Sissy Boy theatre review: Tackling teenage taboos
The one-person show about a teen’s growing loneliness and turbulent online relationship examines themes of masculinity and sexuality without glossing over them
Underneath breezy, Bristol banter, Jake Bickford draws us into a lonely world, where an online dominatrix becomes a boy’s closest relationship. We see the teenage main character’s paraphernalia; gaming chair, laptop, shoe box stuffed with lacy underwear. Pints of cider with mates end with bungled sex with a girl. Self loathing creeps into his late-night confessional, then drum and bass introduces a music festival scene. Bouncing in bucket hat and shellsuit, the main character kisses a boy when high, leading him to question his sexuality and masculinity.
The boy’s isolation and humiliation feel crushing and concerning to the audience, even, or especially, as he chirpily glosses over things. Minimise, ignore, go online: that seems to be his coping strategy. While against kink shaming others, he becomes increasingly ashamed of his own desires, just as his femdom mistress threatens revenge porn. His best mate’s suicide comes as a depressing shock, hinting at another man’s hidden pain. Engaging but frustrating, this queer theatre piece doesn’t arrive at any healing insights, but bravely examines the taboos that push certain behaviours and emotions dangerously underground.
Cissy Boy, Space Surgeons’ Hall, until 15 August, 10.40pm.