At first glance, In PurSUEt – Eleanor Higgins’ one-woman show, is about a superfan and their obsession with Bake Off star Sue Perkins, yet, as the story unfolds, it is far darker and more tragic than you’d imagine.
We follow an unnamed woman during a therapy session as she recounts her journey and love for Sue Perkins, from sneaking into backstage areas to drunkenly crashing a charity event for dogs. As her story progresses, it quickly becomes clear that the show goes beyond obsession and is a powerful tragicomedy which delves deep into mental health issues and addiction.
Higgins artfully commands the stage as we see the ups and downs of her character, from self-assured and charismatic as she recounts her drunken nights out to lonely and self-destructive as her reliance on alcohol becomes increasingly clear. Her obsession with Sue is mirrored in this, as it goes from a seemingly harmless crush to outright stalking whilst drinking heavily, as she plays both the unnamed lead and Sue herself.
Solo onstage apart from a life-sized Sue cut out and a Christmas tree, Higgins faces and interacts with the audience as if they are her therapist. With such intimate staging, you can’t help but engage and sympathise with her character’s tragic story. She constantly tries to convince the audience and herself that she doesn’t have a problem, as we see her spiral further and further towards destruction. At first ‘filling the void’ as she puts it with her love for Sue when really, it is her dependency on alcohol which we see her slowly come terms with by the end.
Overall, In PurSUEt is enjoyable to watch, Higgins uses her own experiences to create the story and explore serious topics like addiction and mental health, giving the story a more authentic and relatable feel. You really root for her character to find peace. At roughly an hour long, there really isn’t much time to fully develop a character, yet the journey Higgins takes you on is at times hilarious, thought-provoking and deeply heartbreaking.
In PurSUEt is currently showing at the VAULT Festival until 5th March, you can find out more here: https://vaultfestival.com/events/in-pursuet/
Reviewer: Gemma Prince
Reviewed: 26th February 2023
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★