★★★★

“A captivating and moving story”

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to question your sexuality? Meet Mark, a troubled teen trying to navigate life who finds it difficult to open up about his concerns surrounding sex and family/school life.

Written by Simon Perrott and directed by Gerald Armin, In Conversation With Graham Norton is an insight into how the younger generation explore their sexuality and the challenges it can bring. Mark, played by Jamie Kaye does a remarkable job at bringing his character’s story to life. His jaunty, true to life performance and excellent delivery of dialogue has the audience gripped from start to finish.

Graham Norton has a big impact in this hour long play (though not actually in person!). Mark feels like Graham is the only person to whom he can talk to in depth about what he’s going through and his yet to experience intimate relationships. Naturally talking to a photograph of him propped up on his bedside chair is a problem shared and a weight lifted. Family life is somewhat of a rollercoaster describing a sister who can be a bit of a bitch. This story also touches on awkward situations in public spaces and how young men (Mark) have a frequent need to masturbate leading to well … let’s just say a rather aroused but shocking encounter with maybe a family pet.

The subject of bullying at school comes up which even includes Mark’s sister of all people! This feeling of loneliness leads to him joining an online ‘Me and You’ group for individuals who, like him are finding it difficult to accept themselves either because of who they are or their appearance. He finds a good friend in someone from the group but be prepared, it’s an emotional one.

Gareth McCloud’s sound design brings clarity to the production with music influences which resonate with young people in similar situations of trying to find themselves. Jonathan Simpson’s vibrant lighting design adds to the overall feel of Waterloo East’s unique, homelike set design which is cleverly displayed as a bedroom with a single bed, a radio and a bookcase of meaningful books and vinyl.

In Conversation With Graham Norton is a very well produced play, tackling awkward subjects people would find difficult to talk about in every day life. A captivating and moving story with some dark turns make it a definite must see!

THE CRUMPLE ZONE at the Waterloo East Theatre

★★★

“The fast pace creates its own sense of delirium, and the bitter aftertaste is delicious”

There is love happening in a festive Staten Island apartment. There is heartbreak happening too. There are heartfelt dilemmas as a twentysomething quartet – three men and a woman – try to sort out their criss-crossed relationships on the eve of Christmas.

In director Helen Bang’s cacophonous onslaught, sometimes it’s difficult to pick out these love stories from the rest. Because, between episodes of soul-searching, ecstasy and grief, there are the endless, merciless histrionics. No thought goes unexpressed. No minor shift in mood or status isn’t analysed then shouted loudly into someone’s face.

At the heart of it all, though, there’s the love quadrangle. Bitter queen Terry (scene stealer James Grimm) adores clean-cut Buck (James Mackay). But Buck has fallen for twisted and torn bi-sexual Alex (Jonny Davidson) who has girlfriend Sam (Sinead Donnelly) at arm’s length until he figures out his feelings for Buck, who loves him to the point of weepy despair.

Sam arrives for a showdown, having figured out something’s afoot. She stirs a pot already whizzing like a whirlpool.

Terry, never short of a bitchy exit line, sums it up thus, “Everyone I know is in love with everyone else I know.” Terry, shorn of reciprocal love himself, tends to scoop up random men, such as macho married-with-kids Roger (Nicholas Gauci) for hook-ups.

Terry, a feather boa on legs, is exhausting. They all are. Their verbal assaults tend to peak in either furious sex or rancorous wrestling, the difference between the two being moot.

Writer Buddy Thomas’ wordy mile-a-minute script – funny, busy and clever – is overwhelming at times. The cast feel it. They gamely wrangle the machine-gun acid drops but sometimes it simply gets away from them. The script is like a very big dog on a leash who spots a squirrel in the park – they hang on being pulled this way and that, hoping for a break.

There’s little time for nuance or character. They barely have a chance to register a reaction to some putdown before issuing a fully formed, impeccably paced, beautifully sour response. Consequently, there is very little genuine interaction, just a lot of staged sequential and sour monologues.

However, there are plums in the pudding. Alex’s comic retelling of his sacking as a mall Santa has room to breathe and is rewarding as a result. Grimm does a good line in drunken self-annihilation and Donnelly’s mousy Sam brings a squeak of genuine sadness to the tinselled madhouse.

Of course, Christmas spirit wins in the end, sort of, if not resolving the woes, then at least postponing conflict until the New Year. Everyone can have some turkey and lay down their weapons. Although you sense the men love the friction more than the ceasefire and can’t wait for hostilities to resume.

The performances here are spirited and fun. The fast pace creates its own sense of delirium, and the bitter aftertaste is delicious. If you’re looking for a dark alternative to a raft of cloying Christmas shows, set up camp in The Crumple Zone.

Tag Archives: Waterloo East Theatre

IN CONVERSATION WITH GRAHAM NORTON

★★★★

Waterloo East Theatre

IN CONVERSATION WITH GRAHAM NORTON

Waterloo East Theatre

★★★★

“A captivating and moving story”

IN CONVERSATION WITH GRAHAM NORTON

Waterloo East Theatre

Reviewed on 13th November 2025

by Emily East

Photography by Robert Piwko

Previously reviewed at this venue:

THE CRUMPLE ZONE | ★★★ | November 2024

STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW | ★★★★★ | July 2021

IN CONVERSATION

IN CONVERSATION

IN CONVERSATION

THE CRUMPLE ZONE

★★★

Waterloo East Theatre

THE CRUMPLE ZONE at the Waterloo East Theatre

★★★

“The fast pace creates its own sense of delirium, and the bitter aftertaste is delicious”