Sidney Fox’s Crime is the latest play at London’s cute queer theatre and cabaret space, Above The Stag, in Vauxhall. This drama is a true story, written and directed by Taggart creator Glenn Chandler. We follow handsome male prostitute, thief and forger, Sidney Fox (Sebastian Calver), as he travels the country during the roaring 1920s, defrauding hotels with his grifter accomplice mother, Rosaline (Amanda Bailey). The pair are devoted to each other but they are not that successful and own little more than the clothes they stand up in. Sidney often has to tap his wealthy clients for cash to keep the pair going.

At one point, in 1929, the odd pair of criminals end up at the Metropol Hotel in Margate. This was the era of flappers, big jazz bands and the Wall St Crash. A fire breaks out in room 66 whilst Rosaline is asleep, and she is found dead in there afterwards. This happens a few hours before her life assurance policy was due to expire. The subsequent inquest returned a verdict of death by misadventure and she was quickly buried. Nine days later, on discovering the information about her expiring life assurance policy, the famous, and homophobic, pathologist Sir Bernard Spilsbury exhumed her body. What he claims to find remains one of the most controversial pieces of evidence put forward in a murder trial. Despite the best efforts of his barrister, James Cassells, (ex-Blue Peter presenter Mark Curry), Sidney is found guilty of murdering his mother and hanged at Maidstone Prison in April 1930. Was he guilty? The audience is left to decide. This case remains potentially one of the more outrageous miscarriages of justice against queer men. Recommended.

Sidney Fox’s Crime is at Above The Stag Theatre, Vauxhall, London until 7th May.

 
Queerguru Contributing Editor Ris Fatah is a successful fashion/luxury business consultant  (when he can be bothered) who divides and wastes his time between London and Ibiza. He is a lover of all things queer, feminist, and human rights in general. @ris.fatah