Stephen Leach’s playwrighting debut Can’t Wait To Leave is having its world premiere at Waterloo East Theatre this week. The play centres on Ryan, a nineteen-year-old bisexual man, living in London. Ryan (played by Zach Hawkins) is currently working as a food delivery rider living in a horribly overpriced pit of a flat and is feeling rather lonely as the person he relied upon has left the city.
Staged in an NHS hospital waiting room, (it becomes apparent why towards the end of the play) there are no staging changes throughout the show. Subtle changes would have aided the storytelling, making it easier for the audience to know where the scene he’s reflecting upon is taking place, as the static staging makes visualisation more difficult. However, the sound design does help to build the atmosphere of each scene.
Hawkins has a casual air about him when playing this role. The performance feels effortless, and his delivery feels natural, as though this could be his own personal story. At times the show has an almost stand-up style feel to it, as it is performed in a direct address to the audience, allowing us to feel in conversation with him without the fourth wall being fully broken.
The script is good for the most part, filled with some gloriously darkly humorous lines and honest depictions of both life as a bisexual man, and also of a person trying to find his place. There are moments when the lines are rather graphic, bordering on crude. There are also a few lines which were slightly problematic, such as a line stereotyping a fat man, and a line about sleeping with a Muslim man. Both of these felt rather tasteless, and they were not necessary to the overall story. It did not make sense to me for the character of Ryan, who is facing judgement and stereotyping for his sexuality, to then make assumptions and stereotype others.
There are also a few anecdotes, such as stories about Ryan’s job, which detract from the main story and needlessly elongate the run time, which is around 30 minutes longer than the advertised length. The play takes a long time to set things up, which then means it drags toward the end, diluting the play’s climax. Some editing is required to condense the script to make this a more cohesive piece with momentum throughout.
Hawkin’s performance is the star of this show. He is hysterically funny and heartbreakingly emotive in equal parts, taking us on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout this poignant story. His stamina is astounding; performing completely solo for 90 minutes is no mean feat, and he did not leave the stage once, with even costume changes occurring onstage. He gives a simply stunning performance.
Can’t Wait To Leave is a solid writing debut, though some consolidation of the script is required to make the play more dynamic and pacier. I do feel the show would be much better suited to a 60-minute run time. But the core of the story is honest, raw, and sadly relatable to many – particularly those trying to find their way in the lonely capital city. With some work, this has the potential to stun. Plus, it’s always great to see bisexual representation in any form, as it is an often misunderstood and unfairly judged part of the LGBTQIA+ community – so this is something to be commended.
Check the content warnings before you watch the show, as there is some potentially triggering content within the show.
{🎟 AD – PR invite – Tickets were gifted in exchange for an honest review}
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