Locusts is a play staged at the Edinburgh Fringe that focuses on the lived experience of gay conversion therapy within the context of an evangelical church. The drama follows Stephen, who is confronted by the reappearance of Pete, a former church leader with a complicated shared past. Stephen’s current partner Jeff is unaware of this part of Stephen’s life, creating additional tension as truths emerge.
The action explores themes such as love, family, friendship, and the consequences of attempting to reconcile faith with identity. Humour with a northern flavour is woven into what is otherwise a serious examination of personal struggle and healing. The story is shaped by the real-life experiences of its creators, providing a basis for authenticity in its portrayal of trauma and recovery.
The production is brought to the festival by Orange Works, an ensemble with a history of taking new writing to audiences in Kent, London, and other fringe festivals, including Brighton. Our reviewer rated the show as Outstanding, describing it as a “sensitive, spellbinding portrayal of a man’s dilemma when his past comes back to haunt him.”
The author of Locusts is Ian Tucker-Bell, who developed the play in collaboration with Garth McLean. Tucker Bell drew on his own experiences of gay conversion therapy in British churches during the eighties and nineties, first beginning to write the piece in autumn 2022. He is based in the UK and has worked on several other original plays that have toured the fringe circuit. The partnership with McLean, based in Los Angeles, began in Edinburgh in 2018 and evolved through online collaboration. Their process included rehearsals and improvisations, resulting in a script that consciously balances personal insight with dramatic structure.
Booking information at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025 is here.
