Ifeyinwa Frederick’s Sessions concludes a triumphant UK tour at the Soho Theatre, the celebrated London home of punchy, fresh new writing. A fitting place indeed to showcase this funny, tender, and moving one-man show about confronting one’s vulnerabilities.

The audience of Soho Theatre Upstairs is witness to Tunde’s growing apprehension about his looming 30th birthday, preparations for which are punctuated by his therapy sessions with an unseen therapist. The silent therapist, voice notes and calls from friends and family, all emphasise Tunde’s isolation on stage and throughout the performance, the cracks in his bravado start to show.

Frederick is evidently well-versed in the language of depression and therapy – the attention to detail and rigorous research that has evidently gone into this script must be applauded. In the concluding scenes, the writing perfectly and chillingly captures all the darkest wanderings of a depressed mind with palpable realness.

This bruising play steers clear of sensationalising depression and mental decline, and Joseph Black’s performance maintains a dignified fragility right up to the denouement which knocks the wind out of you.

Joseph Black is captivating as Tunde. He commands the stage and holds his own in a performance of thinly-veiled vulnerability. Black deftly balances the humour and pathos of this script, and keeps the audience wrapped around his little finger.

Lighting designer Simisola Majekodunmi deserves considerable praise for her canny lighting design, which neatly and effectively distinguishs the different settings and timelines woven into Tunde’s monologue. 

Sensitively directed by Philip Morris, whose company Trybe House Theatre works to empower young black men through theatre, Sessions is a well-paced 90 minutes of truthful, poignant and unmissable theatre.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Livvy Perrett

Paines Plough's SESSIONS runs at Soho Theatre until 4 December, with tickets available here.