A bold, funny, and heartfelt solo musical comedy by Kit Ford that explores the complexities of growing up queer and trans.
Growing Up Queer is what it says on the tin, but with way more heart, humour, and honesty than you’d expect. It’s a funny and deeply personal look at what it’s like growing up queer and trans.
Mixing stories, original songs, and humour. Kit Ford guides the audience through his journey from the confusion of childhood to the gradual acceptance of adulthood, acknowledging that his sense of identity remains a work in progress.
Written and performed as part of the Lambeth Fringe Festival, the two-night show was played at The Bread & Roses Theatre in Clapham, a cosy 50-seat venue tucked above a pub that feels less like a traditional theatre and more like you’ve stumbled into someone’s living room for a show.
Ford’s performance strikes a perfect balance between comedy and vulnerability. He’s not afraid to be raw, with moments of nudity that feel less like a shock tactic and more like taking ownership of his own story.
For someone who’s clearly spent time figuring out how to feel at home in his own body, that openness feels both powerful and deeply moving.
Reflecting on the show Ford said, “I think it felt utterly overwhelming at first, but then it all began to make a lot more sense. Particularly after I performed it for the first time, I remember someone coming up to me then and saying ‘all queer childhoods were the same’. That felt so nice, and made it all way less personal. It made it something shared, which is what I’d always wanted, hence why I’d chosen to perform it, I think.”
James Nial who watched the show described it as a rollercoaster, moments of laughter and tears, and the show was designed to take you on a journey: “It’s the kind of show that doesn’t just invite you to watch. It makes you feel everything alongside Kit rather than sitting quietly on the sidelines.”
Outside of this show, Kit Ford is quickly making a name for himself as a creative to watch. Originally from West Dorset and now based in London, he’s an actor, writer and all-round performer with plenty going on.
He’s already done two runs of his solo show Narcissistic Reflections on a Queer Childhood and is now working on his next full-length play, which dives into trans masculinity and motherhood.
The show’s producer Phoebe Constantine, has previously worked with the National Theatre, Wandsworth Arts Fringe and is “incredibly proud” to be producing this show: “It’s joyful and silly, and deeply heartfelt and watching the show feels like an act of allyship: she also said how the show highlights the need to listen to each other’s stories and support trans talent.”
The production was created by a three person team, with lighting designed by Maddy Whitby, which beautifully captured Kit’s inner world through the use of colour and softer, more reflective tones.
Together, this trio, Ford, Constantine, and Whitby, crafted an experience that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. Growing Up Queer isn’t just a performance; it’s an act of visibility and a reminder that storytelling can still change how we see ourselves and each other.
Growing Up Queer is a small show with a huge heart, proving that the most powerful performances often happen in the most intimate spaces.
Featured image courtesy of Kit Ford.