essentially a farce, the play has plenty of witty, appealing dialogue, and lots of heart. With ample sympathy for the difficulties of coming out later in life, the play’s pacing and tone sometimes undercut the material’s emotional potential. The story relies on some thin plot contrivances—a lease signing, a father’s cancer diagnosis, the coincidence of Tim dropping off tools, and Helen’s progressing pregnancy—so the piece can feel overstuffed and hurried. Yet amid the bustle there are rich moments of tenderness: when Helen gives Ben a lift home after a party, their quiet intimacy feels genuine and affecting. Ben’s monologue to his unborn child is well grounded and had the potential for even greater humour and poignancy.
Director Rikki Beadle-Blair keeps the action brisk, using a simple table and two chairs to suggest multiple settings. The cast delivers solid performances, though sometimes the writing leaves them stranded between naturalism and farce. Overall, Danson captures the confusion, angst and difficulty of navigating an attraction to men and a loyalty to an important woman in his life. Edmonson brings a good deal of tenderness and compassion to her role as understanding girlfriend. The central relationship is the weakest link: it’s never clear why the confident, scene-making Tim falls for the socially awkward Ben, and their chemistry never quite kindles.
Still, Daddy’s First Gay Date has many appealing ingredients—sharp exchanges, flashes of tenderness, and playful devices like singalongs to Wicked and breaking the fourth wall for an audience hug. With more tonal control and a clearer dive into an emotional truth, it could evolve from an engaging romp into a more resonant exploration of identity and connection.
Daddy’s First Gay Date
By: Sam Danson
Director: Rikki Beadle Blair
Cast: Sam Danson, Dior Clarke, Megan Edmondson
Until 16 November 2025
Running Time: 2 hours, including interval
Photo credit: Jason Locke