Review: SUGAR COAT, Southwark Playhouse Borough
Photo credit: Ali Wright
Sugar Coat is a feminist pop-punk live music play about a woman navigating the sexually confusing modern world. The show originally premiered at the VAULT Festival in 2020 and is currently being performed at the Southwark Playhouse, Borough, which works perfectly as an intimate venue for a personal story.
Based on real events, Sugar Coat is piece of gig theatre performed by a five-piece female and non-binary band. It is a genre that you don’t see too often but is well suited to this heartfelt and hard-hitting story. We follow one woman’s coming of age journey over eight years from teenager to young adult, through love and loss as she navigates sex and sexuality. The name ‘Sugar Coat’ is apt as the show certainly doesn’t as it tackles some difficult issues, such as miscarriage and sexual assault. Warnings are displayed around the theatre and at the start of the show, the cast remind the audience that they can leave and re-join if it all gets a bit too much.
The talented cast is led by the charismatic Dani Heron on lead vocals. With her strong Paisley accent, she has the range and sensitivity to address the dark themes and comic timing to help us enjoy the lighter moments. Heron is joined by Rachel Barnes, Anya Pearson and Sarah Workman who were all in the original production with the new addition of Eve De Leon Allen. They are all accomplished actors and musicians and appear as the different lovers and acquaintances Heron meets throughout the show. Rachel Barnes is particularly brilliant as Heron’s mum and later her sex therapist. Eve de Leon Allen and Anya Pearson play Kat and Gaz with whom Heron enters a polyamorous relationship. The show should be applauded for the way it sensitively portrays such a relationship which is rarely seen in the arts.
The cast use handheld microphones and almost chat to the audience between songs to tell the story, which really adds to the sense that you are at a gig. The catchy and empowering songs allow the performers to use music to delve deeper into the characters emotions and portray their message of liberation and sexual acceptance. However, at times, the sound levels are a bit off so you lose some of the words Heron is belting out. The highlights of Sugar Coat are the funny moments which help to break up the heavy nature of the show, so the audience ultimately feel uplifted.
Sugar Coat is a powerful and important piece of pop-punk theatre which is honest about the struggles of trauma and recovery. This bold coming-of-age story will make you laugh, cry and leave the theatre feeling empowered.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Sophie Luck
Sugar Coat plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 22 April, with further information here.