Rainbow Wales shines a spotlight on the queer Welsh icons who changed theatre, music and culture
When Emily Garside writes about queer culture, theatre and identity, it is always worth paying attention.
Her acclaimed book Seasons of Love: Why Rent Matters became essential reading for many musical theatre fans, unpacking not just Jonathan Larson’s landmark musical, but the wider cultural and political landscape surrounding it. Now, with Rainbow Wales, Garside turns her attention to the queer Welsh figures who have shaped entertainment, activism, sport and public life across generations.
Out now, Rainbow Wales: Queer Icons Past and Present explores a strikingly diverse range of LGBTQ+ voices, from legendary composer and musical theatre pioneer Ivor Novello through to modern cultural figures including The Vivienne, football icon Jess Fishlock and actor Luke Evans.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbZe3G8sZkI[/embed]For musical theatre audiences, the inclusion of Novello feels particularly significant. Long before the era of the modern mega-musical, his work helped shape British musical storytelling, influencing generations of writers and composers that followed. His legacy still quietly runs through British theatre culture today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57-DTIveSmA&list=RD57-DTIveSmA&start_radio=1The book also arrives during a major period for Luke Evans, who continues to earn acclaim for his work in the multi Tony Award-nominated revival of The Rocky Horror Show. Evans has long balanced Hollywood success with a deep connection to music and performance, making him a fitting inclusion in Garside’s exploration of Welsh queer cultural identity.
There is also an emotional resonance surrounding the inclusion of The Vivienne, whose wit, talent and cultural impact continue to be celebrated across entertainment and LGBTQ+ communities. The performer had spoken with Matinee Musicals backstage of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang shortly before their passing, making their presence within Rainbow Wales feel especially poignant.
Beyond the household names, Garside also highlights figures whose stories are less widely known but equally important, including activists, artists and pioneers whose contributions helped shape modern queer life in Wales and beyond.
Garside’s background makes her uniquely placed to tell these stories. A Cardiff-based writer with a PhD focused on theatrical responses to the AIDS crisis, she has become one of the UK’s leading voices on LGBTQ+ theatre and culture. Alongside writing for publications including The Queer Review and American Theatre, she is also the author of Love That Journey For Me: The Queer Revolution of Schitt’s Creek and Gay Aliens and Queer Folk: How Russell T Davies Changed TV.
At a time when conversations around identity, representation and queer history remain as important as ever, Rainbow Wales feels both celebratory and necessary — a reminder of the artists, performers and trailblazers who helped shape culture on stage, screen and beyond.
Rainbow Wales: Queer Icons Past and Present is out now. Visit the official site HERE
