Monster at Seven Dials Playhouse Review
Photo by Benkin Photography
Written by Eleanor B for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Early June 2006 in Drumchapel, Glasgow is where this play begins. Written by Abigail Hood, who also stars as the protagonist, this production is an uncomfortable yet thought-provoking watch, asking difficult questions about whether people are born evil or shaped by their upbringing.
Told across two acts, the first begins in 2006, where Kayleigh and Zoe, played by Abigail Hood and Lauren Downie respectively, play two schoolgirls in their mid-teens, both recently sent home from school. Kayleigh has already been expelled from two schools by the age of 14, most recently for fighting with a girl nicknamed “Donna-Mc-Tit-Face” — a line that earned a chuckle from the audience.
The girls use their meeting spot as an escape, a place to imagine running away to the Isle of Muck, a fantasy filled with wild horses and complete freedom. It’s here we start to see the reality of Kayleigh’s chaotic and toxic home life, which casts a shadow over her every decision.
Without giving too much away, it’s important to note that this play tackles some deeply distressing themes. Content warnings should be read carefully before attending, as child abuse, sexual abuse, and substance abuse all feature prominently within the narrative.
The six-strong cast deliver powerful performances, portraying these challenging storylines with honesty and intensity that holds the audience firmly in their seats. At Seven Dials Playhouse — a 100-seat theatre that feels tailor-made for this intimate and unsettling story — the impact is heightened. By the end of act one, the room was stunned into silence, a moment of stillness that carried into the bar during the interval. The heated arguments and raw exchanges on stage feel utterly authentic, as if the actors are truly letting go and inhabiting the emotions of their characters.
The set design feels deliberately disordered, echoing the narrative’s own turbulence. In act two, the design is slightly tidier, reflecting the 20-year leap in time and the characters’ attempts to build what appears to be a more stable and content life. The contrast subtly reinforces the themes of growth, change, and the weight of the past.
This gripping and challenging piece is staged at Seven Dials Playhouse until 18 October 2025 — a bold production that is as unsettling as it is unmissable.
★★★★
