Review: Piss Girls, Hope Theatre

Piss Girls is a tricky title: it risks conjuring up thoughts of something grimy and sordid. It doesn’t do the show justice, possibly putting some people off. In fact, this is a sweet and often funny tale of female friendship. OK, yes, it takes place in a lot of toilets; a school one, home, parties and clubs, and yes, it doesn’t shy away from talking about bodily functions, but even so, it’s all done in the loveliest of ways.

If you can get over the title to actually check the show out, then what you get are two school friends, Gemma and Faye, from their first conversation and through their teenage years growing up together, facing the trials that life presents.

Their initial meeting sets the humorous and often blunt tone that the rest of the play follows, with Faye experiencing her first period alone in the school toilet, only for Gemma to be her saviour. It’s beautifully handled in a matter-of-fact way, but also with plenty of sympathy that allows us to bond with the pair. It’s a more than promising start.

From there, each toilet we visit finds their conversations developing as they grow up, with conversations about first times; that first period, first loves, first sexual experiences and first drugs. It’s all marvellously sweet and filled with lovely one liners; “no one will ever want to use my chest as a head rest” Gemma laments, jealous of her friend’s more ample bosom.

Of course, there’s always more beneath the surface, and here that is Gemma’s sister and her mysterious illness, and Faye’s hesitance in wanting to discuss her boyfriend. The problem, though, is that neither thread is given enough depth to make either stand out as needed for full impact. It’s obvious that both are going to be important later on, yet when that happens they lack gravitas and just don’t hit home in the way they should: there’s a lack of breadcrumbs leading to a climactic moment that leaves them feeling rather shoehorned in, to provide the story with the required drama. The script needs a much stronger core to allow these themes to hit home. It leaves us with lots of lovely, fluffy scenes but a lack of that ‘gasp out loud’ shocked moment. There’s much more that Piss Girls could, and should, offer and some rewriting would help it to really deliver on its promise.

But it is still a lovely watch. The writing duo of Samantha Dilena (who also plays Faye) and Brooke McCloy (playing Gemma) have plenty of synergy. It’s clear they have really worked together on the play, and it’s a delight to watch them perform, although they do need to project better. The Hope Theatre does have a lot of background noise to contend with, and at times, they don’t manage the volume well.

Natasha King’s co-directing (with Dilena) likewise works effectively in guiding us through their teenage year. Scene transitions are full of joy and laughter as the pair dance and change outfits, ready for big nights out or sleepovers, whilst the two toilets that constitute the only staging are moved around purposefully with little time wasted. There is also clever placing of props, stashed inside the toilet bowls, allowing them to be quickly produced when needed. It certainly keeps things moving smoothly.

Piss Girls is full of charm; it just feels as if it could be much more on top of that. But as it is, it is still an enjoyable piece of theatre exploring what it is to be a teenager with all the chaos that brings with it. 

Written by Samantha Dilena & Brooke McCloy
Directed by Samantha Dilena & Natasha King
Lighting design by Mae Elliott
Produced by Molly Hands & Callum Flint

Piss Girls has completed it’s run at The Hope Theatre