Squidge | Riverside Studios

Squidge, written and performed by Tiggy Bayley and directed by Selwin Hulme-Teague, is a dark comedy play that uses biting commentary to tackle the grievances of love and loss. The 60 minute play is filled with sharp wit, a refreshing and uncensored honesty, a healthy dosage of swearing, and a lot of care that comes together to create a piece that really makes the audience feel. 

The comedy follows Daisy, a young teaching assistant who has been assigned to be the 1:1 assistant to 10-year-old neurodivergent Paddy Connors. As the play progresses and Daisy makes progress with helping and bonding with the young Paddy, Daisy comes to realise the similarities of the two's lost and hurting hearts as they each deal with death of a loved one.

Daisy uses her biting wit, her unwavering cynicism and her impatience for anything or anyone that is inauthentic to fend off the grief that looms overhead. By doing so, she begins a casual sexual relationship with her plumber, only days after the funeral, and frequently hangs up on her mother's check up calls, preferring to remain alone outside of her work. However, as she begins to grow protective over the young Paddy, she opens herself up to caring for others and letting herself find love once again. 

Bayley's writing manages to accomplish a great deal, whether it be a beautiful and responding message that leaves audiences reaching for tissues at the play's close, or a sarcastic attitude that is truly fearsome to watch. Bayley's writing addresses monumental and complicated emotions with a simple and straightforward plot through the developing relationship between Daisy and Paddy. If this is Bayley's debut play as a playwright, then the theatre industry has a rising star on their hands. Bayley's writing is provocative as its offensive language and explosive themes are addressed head on, side stepping the filtering of poetic language which ultimately makes the play and Daisy feel much more realistic. Bayley's play, whilst beautifully handles the overwhelming grief of loss, also highlights several other issues, most importantly, the lack of awareness and accessibility for special needs children in the education system. 

Bayley's performance works wonders as well, as the sweet exterior hides the ominous nature within (as self-described in the show) which helps the show's dark humour hit even harder. Hulme-Teague and Bayley have let the emotional flow of the dialogue dictate the show, with Bayley on stage alone with no props but a chair and a jacket. Bayley's sweet smile after delivering sassy and biting remarks are iconic in their own right, as is her tendency to remain quite contained and yet still as enthralling to watch. Her one big emotional breakdown feels so authentic and raw, and that really speaks to Bayley's talent. 

Squidge is a clever comedy, where you will gasp at Bayley's audacity, laugh at her observations, and then be slowly chipped away by the reality of an uncaring and unforgiving world, before being built up again through love. It's a highly successful emotional rollercoaster ride and a reminder of how much a little love and a little care can change the world, one life at a time. 

★★★★★ (5*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review