Cock at Ambassadors Theatre

Cock is an often insightful exploration of issues surrounding identity and sexuality that complicates simple doctrines and categories by framing them in the context of someone who grows to doubt his coming out. Naturally, it makes sense for John – the only named character in the play, here portrayed beautifully by Jonathan Bailey – to be uncertain, given the subject matter, but his teetering occasionally moves into an absurd direction that slows the pace and makes him seem over-the-top selfish as he plays both of his love interests until the last moments.

It’s still a strong play, just with several weaknesses. His feelings towards his boyfriend (Taron Egerton) feel genuine and believable, as does his newly discovered attraction towards his girlfriend (Jade Anouka), which would cause an insurmountable amount of confusion in anyone. It’s just that he doesn’t seem to have a life outside of his sexuality – ironic, considering part of the play’s purpose is for people not to be defined by it alone, but to discover who one is regardless of one’s sexuality. We don’t really know much about John, at the end of the play, beyond his dithering.

Nevertheless, a lot of the writing is powerful. The boyfriend’s father (played by Phil Daniels) is wonderfully self-righteous in his approach, as one might expect from a person of that generation, and has a hilarious exchange with the girlfriend – hilarious much like the exchange between both love interests, as they jealously throw insults at each other. Indeed, the play’s humour is its greatest strength, even if it’s surprisingly tame considering the obviously provocative title. Some of the lines are brilliantly witty and earn some well-deserved laughter from a grateful audience.

Marianne Elliott’s minimalist set design uses no props and just four metallic-looking walls, and it often works, thanks to some atmospheric lighting by Paule Constable and eerie sound design by Ian Dickinson. This contributes to a well-conceived play with an interesting, new take on its subject matter, and it’s definitely worth a watch.

Michael Higgs
Photos: Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Cock is at Ambassadors Theatre from 5^th March until 4^th June 2022. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.