Puppy at King’s Head Theatre
Puppy’s plot description is enticing, to say the least. While it may turn some away with shaking heads and embarrassed scoffs, the braver theatregoers should be up in arms about experiencing this show. Making a home in King’s Head Theatre in Islington, Relish Theatre brings to the stage feminist porn, sexual expression and dogging. Written by Naomi Westerman and directed by Kayla Feldman, Puppy is audacious but never uncomfortable, visually pleasing and intellectually stimulating.
There’s barely a chance to breathe before the characters are having sex, yet opening on a four-way dogging scene seems like the only way to appropriately set the tone of the next 85 minutes. We follow bookkeeper Jaz and pornstar Maya and their evolving relationship, as well as Richard, Susan, Sandra and Dave, two married couples who are members of a swinging and dogging society. Frustrated with the way the porn industry is run, Jaz and Maya set out to revolutionise it, ensuring female pleasure is at the forefront and that the safety of the actors is paramount. They are met with curveballs in the shape of Tory MP’s, government porn bans and working professionally with your partner.
Throughout the play, the audience is exposed to many discussions about sex, whether that be harmless sexual awakenings or if the very basis of porn is inherently misogynistic. The writing is upfront and honest, never sugar coating or dancing around the point, forcing this often taboo theme into a place of casual chat. While most matters are refreshingly playful, the deeper topics, like pedophilia or non-consensual scenes, are given the gravity that they deserve, even if they are quickly pushed past.
Filled with orange and pink lights, squishy bean bags and movable car seats, the setting is cosy and intimate. It also allows for excellent physical theatre. It’s clear that the actors are comfortable with each other, something necessary when portraying scenes in a play like this. Thus, these scenes lean toward funny rather than overtly sexual: as the characters say, “It’s mostly social!” This bleeds into the audience’s experience; not once is the room awkward or uneasy. Instead, it’s relaxed.
Puppy is a welcome addition to this spring’s theatre scene. It’s unconventional in the best way and offers space for topical conversations while not teetering too seriously. Although earnest, it is not a play that focuses on the dangers of porn and its societal effect. Rather, it centres on those who see its benefits. Either way, Puppy gets the conversation going.
Talitha Stowell
Photos: Steve Gregson
Puppy is at King’s Head Theatre from 1st until 27th April 2025. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.
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