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Eyes, hair, mouth: Darkie Armo Girl at Finborough Theatre

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Darkie Armo Girl, Karine Bedrossian’s electrifying one-woman show, commands attention from the moment it begins. First performed in 2022 and revived last year, it now returns for extra performance and it's an event not to miss. The show takes you through the thrills and horrors of a hectic life. She struts, shimmies, and taunts while revealing some horrific truths. She is such an irresistible storyteller that you find yourself hooked. The story is one of fame, glamour, abuse, self-harm, and suicide. If that subject matter doesn't sound like your cup of tea, you haven't seen it delivered with such high energy and provocation. It's currently at the Finborough Theatre . The show's title refers to a slur a popular girl at school once called her. Her ancestry is Armenian, and her parents were from Cyprus, where they fled the civil war and arrived in the UK with nothing. Shortly after she was born in Roehampton. The birth was an emergency C-section that left the baby and ...

Flying away: My Dad's Gap Year @ParkTheatre


Sometimes you just have to throw in the towel and fly out to Thailand. To hell with the consequences. At first. So is the premise In My Dad's Gap Year. But while some of the plot points might be as suspicious as the sexual antics on stage, there's a lot of heart and great performances in this piece. Written by Tom Wright, it's having its world premiere at Park Theatre.

Dave (Adam Lannon) is having a mid-life crisis. And he drinks too much. His wife Cath (Michelle Collins) has left him and is uptight teenage gay son, William (Alex Britt) is trying to enter the world of work. So what better way to get over it all by heading off to Thailand? Beside's it's supposed to be William's gap year. So why can't dad join in?

Along the way Dave falls for Mae (Victoria Gigante), who runs the bar at the beach. And there's a sexy lifesaver Matias (Max Percy) who is about to open William's eyes to a whole new world.

What at first seems to be a wild funny hedonistic romp at sex clubs and bars gives way to something much more substantial. This is not just some beautiful thing coming of age gay romance. Addiction, loneliness and discrimination (even among the LGBT+ community) are explored in thoughtful and insightful ways.

The ensemble work well together and the writing gives each of them a unique voice. The design of a raised stage and pit also gave the performers space to create for us the time and place.

The piece won't be to all tastes. The disclaimer outside the theatre didn't prepare everyone for the "adult sexual themes".  After a few full and frank scenes there were a few walk outs. But for those that like their theatre a bit provocative, a bit sexy and a bit fresh, this show is hard to beat.

Directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair, My Dad's Gap Year is at Park Theatre until 23 February.



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