At a time when gender, sexuality and identity are at the forefront of politics, Mike Bartlett’s 2009 play COCK is more relevant than ever before: The world is changing, people are listening and educating themselves, representation onstage and in the media is increasing, and folk are questioning and exploring who they really are.
We find ourselves witnessing the end of John & M’s relationship and - through a few snapshots - learn that John has had sex with a woman. What follows is a rollercoaster of inner conflict, hysteria, identity dysmorphia, and some very awkward moments. The text lends itself to Noel Coward’s Private Lives, with John & M sniping at each other constantly, and taking it in turns to land a real scorcher. Bartlett’s text, coupled with the brilliance of Marianne Elliott’s direction, fizzes away until breaking point, where something has to give. As the tension builds towards the end of the play, Elliott isn’t afraid to eke out the silences, to really create an unpleasant dinner party. Trust me, it’s worth it.
