Review: I CAN’T HEAR YOU by Natasha Brotherdale Smith at Theatre503 4 – 7 July 2022

‘The chemistry between Birkbeck and Cashman is relentless’ ★★★★★

A blue raincoat hangs on one side of the stage, a yellow raincoat on the other. The primary colours are brought together by a green, angular line, framing a box in the centre. Through the use of colour, two contrasting characters are established before even setting foot on stage. This technique couldn’t help but remind me of queer school drama ‘Heartstopper’.

The Netflix show depicts teenagers negotiating their fledgling sexuality. Set against a school environment teetering on the brink of acceptance and intolerance, the show deals with a series of firsts. First loves. First kisses. First queer encounters. And while ‘Heartstopper’ is about these significant points in the development of LGBTQ+ adolescents, Natasha Brotherdale Smith's ‘I Can’t Hear You’ asks: what effect do these formative moments have on us and our relationships later in life?

Throughout the play, we feel as if we’re reaching backwards, looking for explanations. Scenes flash before our eyes in a non-linear way. This effect is at first disorientating before later making complete sense. The play invites the audience to retrospectively piece things together.

Ash (Zoë Birkbeck) can’t love herself for who she is and struggles to be fully open with her confident partner, Lucy (Lydia Cashman). They’re at different stages of their self-acceptance journeys, but despite Lucy’s best efforts, Ash is often resistant to making steps in the right direction. The chemistry between Birkbeck and Cashman is relentless. Both actors are responsible for shifting the set around, but neither break character while performing this task. When the couple are in love, they giggle as they move props. When the characters are upset, we feel their anguish through the frostiness of their darkened interactions.

The play is replete with tender details that feel rich and authentic. From the primal plucking of eyelashes to the handpicking of a personalised meal deal, the play strips back the element of performance allowing us into the unseen, intimate heart of Ash and Lucy’s relationship. But while the colours of ‘Heartstopper’ come together in fireworks of queer jubilation, those in ‘I Can’t Hear You’ become somewhat muddied. That’s because the play really gets to grips with the realities of modern-day homophobia.

While the show’s humour is strong (although at times undercutting the emotional intensity of scenes), the story is mostly dark and unsettling, underscored by the muffled thump of ominous, faraway beats. In keeping with the non-linear narrative, the play doesn’t meet the conclusion of the story in a harmonious ending. But where Brotherdale Smith does chose to conclude our experience is exactly spot on. 

I CAN’T HEAR YOU by Natasha Brotherdale Smith

Theatre503 4 – 7 July 2022

Box Office: https://theatre503.com/whats-on/i-cant-hear-you/#tickets

Characters:

Ash: Zoë Birkbeck

Lucy: Lydia Cashman

Director: Jessica Millward

Producer: Amy Mann

Movement Director: Zöe Grain

Sound Designer: Kristina Kapilin

Stage Manager: Eliott Sheppard

Reviewed by Danny Shaw