Toxic – Playhouse Theatre, Sheffield

Warning – Age guidance 18+ containing scenes of an adult nature that some may find distressing.

A Powerful and evocative laying bare of relationships and individuals facing a world of stigma.  A Dibby Theatre Production – Toxic written Nathaniel J Hall gives the audience a powerhouse portrayal of extreme emotions rather than pure toxicity in this tale of two queer and damaged individuals whose lives entwine. A stark and beautiful tale, Toxic is explosively semi-autobiographical and is Hall’s second instalment as a playwright, after the successful and award winning ‘First Time’ – the show about staying positive in a negative world.

Toxic in the words of Hall is ‘the story of how we met, fell in love and f**ked up!’ It’s 2017 and in Manchester, two damaged 30 somethings set up a meeting on a hook up app, beginning a collision course. Born in an era of race riots and homophobia, the growing shadow of Aids and Section 28, The pair form a trauma bond – fighting the stigma and demons – can they survive as accept that sometimes survival means knowing when to leave.

This two hander is a superb example of Theatre in Education, it does its job to highlight issues yet still allows us to question our own behaviours and reactions. The juxtaposition between laugh out loud moments and pure intensity displays the public and private face, we as individuals, carry around with us. Directed by Scott Le Crass with Movement Directors Ayden Brouwers and Lizard Morris, Toxic is classy and detailed in its delivery and the contemporary movement sequences are stunning not only are they beautifully suggestive but also deliver a real sucker punch. This physical theatre stands alongside exquisite abstract poetry, stand-up comedy and naturalism, resonating and hooking the entire audience on one level of another. The material is raw and handled with great artistic flair, the sexual encounters were exceptional well done and would leave Meg Ryan’s attempt for dead! The set, designed by Lu Herbert, is a claustrophobic reminder of intensity and its broken windows point to the individual’s inner struggles. Neon bricks are either desperately trying to break through the walls or trying to be hidden and the surprising breakup of the space, is most effective in the final exchanges of the play.

Nathaniel J Hall and Josh-Susan Enright light up the stage and their connection is engrossing and obvious. Enright adds the consummate performer to the duo, who has exceptional movement technique and perfectly portrays the more confident and more sexually experienced of the pair. This works well with Hall’s unsure demeanour and timidity. His hushed tones on the whole are effective and paint a subversive character, although at times this is a little too much. I must say that I think the play would benefit from a more developed final scene, as this appears slightly rushed and undefined in relation to the rest of the story telling.  

This passionate, intimate portrayal of queer love, is a laugh out loud play that rags back the shimmer curtain of Pride, revealing a minefield that is still rampant with suffering from the impact of racism, generational HIV stigma, homophobia and toxic gender norms. It is stark and bares all, intimate and honest – joyful and tragic.  From Britney Spears to tears, this is a night of ‘uppers’ and ‘downers’ and of lost to lust and back again. I would highly recommend Toxic, I thoroughly engaged with the enlightening evening. Toxic is at the Playhouse Theatre, Sheffield on the 20^th and 21^st March 2025, before continuing its UK tour. More information is available from www.dibbytheatre.org/toxic

Reviewer: Tracey Bell

Reviewed: 20th March 2025

North West End UK Rating: 4