Llwyth (Tribe)

In 1999, Swansea's Russell T Davies created Queer As Folk, the first mainstream TV series about gay life. In December 2009, Welsh rugby international Gareth Thomas came out as gay. Both figures influence this hugely enjoyable, generous play about a group of gay men in Cardiff.

Aneurin has returned to the city from London for family reasons. He fancies himself as a beat poet warrior, an aspiring writer, someone who is too good for Cardiff. Its gay scene is too low rent for him.

Yet he is here, pulled by the gravity of a family situation. On a night after Wales lose at rugby, he hits the town with his three gay friends. The evening takes them from confrontations with rugby lads to drug-fuelled hedonism in dark, beat-filled clubs.

Performed in Welsh with English subtitles, it is a propulsive, at times breathless, tour of Cardiff's gay scene. It could sink under the weight of its clichés: Liza Minelli, show tunes, Kylie, and Strictly Come Dancing all get a mention. The rugby lad "turned gay" by a song from Moulin Rouge is one of the main characters. So too is the 15-year-old gay kid from the Valleys.

Yet it matches such obvious touchstones with flights of invention and magic. Surreal hallucinations, angels and a Welsh voice choir even what could be worthy material. Plus, it subtly mixes in themes of national, linguistic and sexual identity.

Combined with a fine ensemble performance, Llwyth can join the pantheon alongside Davies and Thomas. As one character rightly notes: “Welsh really is queer”.