Labour on stage? Now there’s a delivery you don’t see every day.
Phoebe McIntosh’s The Soon Life pushes into rarely explored territory, charting a home birth in real time while an unexpected ex crashes the party. It’s bold, it’s messy, and at times it’s as exhausting for us as it is for poor Bec.
The real triumph here is the acting. McIntosh gives a tour-de-force performance, juggling contractions, comedy and confrontation with jaw-dropping commitment. Her scene partner (Alex) is no slouch either, bringing tenderness and tension in equal measure. Together, they make the evening feel alive, urgent and utterly human.
The play itself, however, doesn’t quite reach crowning-glory. For all its ambition, the script occasionally feels like it’s pacing the room rather than pushing forward. The themes of motherhood, relationships and the ghosts of lockdown are important, but the drama sometimes lingers a little too long in the waiting room.
Still, if you want to see two cracking actors giving birth (literally and figuratively) to some remarkable theatre, The Soon Life is worth a visit. Just don’t expect the play itself to be quite as fully formed as its performers.
★★★
West End Wilma
The Soon Life is playing at Southwark Playhouse until 16 October 2025
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