Today is going to be a fantastic day, according to Bolade (Ruth Oyediran). Why? She’s discovered a pill that can delay her period, which means she’s pain-free to hit the biggest day party of the year — featuring her dream man Tion Wayne — with her best friend Jessica (Lara Grace Ilori).
This is where we meet the two pals at the beginning of My Period the C*ckblock, written by Oyediran and directed by TD Moyo in this production at Brixton House. What transpires over the next hour is a remarkably well-written exploration of Black British sisterhood, female pain, and the taboos around menstruation.
Oyediran’s vibrant and incisive dialogue depicts a charming and authentic portrayal of friendship — and all the entanglements it can bring. Bola and Jess are shown to have grown apart in the months before the party, each dealing with their own complications and battles to fight.
This distance between them swells and shrinks in moments throughout the play, climaxing in an incident at the party that pulls them further apart than ever. Thanks to Oyediran’s grounded script and the vivid characterisation of Bola and Jess, we’re able to sympathise with both characters rather than feeling compelled to pick a “side”.
Oyediran’s performance as Bola is warm and witty, but masking a deep inner pain that gradually bubbles closer and closer to the surface. Jess is also brought to life beautifully by Ilori’s richly layered portrayal of a girl whose past traumas have solidified to build an emotional wall she’s reluctant to tear down.
Both actors are fireballs of energy, throwing themselves into the characters with a chemistry you simply can’t draw your eyes away from. When their friendship is on top form, it’s a sheer delight to watch as they sing, dance, and unabashedly hype each other up.
The script’s frank discussions around menstruation — as well as the ever-present reminder of it in Seònaid Gowdie’s blood-soaked set — are refreshing, while starkly drawing attention to the very real issue of women’s health issues being minimised or ignored.
Movement plays a big part in the production too, being used to amplify their moments of joyous friendship, but also to showcase the fractures in their relationship as they try to fight the forces pulling them apart. While this offers a nice glimpse into the girls’ inner thoughts, some of the longer and slower movement pieces lag slightly in contrast to the fast-paced script.
I was unsurprised when reading the notes on the show to discover that Oyediran has been recognised for her potential as a television writer. While watching My Period the C*ckblock, I could easily envision a brilliant TV series starring these compelling characters, packed with equal parts jokes and harsh truths — I’m excited to see what this incredible writer does next.
As for this production, Oyediran and Moyo have created a bite-sized theatrical treat that left me hungry to see more of Bola and Jess. With its breezy wit, celebration of modern-day London life, and fearless confrontation of menstrual pain, it’s a production that warrants a bright future for its creatives and cast — period.
Reviewer: Olivia Cox
Reviewed: 2nd October 2024
North West End UK Rating:
Rating: 4 out of 5.
