A gay soldier’s story like no other
‘Why go where you’re not wanted?’
So asks Jon Hague, a gay theatre maker, who puts down the bottle to pick up a gun, recklessly joining the British Army despite the callous LGBT+ ban it enforced.
This show, written and performed by Hague, is a funny, moving and provocative revelation, grounded in a unique life, challenging prevailing attitudes on LGBT+ identity, addiction, victimhood, and life in the Army.
Exploring the often ludicrous, always emotive conflict of cultures, personalities and ideologies, At War with Myself interrogates the attractions of military life, the impact of recovery and the challenges to constructing identity.
Duncan Lustig-Prean – One of the four service personnel who ended the ban by
challenging the UK Government all the way to the European Court of Human Rights, said: ‘At War with Myself uniquely explores the impact of the military ban on LGBT people on one soldier, over 20 years ago. This was a ban which I fought to end and of which I was also a victim. The show brings to life the emotional and political impact on gay people. A trauma which continues for so many still today.
While the cruelty of the ban’s implementation was unique to the UK, we are still fighting for change in many nations around the world in the face of ongoing and renewed exclusion as LGBTQ seek to serve and defend their countries.’
After training in theatre and getting sober, Jon Hague defied the ban on gay soldiers, subsequently serving for 19 years. In 2018, BAFTA granted him a scholarship
to study screenwriting. Shortlisted by BAFTA Rocliffe and ITV Original Voices.
Although gay relationships were partially decriminalised in1967, the ban on LGBT+ personnel serving in UK forces was only lifted in 2000, following a prolonged battle through to the European Court of Human Right. In 2025, compensation has finally beeen confirmed for affected veterans.
The Bread & Roses Theatre, 68 Clapham Manor St, London, SW4 6DZ
Wed 15, Thurs 16, Fri 17 Oct: 7.30pm
£12 (£10 conc) https://lambethfringe.com/events/at-war-with-myself
