You at Seven Dials Playhouse Review
Written by Eleanor B for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
A moving story about the experience of adoption, told from every side.
Kathleen (Sarita Plowman) is just 15 when she falls pregnant, much to the dismay of her mother. Tension quickly builds within the household, and her once-close relationship with her father begins to strain under the weight of the situation. Her mother insists she end the pregnancy, but ultimately, a decision is made to give the baby up for adoption — a choice that feels both heartbreaking and necessary.
We follow Kathleen as she grapples with this reality, watching her navigate the quiet heartbreak of preparing to say goodbye. The uncertainty of when the last cuddle, the last kiss on the forehead, or the final moment she’ll hold her baby will come is deeply affecting, drawing the audience into her pain and confusion.
Sarita Plowman delivers a remarkable performance, also portraying Kathleen’s mother and Vanessa, the baby’s adoptive mother. Through subtle shifts in accent, expression and posture, she seamlessly moves between these women, each shaped by love, fear and circumstance, without ever leaving the stage.
She is supported by James Dangerfield, who takes on the roles of Kathleen’s father, the baby’s father, and later, the grown-up child, Charlie. His ability to transition fluidly between characters brings depth and continuity to the story, helping create a beautifully cohesive and flowing one-hour production.
The creative team deserves equal praise for bringing this story to life. Written by Mark Wilson and directed by Rosie Snell, You balances delicacy with emotion seen from all sides of the story, supported by Andrew Stewart-Buttle’s composition, which perfectly complements the raw emotion of the performances.
Performed in The Pen at Seven Dials Playhouse, a black box space with a 50-seat capacity, You fills the room perfectly. From my seat in the front row, I felt completely immersed in the story — as though I were sitting in Kathleen’s family home or waiting beside Vanessa in the adoption clinic.
You runs at Seven Dials Playhouse until 15 November
★ ★ ★ ★
