A bold story with seamless writing and direction, Foxes is a refreshing and authentic insight into navigating homosexuality in a hyper-masculine, racialised context.

Set in Clissold Park, North London, foxes follows Daniel (Fatogun) through a turbulent period in his life, from an unexpected pregnancy with his Muslim girlfriend Meera (Namir), to confronting the truth about his sexuality after his friendship with Leon (Godwin) takes an unexpected romantic turn. While Daniel’s mum Patricia (Blackstock), embodies the warm, welcoming mother figure, her demeanour quickly turns sour when faced with the reality that her son could be gay, and it transpires that her tender nature has boundaries predicated on the word of God, and despite ardent resistance from Deena (Alabi), Daniel’s sister.

The juxtaposition of hyper-masculine street culture, in which race and gender are inextricably linked, with the tender moments shared on stage between Daniel and Leon, is a refreshing and unafraid confrontation of queerness within the inner-city context, subverting typical stereotypes of black masculinity in the process. The set is small and intimate, and projection is used to facilitate scene transitions through jumpy videos of urban landscapes and the dark underbelly of Daniel’s nightmare-ish subconscious, where he is confronted by confusing scenes sprung out of his repressed emotions. Flanders’ writing is effortless in its ability to portray nuances in the very delicate subject matter, hinting, perhaps, to a personal connection. For example, clever parallels are drawn between Meera’s experience of being disowned by her religious Muslim family, but being accepted with open arms by Patricia; and Daniel’s experience of coming out to his mum in a highly tense scene, only to be sorely rejected, shamed and disowned by her, claiming that the devil has corrupted his mind.

The play pulls into question notions of manhood, religious morality, love and the constraints an environment can impose on your expression of self. The ending is genuine in its frank lack of resolution: the boys are forced to hide the most intimate parts of themselves in exchange for familial love and communal respect, resigning to living in the shadows, like foxes.

Name of Production: Foxes
Year of Production: 2021
Venue: Theatre503
Cast: Michael Fatogun, Doreene Blackstock, Tosin Alabi, July Namir, Anyebe Godwin

Director: James Hillier
Writer: Dexter Flanders
Lighting & Projection Designer: Will Monks

Sound Designer: Josh Anio Grigg

Designer: Erin Guan

Assistant Designer & Costume Supervisor: Renzo

Additional Design Work: Rita Adeyosoye

Fight Director: Esme Cooper

Intimacy Director: Robbie Taylor Hunt

Movement Director: Gerrard Martin

Casting Director: Annie Rowe CDG

Producer: James Hillier

Assistant Producer: Kelsey Delatango

Associate Producers: The Actors Centre

Assistant producer for Theatre503: Darcy Dobson

Stage Manager: Anna Townley

Assistant Stage Manager: Alex Jaouen

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