Review: PASSION, Floating Shed - Old Joint Stock, Birmingham

Written and performed by Tom Dalrymple and Nadav Burstein, both graduates of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Passion tells the story of one boy’s struggle to accept his homosexuality against his religious beliefs and upbringing.

It’s an intimate and violent telling of a young man trying to define what he is to himself, despite his natural feelings of denial.  Using movement to portray the closeness and support between the two main characters is a powerful and nice touch.  Showing the underlying anger and violent internal struggle without the need to explain it with words is an impactful method.

The performances are strong and truthful from both actors and the build of emotions is controlled and convincingly shocking, but it left us wanting more! 

As a ‘work-in-progress piece’, it is successfully put together and engaging, but much more could be explored. The build up to the conversion therapy and the effect on the character afterwards and how he moves on from that treatment would be an insightful story to be told.

The religious ideals and how faith doesn’t need to define who you are, but can be interpreted in a way that can improve your life, is a valid point of view that could be explored further. Prejudices created by religion can be explored and explained. 

It’s a very much relevant and possibly controversial topic and it needs to be highlighted and questioned as it is being here. Generations have evolved and this needs to be followed by a respect for ‘alternative’ and accepted lifestyles within our society and beliefs. 

“For what shall profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his sole.” – Mark 8:36.

Impactful, passionate and pertinent.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Passion is at The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham until 5 June, with tickets available here.