Writer: Christopher Wollaton
Director: Elliot Taylor
Ryan is obsessed with working out, striving daily in his homemade gym for the perfect physique. His quest for the ideal body is a commitment that he takes seriously, desperate to overcome his inner demons and prove people in his past wrong. But his passion veers on the side of addiction, and the internal struggle of acceptance and insecurity is intensified, causing him to fall deeper into a cycle of body dysmorphia and mental health issues.
In Brawn, first performed in 2018, writer and performer Christopher Wollaton tackles the subject of machismo and mental health issues within men brilliantly. The topic is broached head on, unashamed and laid bare. The script confidently expresses Ryan’s internal struggle, showcasing a slow mental breakdown as his body dysmorphia becomes more apparent. His need to impress his father, his partner and his peers from school is challenged by his desire to fit in, as well as his competitive spirit.
The set is stripped back, much like Wollaton himself, proudly displaying his shirtless physique throughout the performance. In a variety of moments, Wollaton steps away from his insightful, passionate monologues and showcases portions of his workouts – getting more intense as the narrative progresses and his character’s self-doubt heightens.
Although Wollaton’s performance is excellent, there isn’t enough weight to the narrative for this to feel like a fully formed play. The script is intriguing, but aside from the intrusive thoughts muscling in, there isn’t anywhere else that he takes the storyline. His monologue is a powerful insight into mental health, so it would be great if Wollaton worked out some of the kinks, put the plot through its paces and gave the audience a bit more of a narrative.
In today’s social media driven world full of filters, unrealistic image expectations and online comparisons – the relevance of this script is key. If nothing else, Wollaton will abs-olutely get you thinking about the rarely acknowledged struggle that many are dealing with.
Runs until 10 September 2022
The BOYS! BOYS! BOYS! Season at The King’s Head runs until 10 September 2022
