Tell Me Straight | Park Theatre

Him has a thing for forbidden fruit in the form of straight and sexually curious men. Advised by his best friend Dani to actually find a guy who can love him back in the way that he deserves, Him intends to go on a detox but instead finds himself surrounded by irresistible distractions.

Tell Me Straight made its premiere at the Kings Head Theatre in 2021, then following its success, it had a run at Chiswick Playhouse in 2022. The current revival of this semi-autobiographical play is one of two plays, written by Paul Bradshaw, double billed at Park Theatre.

Design wise, the show is very minimalistic but sometimes two chairs and a couple of shirts and jackets are all that’s needed. Arguably, in this case, it’s more effective because the stage is open and bare bones, allowing for the focus to be purely on the script itself and the performances of the actors. Nothing can be overshadowed when distilled to the bare essentials, creating a sense of rawness from the outset.

There is a lot to be said for the quality of Bradshaw’s writing. Despite its surface level subject matter of sex, this show goes significantly deeper than a casual hookup. At this show’s heart is the search for honesty both within the self and with others, which is arguably what has given it lasting relevance. It advocates for men saying ‘I love you’ to their best friends and actually having emotionally transparent conversations with each other, it highlights how addictive the forbidden fruit can be for some people and how confusing sexual/romantic feelings can be without shaming anyone- and that’s key to this show. It doesn’t offer judgement, making it a safe space to be open about these important topics. These characters are grounded in their imperfect humanity and that’s what makes this story so compelling.

Bradshaw is also brilliant in the role of Him under Imogen Frances’ direction. His performance is a testament to how deeply writers can feel their writing when they’ve lived in it, giving the performance of his words undeniable conviction

Buck Braithwaite is a master of multi-rolling. He is a chameleon on stage, his accent work, much like his voice control, his flawless and his use of physicality to create character differentiation is second to none. His characterisations are full of depth and clearly carefully considered, helping the show to stay firmly grounded in the real. 

A revival which feels as fresh as first conception, this show is full of heart and ultimately a very interesting watch. 

Tell Me Straight runs alongside aggy until the 28th March - tickets and more information can be found here.

★★★★☆ (4*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Craig Fuller