Review: THE BIG O, Belgrade Theatre Coventry - Tour

Photo credit: Hannah Kelly Photography

Written by Kim Cormack, The Big O is exactly what you might expect it to be about: orgasms. Well, faking them at least!

We join Lucy on her very personal journey into sex, healing and connection after a diagnosis of lifelong anorgasmia. This is very much an exploration of what it really means to be a woman in the 21st century.

Be aware, it does come with a trigger warning; and contains themes of sex toys, faking orgasms, consent, casual sex, mental health, abuse, masturbation, rape, grief, suicide, pregnancy loss and female pleasure throughout history.

Jade Dowsett Roberts plays Lucy. It’s definitely an emotional rollercoaster of a role but we are sharing the highs and lows and holding her hand along the way (figuratively speaking). The relationships between her character and close friends Dee (played by Lisa Spencer) and Annie (played by Esmee Cook) are apparent and genuinely relatable, and show that even when we have disagreements with those nearest to us, we still love them.

It's an added credit to director Lotte Ruth Jackson and the production team that during the rehearsal process, an artist wellbeing and sex education practitioner were involved. The content is hard going but sometimes the hardest experiences need to be addressed, no matter how uncomfortable they make us.

Talking about them allows people to move on and process their experiences.

The Big O is also part of a bigger project by the writer, with workshops planned in the near future.

It’s a crucial piece of theatre that is identifiable for women and informative for men.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

The Big O plays at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry until 6 April before visiting the King’s Head Theatre, London from 16 May – 3 June and MAC, Birmingham on 7 & 8 June.