Sit or Kneel | The Other Palace Studio

Witty, playful and oozing with charisma, Mimi Nation-Dixon’s one-woman play, Sit or Kneel, is a cleverly crafted coming-of-age story of a young female vicar searching for approval and connection. 25 year old vicar named Margot finds herself leader of a parish in a quaint and tiresome community. Suited with a dog collar that doesn’t quite fit, we see Margot battle the sticky mid-mass readings, awkward after-service chats, and amusing cockerel funerals.

Throughout the piece we frequently see Margot clinging desperately to interactions that make her feel seen and wanted. Margot constantly seeks validation within a community that doesn’t have much to give back to her. We see her pursuing affirmation, as a young and female vicar, from a society that is rooted in tradition. The play beautifully depicts the monotonous and insular perils of life in rural England. Nation-Dixon portrays an array of charming and peculiar characters, as she paints the picture of the world that surrounds her.

The simplistic set brilliantly aided Nation-Dixon’s comedic delivery. The stage was dressed very practically, with items such as a cassock, a farmer’s coat, and a tall table resembling a lectern. Nation-Dixon utilised the stage space and set excellently, as she flicked between her time addressing her congregation at the lectern, to her post-mass debriefs and late night revelations over glasses of red wine. The lighting also helped highlight any change of setting, as the dull and warm lighting in the church flicked to the flashing blocks of colour in a night-club.

Nation-Dixon’s portrayal of Margot was superb, as we see the character’s inner monologue battle against her in moments of fragility, exploring themes such as grief and belonging. The writing asks audience members to consider the expectations of young women within our current social climate, as Margot discusses ideas such as life’s unforgiving to-do list, the normative demand to embody sexual appeal, and the ever-growing politics of life on social media.

This reviewer did feel that some moments in the story lacked exploration and clarity, as I left the theatre with some question marks surrounding Margot’s past. Margot and her inner monologue made reference to past events that had obviously altered the characters perspective quite drastically; events which I felt weren’t developed or explained efficiently.

The entire piece was bursting at the seems with sharp wit, enlightening the audience with Margot’s particularly unique perspective. Following its hugely successful sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it’s no wonder that Sit or Kneel has found its way to The Other Palace Studio stage, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Sit or Kneel plays at The Other Palace Studio until Sunday 26th October 2025.

Tickets and More Information

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review