Happy Meal – Brixton House Theatre, London

Writer: Tabby Lamb

Director: Jamie Fletcher

Happy Meal is now available to order at Brixton House Theatre and, just like it’s namesake, the show is an absolute treat which is over too soon.

Writer Tabby Lamb has served a delightful helping of noughties nostalgia with this tale of two friends who meet during the height of MySpace and Club Penguin. Over the years, depicted by the ever-changing landscape of social media sites, their friendship blossoms and wanes as the pair separately grow into themselves. Lamb has done a terrific job of encapsulating online friendships; skilfully translating this novel connection to the stage with plot devices such as faulty signal which allow the characters to soliloquise. This trans tale feels honest and endearing and, for better or worse, there is currently nothing else like it.

Sam Crerar and Tommi Bryson give moving performances on their respective journeys as Alec and Bette, each displaying heartfelt vulnerability in turn. The pair, armed with Lamb’s witty script, also quip back and forth with ease and the audience invest wholeheartedly in their joyful connection. This makes their understandable but frustrating miscommunications all the more gripping. When the lights dim on the fairytale finale, it feels too soon to say goodbye to their beautiful story.

Spectacular video design by Daniel Denton elevates the simple staging into a visual marvel with incredibly detailed projections which bring the digital world to life. As Alex and Bette sit in their screens, their online profiles and message chains materialise around them and director Jamie Fletcher has clearly worked tirelessly to gel these components. The actors’ interactions with the virtual world through clicking, swiping, etc. are entirely cohesive and seamlessly executed, making for an immersive experience.

Similarly to how Heartstopper provided the relationship fantasy many queer children missed out on, Happy Meal offers a slightly more grounded, but utterly wholesome, candy floss coming-of-age tale for trans youth. It feels original and overdue.

Runs until 11 March 2023