Brian Beacom

GO BACK forty years and men could camp it up on television and theatre - so long as they didn’t admit to being gay in real life.

That’s why rather fey performers such as Larry Grayson, Frankie Howerd and John Inman consistently lied about their sexual preference.

Even the theatre was homophobic. As recently as 1983, when La Cage Aux Folles opened in New York, the show was accused of “mainstreaming homosexuality for mass consumption”.

Now, the show is set to come to Glasgow, starring former Eastender John Partridge in the role of Albin, the drag artist.

But have times really change for gay men?

John, who is in a civil partnership with actor Jon Tsouras, says yes – and no.

“Yes, because we no longer have to make the same demands on society,” he says.

“Yet, at the same time we’re facing a move away from liberalism. We have Trump and all the right wing forces growing, we had Marine Le Pen in France picking up a third of the votes.”

He adds; “Until recently I never worried about being a gay man. But right now my partner and I are going through major grief to get him a passport (he’s Canadian/Greek) despite the fact we are married.

“I’m worried that as a gay European couple we will suffer even more under Brexit. I had never imagined that would be the case in 2017.”

While gay men may have to contend with battles against more levels of bureaucracy, La Cage has proved to be instrumental in shifting perceptions and encouraging tolerance.

Written by Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman, and based on the 1973 French play by Jean Poiret, the story features the relationship between the club-owning Georges and his long-term lover and drag star Albin.

The couple live an idyllic existence in the south of France. But the diamante-studded silk stage curtains are about to come down around their ears.

Georges’ son Jean-Michel announces his engagement to the daughter of a notorious right-wing politician – who is determined to shut down the local colourful night-life.

Georges and Albin have to pretend to be just pals.

However, John, who played Christian Clarke in EastEnders on and off between January 2008 and 2016, doesn’t see La Cage as a overtly promotion for gay life.

“This show touches people because it asks the question ‘ What does it mean to be a normal family?’ And it also asks ‘What it means to be a mother?’

“It just happens to feature two gay men in the lead roles.”

Dragging up each night brings with it a particularly poignancy.

“I lost my mother just a few weeks ago,” he says in soft voice. “But there is so much of her wrapped in my character.

“As I say some of the opening lines I can imagine my mum saying them, as she stands in the kitchen scrubbing the burnt brisket from the pan.”

Manchester-born John lost his mum to Alzheimer’s. Her illness was the reason for his for his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother last year. The fee helped pay for her round-the-clock care.

“I could have been broken by this,” he says of the loss, “but you know, when I go on stage every night I feel a great sense of comfort.

“I have so many strong northern women in my heritage and I’m able to wrap myself up in them nightly.

“And to be working at this time has in fact been great for me.”

He adds, smiling; “My mum passed away during a break in touring. As always, her timing was perfect. And it meant I was able to be with her at the end.”

Was his mum a character from Gypsy, the quintessential showbiz pushy mother?

“Not at all. If she had worked in showbiz she’d had been the dresser, the quiet lady in the corner, the behind scenes personality but always there.”

It was another member of the Partridge family who planted the seeds of showbiz possibility in his mind.

“My dad taught ballroom dancing and we’d sit down together and watch the MGM movies on a Saturday afternoon.”

John adds, grinning; “We would never go out and kick a ball about together, not that I wanted to, and I couldn’t name a United or City footballer.

“But I could tell you who Cyd Charisse or Ginger Rogers was.

“As a result, I wanted to dance. And performance is what I am. It’s in the fabric of my personality.”

John initially trained in ballet. “I was schooled from nine years old to strive for perfection.

“It was a world without praise, but you realise you get it later on from an audience.”

He left college early at the age of 16, to join the cast of the original UK tour of Cats.

John’s dad died when his son was 17. He reveals he didn’t want to dance after that.

“I felt with him gone dancing sort of faded for me as well.”

Acting had kicked in and musical theatre. But he could never have imagined he would land a key role in Eastenders, playing Jane Beale’s brother.

In fact, he almost didn’t turn up for the audition.

“I was in New York at the time when my agent called with the news. I said ‘I’m not going. I’ve got bronchitis. I’ll never get it! ’ He said ‘Darling, you have to.’ And I did go.

“Luckily, somebody liked me on the day, but I realise the process is so subjective. It’s not always about talent.”

He laughs; “The show took my career on a whole new direction, and gave me a great platform but in many ways it had nothing to do with me.”

Johnny Partridge, at 45, laughs a great deal in conversation.

What emerges is a man who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

“I read the reviews,” he admits of crits for the likes of Chicago, Grease, Rent and A Chorus Line.

“It’s a way to police yourself. It’s good to get a sharp critique and you think ‘They’re probably right. Much of it can be acid. But you’ve just got to see past that.”

*La Cage Aux Follies also stars Adrian Zmed and Marti Webb, the King’s Theatre, July 25 - 29.