One of the chief horrors of the Nazi regime was the way that it discriminated against all the marginalised groups in society. British playwright Martin Sherman’s acclaimed 1979 play ‘Bent’ focuses on their persecution of homosexuals.

‘Bent’ is set in Berlin during the early years of the Third Reich. The play starts with Max and his partner Rudy waking up with a hangover after partying at Rudy’s club the night before. They are in a jokey mood and Rudy teases Max about Wolf, a storm-trooper who he drunkenly picked up, and who is parading himself naked around the apartment. Their morning suddenly goes black when a group of Nazis storm through their door, grab Wolf at gun point, and depart. What they are soon to learn was that, on the same night as they were partying, the Nazis, in a night infamously known as the Night of the Long Knives, murdered Ernst Rohm, and now it was open slather for the persecution of homosexuals. Max and Rudy’s world has suddenly changed from all night parties to a world of fear.

It’s a long way down from living a very comfortable, middle class existence for Sherman’s main character, Max. At different times during the play Max is heard to say, ‘I don’t believe this is happening’. As the losses around him accumulate, his situation becomes more and more desperate.

Pete Nettell’s production for Focus Theatre along with B Sharp serves Sherman’s play well. Nettell wins good performances from his cast. Radek Jonak gives a moving performance in the leading role as Max, like John Proctor in Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ and Sir Thomas More in ‘A Man for All Seasons’, learns that there are greater core values to uphold, such as staying true to one’s own sense of truth and dignity, than one’s own survival.

The pick of the supporting cast were Garth Holcombe as Rudy, and Sam Haft as Horst, the man who Max befriends in the camp. The scene where Max and Horst simulate sexual pleasure, as they stand on parade in the burning heat, without even being able to look at each other, is haunting.

Tom Bannerman’s great set and Luiz Pampolha’s evocative lighting contributed to the play’s impact.

A Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras event, Martin Sherman’s ‘Bent’ plays downstairs at Belvoir Street until Sunday 14th March.