Puppy by Naomi Westerman. King's Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 until 27 April 2025, 1☆. Review: William Russell.

Photo Credit: Steve Gregson.     

Puppy by  Naomi Westerman.  King's Head Theatre,  115 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 until 27 April 2025,

1☆. Review: William Russell.

“Beware - bottom humpers.”

It would be preferable to be tied up being slapped across the face with a wet haddock or staying at home watching the television news about  the antics of Donald Trump than sitting through this dire feminist centric comedy about what happens after Jaz and Maya meet while out dogging in the Princess Di Memorial Car Park, presumably in Essex, and form their own feminist porn company promoting face sitting among other sexual practices. The star is for the cast bothering to turn up and the efforts of intimacy director Christina Fulcher in staging the goings on although she is helped by the fact that the cast do keep all their clothes on throughout – wisely. Ashling O'Shea as Jaz and Amy Revelle as Maya do what is required of them rather well but never manage to make one care, the Nick Clegg jokes – it is set when he was deputy Prime Minister – are stale to say the least, and the endless bottom humping and crutch snuggling tedious to watch. Clegg has declared that the Government is not there to “stick its nose into the bedroom” which has promoted protests outside parliament although the bed room is not only where the protestors wish to stick their noses by any means. Highlights include the moment when son Dave goes to the park only to discover his mother and father are there already – dogging, it transpires, keeps their love alive. The programme quotes The Stage as saying that Relish Theatre, whose production this is, creates “vibrant and expressive new work with a wholly authentic voice.” Maybe it does, but this under-directed over-[erformed  bottom humping feast not one of them.

Cast

Ashling O'Shea – Jaz

Amy Revelle – Maya

Ian Hallard – Richard

Tia Dunn – Susan

Maria Austin – Sandra

Ed l.arkin – Dave

Creatives

Director – Kayla Feldman

Intimacy Director – Christine Fulcher

Visual Design – Roisin Jenner

Lighting Design – Carja Hamilton

Sound Design – Jamie Lu

Costume Supervisor – Beth Qualter Buncall .