John Partridge has lived many lives on stage and screen. Trained at the Royal Ballet School and making his professional debut in Cats at just sixteen, he went on to become one of the most recognisable faces in British theatre and television. From his long-running role in EastEnders to acclaimed performances in Cabaret, Chicago and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, he has built a career defined by bold choices. Away from the spotlight, Partridge has been candid about his personal life, supporting his mother through Alzheimer’s, surviving cancer, and finding joy in cooking, even publishing his own cookbook. He has also long been an outspoken and visible queer voice in the industry, with over two decades alongside his partner, actor Jon Tsouras.

This autumn he returns to Southwark Playhouse Elephant to lead Michael McKeever’s new play The Code, directed by Christopher Renshaw. Set in Hollywood in the 1950s, it invites us into the home of Billy Haines, a former screen idol who chose to live openly gay at a time when silence was demanded. The evening brings together Haines, the mercurial Tallulah Bankhead (Tracie Bennett), powerful agent Henry Willson and his star protégé. It is a play about image, compromise, and courage, asking what happens when you decide not to play by Hollywood’s rules.

We sat down with John to hear his thoughts on the play, his vision of Billy Haines, and why these stories still matter today.

Interview with John Partridge

“When you look at Billy’s life, the sad truth is that not much has changed. He took his stand in 1933, refusing to give up his partner Jimmy Shields, and yet even now you cannot name one openly gay, above the title male movie star. Hollywood was built by homosexuals, and it still actively excludes them. That is why it feels so urgent to tell his story.”

John admits that when he first came to the role, he knew nothing about Haines. Researching him opened up a whole new world. “I discovered that people like him were called wisecrackers, which we would now think of as camp. It was a way of covering yourself, of throwing people off with humour, hiding in plain sight. And I loved finding out how he reinvented himself. After Hollywood turned its back, he became one of the leading interior designers of his time, a forefather of mid century modern. I love that world, so I felt a real connection.”

For John, The Code is not only about history but about the present. “Without visibility, these stories get lost. Plays like this shine a light so that people know what is at stake. We live in a time where hard won freedoms are being eroded. It is vital to be reminded of how far we have come and how far we still have to go.”

As a queer man in his fifties, the role resonates in personal ways too. “There are very few parts for us. Most of the time queer lives are told as coming of age stories. I have been with my partner for 23 years, so I see something of myself in Billy and Jimmy’s relationship. It meets my life at a strange, timely point.”

He also speaks about how his personal challenges have shaped the way he works. “Acting is about truth. Life experience, even the painful parts, can enrich storytelling if you can look back at it and bring it into the work when it is needed.”

On working alongside Tracie Bennett as Tallulah Bankhead, John’s enthusiasm is immediate. “We have known each other since the 90s, but never worked together until now. The friendship is real, and you can feel that on stage. It is like sparring partners, like siblings. She is formidable, full of depth and vulnerability, and she is worth the ticket alone. It is a joy to finally play together.”

There are unexpected parallels between this role and John’s other creative outlet, cooking. “Sometimes the stars align and your real life meets your work. Seeing another person’s struggles makes you feel less alone. This story has given me strength as I begin a new chapter myself.”

Asked about his inspirations, he goes back to his younger self. “I was fascinated by Kenny Everett and Arlene Phillips’ Hot Gossip on television. The gender play, the abandon, it stirred something in me. Years later I worked with Kenny on The Hunting of the Snark. He is a true queer icon for me.”

And looking ahead? John believes new writing is the lifeblood of theatre. “The Code is a gift because it tells a new chapter of LGBTQIA+ history in a way that is warm, funny and thrilling. It puts two queer men at the centre, Billy Haines and Henry Willson, who had very different ways of surviving Hollywood. We still see those arguments within our community now. Plays like this remind us of the debates we need to have, but also that we are still one community.”

When and where to see The Code

• Dates: 12 September – 11 October 2025
• Opening Night: 17 September
• Venue: Southwark Playhouse Elephant
• Evening Performances: 7pm
• Matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays
• Running Time: 90 minutes (no interval)
• Age Guidance: 14+
• Tickets: From £10 (pioneers’ preview) to £45, with concessions and group offers available

For booking and more details, visit southwarkplayhouse.co.uk.

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🔗 You may also like our recent interview with Isabella Waldron and Merle Wheldon on The Watch
🔗 Read our review of This Bitter Earth at Soho Theatre

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