Boy Out The City
Having enjoyed a successful run at the Lyric Theatre in the West End of London during 2023, Declan Bennett brings his autobiographical show ‘Boy Out The City’ to Birmingham REP. This is a show exploring what it means to deal with your inner demons during a time of loneliness, when you’re able to reflect and take time to heal from past traumas.
A one man show is always a daunting prospect. Will the performer be able to captivate an audience for the duration of the show and provide a performance worthy of our full attention over a 65 minute period?. The short answer is yes! Declan Bennett provides an emotionally charged, and beautifully poetic performance as he narrates us through his early years growing up as a queer child in Coventry and the obstacles he encountered with his sexuality, moving to London where he felt completely accepted, to finding himself in rural Oxfordshire, alone, during the 2020 pandemic that saw a fair few people having to spend months apart from loved ones and family.
It was during this solitary time that Bennett offers up his story, as his boyfriend leaves for a 6 month period to work in America. The range of emotion portrayed is vast. The dialogue starts in a light-hearted manner, with a very funny dig at our former Prime Minister Boris Johnson who could barely string a sentence together during his Covid press conferences. There is joy, laughter and happiness, as the prospect of moving out of the city to a more serene location is appealing. However, over the proceeding months Bennetts younger self taunts him to a point where he shouts “I give up”. However it’s not a sign of weakness, more of a sign of power and we are all encouraged to follow in his footsteps of letting go of our own inner demons.
Bennett is superb in his delivery. The dialogue comes easily, without any dip in tempo. His mood changes are handled with precision and as the show reaches its conclusion, the many visible beads of sweat upon Bennetts brow truly cemented the fact that he worked full pelt for just over an hour to provide a great evening. There is a fantastic soundtrack provided alongside the dialogue, and being of a similar age to Bennett, this was very pleasing to my ears, aswell as hearing we have a shared love of Sister Act 2!
The set, by Reuben Speed, is simple but effective as the inside of the Oxfordshire cottage where Bennett spends his time. There is clever use of lighting (Alex Lewer) throughout used to accentuate locations outside the cottage, such as Bennett’s neighbour who was the recipient of many a loaf of banana bread (let’s face it, we ALL baked banana bread during lockdown!).
To write your own story takes courage, especially when you’ve not been completely at ease with yourself over the years, but I also feel it’s a way of releasing trauma in a beautiful way. Sharing your story can empower others who may feel the way you did, offering a light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
This show is a definite must-see for Bennett’s performance alone. A real treat for any theatre goer.
This show was reviewed on the 4th September 2024 at Birmingham REP where it runs until the 7th September 2024. Tickets available here: Boy Out the City | Birmingham Rep (birmingham-rep.co.uk)
Review written by Emma Rowley
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Photo credit: Colin J Smith
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