In His Words at Bread and Roses Theatre Review
A couple sharing an intimate evening together and one, an actor, practices lines for an upcoming audition, although the conversation feels familiar.
Heather Woodhouse’s play In His Words is a collection of moments, glimpses into a mind and fragmented realities all layered on top of one another - like a kaleidoscope of words, sounds and movement. An abstract, meta-theatrical piece that feels dense at times, covering many subjects from Literature to Lou Reed.
When Esther is given the part of Aileen, she discovers the writer was her actual ex-boyfriend and the story is not only familiar, but a complete dissection of how their relationship fell apart, and how Esther is to blame. Isabel Gardiner’s set design is a single armchair with reading light, and plastic sheets hanging down all around like the scene of some sort of crime.
Esther’s new girlfriend Isabella urges her not to take the role, to not delve into the past for too long, but Esther continues, wanting to make sure she is portrayed accurately. So the play goes back and forth from domestic life to rehearsals, where Esther frustratingly sees that
changing her ex’s opinion of her is as hopeless as changing the past itself. Riya Rajeev is a strong-willed but kind director Rohan, with her own opinions on Esther’s character that Esther has to swallow despite inaccuracies.
Woodhouse’s hypnotic performance, sometimes robotic, sometimes doe-like, juxtaposes Megan Goldsmith’s grounded and caring portrayal of Isabella, Esther’s own deified ideal of Womanhood to which she feels incapable of attaining. Direction, movement and sound design from TJ Roderick was captivating, giving the whole piece this fluid constant fluctuation to fit each scene and transition.
Men's portrayal of women in literature lingers over them both, in their memory and present day, new writing and old, represented by Miss Havisham (Madeline Horan) herself being almost ever-present as a ghostly figure guiding them, joining them in the recital of poetry and songs, and dance. A Character from Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, forever wearing her wedding dress after being betrayed, robbed and left at the altar by the man she loved. A figurehead in our culture of stagnancy, unable to move on. Havisham’s presence here has a double meaning, as Isabelle is a carer for an old woman they jokingly refer to as Havisham, but of course being one of the most famous women to ever be written by a man.
The play within the play’s curtain rose before an ending was written, with Esther forgetting her part and herself, as all realities break down around her. The end was somewhat unsatisfying, not a total destruction nor regeneration for either of her characters.
It's about the portrayal of women, how they are perceived as perfect or tremendously flawed, how men perceive them and the trenches that appear between gendered experiences and even individuals. This review has only really scratched the surface of this piece as it showcases moments touching on many other subjects, but I fear that may be its
biggest downfall. It had to sit with me for a bit, but it was tender, insightful and touchingly self-reflective.
In His Words plays at Bread and Roses Theatre, London from 4-8 August 2026.
★ ★ ★
Written by Brad for Theatre and Tonic, August 2026.
