Writer: Sid Sagar
Director: Paul Smith
Middle Child are pioneers in accessible and inclusive theatre. They present compelling and necessary work that is audience centred, relevant and engaging. Biting Point is no exception.
This isn’t just a performance – it’s an adrenaline shot to the senses, an enthralling experience disguised as theatre, and one of the most memorable and powerful events to be staged in the city since Maureen Lennon’s outstanding Baby, He Loves You.
Performed in the round in the most unlikeliest of places – a multi-story car park in the heart of Hull’s Fruit Market – the production turns concrete into canvas, using the brutalist space not just as a backdrop, but as a character in its own right.
From the moment the first line is delivered, Biting Point grabs you by the collar and refuses to let go. It’s bold, unflinching, and unapologetically political. The script crackles with urgency, wit and raw honesty, tackling issues that feel ripped straight from the headlines – social injustice, climate collapse, community fatigue – and doing so with a deft mix of fury and hope.
This one act drama is superbly delivered by our 2 actors, Marc Graham and Katie Singh, who give breathtaking performances, never miss a beat of Sid Sagar’s rhythmic dialogue. The actors command the space with intensity and authenticity, delivering monologues that land like punches and dialogue that dances with precision. The actors, never pausing for breath, are blessed with an incredible script from Sid Sagar and gifted with inventive direction by Paul Smith.
The physicality of the show, amidst cold concrete and the open sky, adds a visceral energy that a traditional stage simply couldn’t replicate. Set in the round, with the audience fully immersed in the action, this fearless beast of a show tears up the theatrical rule book and proves that anything is possible with the right story tell.
The way Middle Child take a utilitarian structure into a place of transformation is most certainly a risk that pays off. What makes Biting Point truly unforgettable, though, is its heart. It doesn’t just reflect our world – it challenges us to change it. It’s loud, defiant, and impossible to ignore.
Audiences should note that this show is fed to them through headphones that patrons are encouraged to wear throughout. These can be adapted for those with additional hearing needs and volume can be controlled manually to suit the individual wearing them.
Biting Point acts as a powerful reminder that art can happen literally anywhere. Bravo, Middle Child – this could be your Magnus opus.
Reviewed on 14th May 2025
