As Pride weekend approaches, London’s West End is about to welcome a new musical that feels not just timely but deeply necessary. Raising Gays is a show that dives into the messy, heartfelt, and often hilarious realities of modern parenthood and allyship in a way rarely seen on stage. I had the privilege of sitting down with Micha Mirto, the writer and director, and Jordan Paul Clarke, the composer and lyricist, to talk about what makes this show so special, and why it’s exactly what London needs right now.
The spark for Raising Gays came from a very personal place. Jordan shared a moment that moved me deeply: “I was at the Fringe Festival with my mum, and she said, ‘I don’t really think these shows are for me.’ All these shows are about teenagers coming of age or coming out. That made me think, there must be a way to create a musical that feels like it’s for the parents, for the people who are still figuring out how to support their queer kids.” Micha added, “We both believe very strongly that love can exist without understanding. It’s about showing up for your kids, even if you don’t fully understand what they’re asking or what their life looks like.”
This is the heart of the show: the grey area between rejection and full understanding, a space so many families live in but rarely see reflected on stage. Micha put it plainly: “We know the homophobic villain parent and the ally parent where everything’s fine immediately, but the grey spot in the middle isn’t represented. That is most people’s lived experience.” This nuanced portrayal is part of what makes Raising Gays feel so authentic and urgent.
The show uses humour and music to explore these complex emotions with remarkable balance. Micha explained, “The characters use humour to get out of sincerity. The book is them fighting for the right words and mostly failing. The music and lyrics are what they wish they could say if we could hear their internal thoughts.” Jordan added, “There’s a gentleness and homeliness to the lyrics, sometimes singing about a cup of tea, but underneath, the music is soaring and emotional. It’s a roller coaster that makes you laugh and cry at the same time.” It’s rare to find a show that balances comedy and heart so effortlessly.
Set in a small Somerset town, the story follows a group of parents who decide to organise a Pride float for the first time. Chaos, conflict, and growth follow. Jordan described it perfectly: “We use Pride as a vehicle to express the need for allyship and ask, ‘Do you have to go to Pride to show your kids you love them?’” Micha added, “There’s fun friction within the group, people trying to show up for their kids but coming from different backgrounds. Our dream is that audiences see themselves in this piece.”
Casting was a crucial part of bringing this story to life. Micha and Jordan were clear that they wanted collaborators, not just performers. Jordan said, “We reached out to people we really wanted to work with, artists who would bring their souls to this work. We wanted actors who are intuitive, intelligent, and leave their egos at the door.” Micha agreed, “It’s been a dream come true. The warmth and support we’ve received have been incredible.”
Musically, Raising Gays breaks new ground by giving older characters songs that feel fresh, modern, and radio-ready. Jordan described the score as “poppy, rock-infused beats and melodies sung by characters you wouldn’t normally find singing those sorts of songs.” He continued, “The emotions going on in a home in a regional town are just as big as those in Les Mis or Dear Evan Hansen. The music is the bridge between generations, the way these parents reach out to their kids.”
Micha and Jordan’s openness about the creative process is striking. Micha shared how workshops with young people helped shape the show: “They got it. They could see their parents in the characters. Their stories helped inform and grow the piece.” Jordan reflected on the privilege of collaboration: “We give each other permission to fail, which is what the show is about. We wear our hearts on our sleeves.”
Debuting Raising Gays during London Pride weekend feels like a perfect moment. Micha called it “the stuff that dreams are made of,” while Jordan acknowledged the vulnerability of presenting a script-in-hand concert reading but also the privilege of doing so at such a significant time. He joked about the audience’s likely Pride hangovers, promising the show would be “the perfect cure.”
Looking ahead, Micha and Jordan dream big. Micha said, “I would love to tour it, bring it to the southwest, and have it live on in London’s West End.” Jordan hopes the show’s universal themes will resonate beyond the UK: “This story about kids and parents is something every culture tackles. Maybe one day we’ll create an American version or even a TV series.”
If you want to experience Raising Gays for yourself, it’s playing at the Garrick Theatre on Sunday, 5th July 2026. Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours here: Book tickets here.
For a deeper dive into the show and the creators’ journey, listen to my full interview with Micha Mirto and Jordan Paul Clarke on Stage & Screen with Harvey Morton. It’s a conversation full of warmth, insight, and the kind of honesty that makes theatre matter.
Raising Gays is more than a musical. It’s a timely, tender, and necessary conversation about love, allyship, and the imperfect, beautiful ways we show up for each other. This Pride, it’s exactly the story London, and all of us, need to hear.