Ambassadors theatre, London
Jade Anouka’s character causes an existential earthquake in Marianne Elliott’s stylised revival of Mike Bartlett’s comedy about sexual identity
The world has at last caught up with what Cock’s central character calls the “stew” of sexual identity. First performed in 2009, Mike Bartlett’s comedy might have seemed edgy then but today it echoes and affirms notions around the slipperiness of sexual labelling.
Its hitherto gay protagonist, John (Jonathan Bailey), who lives with his long-term partner, M (Taron Egerton), triggers a three-way existential earthquake when he falls for a woman, W (Jade Anouka), and butts up against social expectations to define – or redefine – himself. “Gay”, “bi” and “straight” are bygone terms from the 1960s, John insists, but he nonetheless feels the pressure to place himself in one camp.
