Perverts – King’s Head Theatre, London

Writer: Alice McKee

Director: Sarah Fox

They say good things come in threes and Best Fear Productions’ queer fringe hit Perverts already struck gold twice this year with successful runs at both VAULT Festival and King’s Head Theatre. Now, returning to the scene of its recent sell-out success, Perverts is testing its longevity with an extended run at the Islington venue and continues to shine bright as ever.

Penned by Alice McKee, Perverts charts a single night in a sex club as Katie, wrestling between shame and desire, tries to have a fun, uncomplicated experience. However, the course of true lust never did run smoothly; so Katie must wade through friends, exes and potential hookups (none of which are mutually exclusive) on her quest to find the exit door.

Writing a flawed protagonist who the audience can still root for is a difficult balancing act, yet McKee writes with the required nuance, relatability and humour to pull it off. Beca Barton is then solely placed with the rather mammoth responsibility of bringing this complex, cynical character to life.

Fortunately, Barton knows exactly how to land a punchline and frequently has to pause their fast-paced performance to accommodate raucous appreciation from the audience. Beyond their comic genius, which includes a plethora of entertaining multi-role characters, Barton masterfully strips back Katie’s defences to display an affecting, visceral portrait of pessimistic self-loathing.

Under slick direction from Sarah Fox, Barton’s characterisations are crisp and the thrust space is used to its full potential. The pair clearly work cohesively as the piece feels very natural, well-paced and carefully considered throughout.

Perhaps one of the only significant sticking points in this production is the somewhat clunky incorporation of projection. Certain sections of the play are accompanied by close-up shots of Barton’s lips, reminiscent of Samuel Beckett’s Not I, which ideally would move in unison with their onstage presence. The pre-recorded videos are rarely going to sync with the nature of live theatre, though, resulting in a rather distracting effect.

Otherwise, the production tech is spot-on, with a lighting design by Han Sayles which effortlessly captures a club atmosphere, with effective changes throughout to complement the mood.

With a unique setting and its darkly comic, yet deeply honest, depiction of how pride and self-acceptance are easier said than done; it’s no surprise Perverts has managed to stand out from the pack amongst the current celebration of queer theatre at Kings Head Theatre. Witty, crude, and with a shining central performance from Barton, Perverts is a guaranteed laugh-out-loud event.

Runs until 8 July 2023