“Pride: The Musical” Is Here—Queer Joy, Protest, and Welsh Miners Take Center Stage

It’s official: the queer classic “Pride”—the film that turned a little-known slice of British LGBTQ+ activism into a global touchstone—is getting the full musical treatment, and the community is already abuzz. If you’ve ever roared at a drag queen’s takedown in a mining hall, or teared up at a story of unlikely solidarity, this is the stage event your rainbow calendar has been waiting for. After months of speculation, producers finally confirmed that “Pride: The Musical” will premiere at Cardiff’s Sherman Theatre from March 31 to April 18, 2026, before moving to London’s National Theatre Dorfman from June 11 to September 12, 2026 .

For the uninitiated, “Pride” is more than a film—it’s a folk legend for the LGBTQ+ community. The 2014 movie, starring the likes of Andrew Scott, Imelda Staunton, and George MacKay, dramatized the true story of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM), a ragtag group of queer activists who, in 1984, stood up for striking Welsh miners under Margaret Thatcher’s government . At a time when both communities faced bitter marginalization, they forged a bond that changed British social history—and gave us one of the most moving Pride parades ever filmed.

This is no sanitized fairy tale. “Pride” is riotous, radical, and as much about protest as it is about party. As the official musical synopsis puts it: “What follows is the remarkable true story of two threatened communities joining forces and discovering they have more in common than they ever imagined” .

The magic behind the stage adaptation is a reunion of the original film’s creative team. Director Matthew Warchus, who helmed the 2014 film, is teaming up again with screenwriter Stephen Beresford for the musical’s book and lyrics—a duo that LGBTQ+ theatre fans already trust to deliver wit, warmth, and heart .

Musically, the bar is set high: Christopher Nightingale, Josh Cohen, and DJ Walde are on deck to craft original songs that draw on protest anthems, 80s pop, rock, disco, and the Welsh choral tradition . Expect a soundscape as eclectic and unapologetic as the movement itself.

Warchus himself put it best, telling reporters: “It was one of the greatest joys and privileges of my career to direct the film version of Pride. I’m so excited to be working alongside Stephen again, together with Chris, Josh and DJ, to bring this hugely emotional and inspiring true story to the stage and let it sing” .

Beresford was equally effusive, calling the project “nothing short of a joy”—and for any queer creative who’s ever felt the sting and thrill of activism, you can feel the sincerity .

Forty years later, the alliances and tensions at the heart of “Pride” still resonate. The musical lands in a moment where intersectionality isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a necessity. The LGSM story shows what happens when marginalized groups drop their defenses, reach out, and march together. The Cardiff-to-London run is not just a nod to the past but a rallying cry for today’s LGBTQ+ and labor activists, who still face anti-union rhetoric, transphobia, and economic precarity .

For queer audiences, “Pride” is more than nostalgia—it's a reclamation of our role in political resistance. The show’s creative team hasn’t just dusted off a feel-good story; they’re restaging the ongoing fight for dignity, visibility, and solidarity. That matters in a year when LGBTQ+ rights are again under threat across the UK and beyond.

There’s also something deliciously subversive about seeing queer history—often erased from textbooks—center stage at the National Theatre. The very institutions that once ignored or patronized LGBTQ+ voices are now giving them the main stage, and this musical is poised to become a generational touchstone.

If you’re picturing a stately period piece, think again. “Pride: The Musical” promises to be as boisterous and irreverent as the original film. Expect drag queens with megaphones, miners learning the Electric Slide, and enough choral harmonies to raise the roof. The creative team includes set and costume designer Bunny Christie, choreographer Lizzi Gee, lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, and sound designer Bobby Aitken—names that guarantee big, bold, and distinctly queer stagecraft .

Casting is still under wraps, but anticipation is already high for who will step into the Doc Martens of Mark Ashton and company. Tickets go on general sale at 10am on November 14, and if the film’s cult status is any indicator, seats won’t last long .

“Pride: The Musical” arrives at a moment when community feels both fragile and invincible. It’s a reminder that solidarity doesn’t just happen at Pride marches or on TikTok—it’s forged in late-night meetings, unlikely alliances, and shared cups of tea (or pints at the local pub). For LGBTQ+ audiences, the show is more than entertainment: it’s a love letter to the activists who paved the way, and a call to action for the next generation.

So, dust off your miners’ helmet, grab your rainbow flag, and get ready to sing along. “Pride” is back—and this time, it’s louder, prouder, and more necessary than ever.