Soho Boy

For the only show I chose to see alone I selected one I knew none of our group would want (or be allowed!) to see. Well that was their loss.

"Soho Boy" does what it says on the tin and tells the story of Spencer coming to terms with his sexuality and the issues and problems that naturally ensue when you discover you are gay. We are in fairly well trodden territory, but the reason this show is a triumph is due to the quality of the writing by Paul Emelion- Daly and the performance from Owen Dennis.

For a young performer in his first professional role Owen was astonishing. In a one person show there is nowhere to hide (he literally displays everything) so it is essential that he dominates the stage, as both the character and in a cabaret musical where he sings beautifully, succeeding in both putting over big disco and quiet intimate numbers equally well.

I was particularly impressed by two pieces of writing. One in a song where he says to the audience "Ask me ...and then sings the line to himself (it works better on stage than on the page) and in a scene where he goes for an Aids test the only dialogue is the answers to the questions allowing us to guess (or know) what the questions are.

The ending was surprisingly low-key, adding an air of reality and acceptance I am not sure other playwrights might have provided.

A total triumph so please head to Space at Symposium Hall. You won't regret it.