Writer: Phoebe McIntosh
Director: Sarah Meadows
It’s the middle of lockdown and Bec, a pregnant woman stuck at home, is going into labour. But when the father of her child, her ex Alex, unexpectedly arrives, her perfect home birth plan is derailed. Phoebe McIntosh and Joe Boylan are a fierce duo on stage; audiences can’t help but fall in love with their witty, messy, relatable characters and become invested in their story.
McIntosh, the writer and star of this moving piece, has crafted a rich story, full of necessary reminders of just how much our society is ignorant of the nuances of birthing, parenthood, and identity. The script has a fantastic urgency, sense of humour, and authenticity.
Not to mention McIntosh’s remarkable physical and vocal performance. As Bec progresses through labour, the “mooing” that Alex teases her for is funny at first, but ultimately sends chills down your spine. Like Bec’s neighbours in the play, the audience, too, is blown away by just how much her voice can fill the space. Watching Bec’s journey is a visceral experience.
Boylan’s Alex, who is constantly floundering in his attempts to support Bec through this tumultuous period of their relationship, delivers just as strong a performance. Even through their fights, audiences can sense how deeply Alex loves Bec and their child. The palpable love between these three is the beating heart at the centre of the piece. Together, Boylan and McIntosh’s incredible presence and groundedness grip audiences for the 90-minute duration of this emotional and physical marathon of a two-hander.
Beth Duke’s sound design is another standout piece of this production. It supports the high-stakes nature of the story without pulling away from the actors’ performances. And even without too many bells and whistles, it consistently supports the naturalistic style of the piece. Duke’s compositions seamlessly whisk you from moments of lighthearted banter to nail-biter periods of contractions. It excels in its subtlety, setting up the circumstances of the play from the very beginning with the light ticking of a clock underscoring the opening moments.
Sarah Beaton and Alex Musgrave share Duke’s impressive creative problem-solving abilities in their set, costume, and lighting design, respectively. They craft numerous moments of simple but impressive theatre magic that help to immerse the audience in Bec and Alex’s world.
The Soon Life is a remarkably human story that will have audiences laughing, crying, and gripping the edge of their seat. A can’t-miss production from The Southwark Playhouse.
Runs until 18 October 2025
