The cast of characters provides many opportunities for diverse casting choices in all roles helping the musical connect with the widest possible audience. The characters are:

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Steve

Protagonist, married for 29 years with 6 children. Call Centre Manager and frustrated musician. Comes out to himself (and his wife) as a bisexual man at the age of 50. He seeks platonic relationship with a gay man who becomes his close friend, whilst remaining fully committed to his wife.

 

Rachel

Lead female character. Married to Steve for 29 years and counting. She is accepting of Steve’s bisexuality but initially struggles with the news. Working mum of 6 – she works part-time in the Call Centre as a trainee counsellor. She wants Steve to be happy and accepting him for who he is brings them even closer together.

 

Siddiq

‘The catalyst’. Steve’s deputy manager at the Call Centre in his mid to late 30s. Object of Steve’s ever-growing affections. He is straight but accepts Steve’s sexuality after he comes out to him. There is a side to Siddiq that plays on Steve’s ‘vulnerability’ at first – getting away with things in the office, for example – but mainly he is a good guy who stays a good friend and is very supportive of Steve.

 

JJ

Steve’s younger co-worker at the Call Centre. He is in his early 20s and is openly gay. He looks up to Steve as a ‘father figure’ and mentor. JJ leads a colourful life in the city’s gay scene and performs as a drag queen (Anita Fanny). He is a larger-than-life character when in drag, but can be quite shy as JJ. In addition to giving JJ advice, Steve learns much from JJ throughout the story (JJ lives the life Steve might have had at 20, but there are no regrets.)

 

Hugo

Antagonist. Hugo is an employee at the Call Centre, but insists that it is only temporary as he is an aspiring actor. He is in his 30s. He is manipulative and devious, often two-faced, with some homophobic / sexist tendencies. He always maintains that he is Steve’s true friend and advisor. Likes to be the centre of attention and thinks he is the king of 'lad bantz', but ultimately he is not as clever as he believes.

 

Nadiya

Office Manager at the Call Centre. She is in her 40s and is plain speaking and often sharp-tongued about colleagues, but she is always fair. She is a rock to Steve when he needs a friend and she can always be counted on to listen to people and offer support and care. She is very humorous and is one of the first people Steve talks to about his sexuality. Her husband of many years has recently left her for another (younger) woman and she is fighting to find a new identity for herself.

 

Daisy

She is a lively, free-spirited and slightly quirky Call Centre worker in her 20s. Best friends with JJ, she quite often frequents the city’s gay scene with him. She starts dating Steve’s eldest son when he returns home from university. She is a trainee counsellor with Rachel and volunteers on the helpline.

 

Marty

Steve’s eldest son, he is 19 and at university studying maths. He dates Daisy over the summer holidays and finds out through her that Steve is bisexual. This naturally causes some upset but is soon resolved and he tells Steve he is the best dad anyone could hope for.

 

Stephanie

Psychologist. Steve visits her to seek help in his darkest days when he feels he has no one to talk to. Stephanie is thoroughly unprofessional, but ultimately somehow still manages to help Steve overcome his inner demons and face up to the truth. 

 

Max 

Local artist, struggling with self-confidence issues and depression. We learn of his story when an anonymous caller (later revealed as Max) tells Daisy his distressing issues with grief via the helpline. Later in the musical, Max meets Steve looking for friendship and his backstory becomes known by all. He has a quirky sense of humour similar to Steve’s, together with a shared drive to be creative, which sees them get on like soul mates who have known each other forever. He becomes great friends with Steve and suggests Steve write a musical to tell his story.

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