Tell Me Straight / Aggy at Park Theatre Review
Aggy production image. Photo by Craig Fuller
Written by Cathie for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
The Park Theatre’s Park 90 space hosted a double bill of plays written by rising star Paul Bradshaw. Both plays run for 70 minutes, with an impressive twenty minutes interval between for setting the different scenery. Both of them explored queer life in the 21st century, but from very different perspectives.
The first play, “Tell Me Straight”, is semi-autobiographical in tone. It follows the tumultuous life of “Him”, portrayed by Paul Bradshaw, who is finding plenty of men to hook up with in a series of one-night stands. The only issue is they are all supposedly straight. Therefore, out of frustration, Him goes on a fast from booze, fast food and men for one month, to disastrous effect.
The plot flows gently, ebbing and flowing from past adventurous sexual experiences, including an interrupted experience at the horse guards barracks, and his present interactions with an array of unsuitable men. At times this can feel confusing, but it is also reminiscent of a deep unveiling of the soul at the end of a night out and very satisfying to observe. His unsuitable beaus include childhood best friend Matt, fellow actor Luke and new friend Ryan.
Buck Braithwaite is phenomenal in playing all of these different parts. His use of change in tone, accent, body movement and nuance was brilliant at differentiating the characters to the point I found it difficult to remember he is one actor. His chemistry with Bradshaw is wonderful, and they both present this story with compassion, vulnerability and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Jade Anouka provides the voice notes of best friend Dani and an excellent grounding in the world outside Him’s mind.
Tell Me Straight production image. Photo by Craig Fuller
While the first play is a deeply thoughtful examination of patterns in relationships, the second play, Aggy is a new play by Bradshaw that focuses on how identity and creativity intersect with relationships. Aggy is also much faster-paced than Tell Me Straight. Lawrence (Mark Lawrence) and Mahlik (Jean- Luke Worrell) have been together for a year before Mahlik moves into Lawrence’s flat. From an upper-middle-class background, artist Lawrence is frustrated by a lack of opportunities he perceives as stemming from his background. In conversations that include explorations of microaggressions, racism, gender roles and familial expectations, Mahlik throws out a suggestion that Lawrence pretends to be non-binary to gain artistic gig opportunities. This quickly spirals out of control, ending in devastating consequences for the pair.
We also see many videos of non-binary Rex (Jack Gittins), who is Lawrence’s rival and frenemy. The use of video to incorporate the character felt immersive and an excellent portrayal of social media in modern lives, as well as grounding the actions of Lawrence, which would be difficult to exhibit on stage within the shorter timing.
The themes of this play are excellent in exploring privilege and attitudes towards gender fluidity in society. All three actors were terrific and had fantastic chemistry together to elevate the story and its message even further. Damien Stanston has designed an immersive and cosy set for Aggy, with dizzying and impressive lighting design by Cheng Keng. The use of an immersive set for Aggy but not for Tell Me Straight, Bradshaw’s first play, also showcases his fantastic growth as a writer. Overall, these are two fantastic, thought-provoking plays. They are similar in exploring queer life in London, but focus on distinct and unique experiences. They are at turns profound, hilarious and heart wrenching and a brilliant night at the theatre. These plays are a must see for all to watch. If you enjoy new writing, fantastic casts and engaging plays, then these are the shows for you.
Plays until 28 March 2026
★★★★
