Actor Ben Platt is performing in Midnight at the Never Get, a London production set in a 1960s Greenwich Village gay bar, where he portrays an expressive cabaret performer named Trevor. The musical features compositions specifically crafted to explore queer romance, marking a significant moment for Platt—despite three decades of professional stage work dating back to childhood, this is the first time he has played an openly queer character with songs exploring queer relationships, which he describes as profoundly liberating.

In conversation, Platt discusses the central role his marriage to fellow actor Noah Galvin plays in managing his anxiety whilst pursuing demanding creative work. He reflects on the current moment for LGBTQ+ rights in his native United States, characterising it as frightening and demoralising given what he perceives as stalled or reversed progress. Nonetheless, he expresses cautious optimism about New York specifically, pointing to recent political shifts as grounds for hope.