A sincere one-man show exploring identity and blurred reality, with a sensitive performance and strong soundtrack. Rating
Good
Entering to Mika’s ‘Grace Kelly’, the lyric “Why don’t you like me?” feels uncannily apt for a piece so rooted in identity, visibility and the hunger for acceptance.
Moments before the performance begins, we are told that due to unforeseen circumstances the writer himself would be stepping in. Any initial concern quickly dissolved: Isaac Quinn’s delivery is excellent, offering a performance that is passionate, sincere and, at times, quietly devastating. Wearing a T-shirt inscribed with “Deny me and be doomed”, Quinn introduces us to an autistic trans man whose favourite TV show, Skivvies, mirrors his own life with unnerving precision. Friends, foes, romances and sexual encounters unfold both on screen in his beloved show and in front of us, blurring the boundary between reality and fiction until the two become almost indistinguishable. What remains clear is his profound struggle to be seen, validated and understood.
One of the most affecting moments comes when he declares himself bipolar, autistic and disabled, a stark admission that reframes the emotional weight of everything that follows. Quinn handles this material with remarkable sensitivity, drawing the audience into a narrative that demands to be listened to. With trigger warnings spanning psychosis, ableism, transphobia, addiction, self-harm, sexual assault, death and disordered eating, the piece is undeniably heavy, and its shifts between lived experience and TV fantasy can occasionally feel disorientating. There are also some slightly awkward moments where singing and dance take over, which don’t quite land and briefly interrupt the emotional momentum.
As with most fringe performances, the set is minimal, consisting of just a chair, making the entire focus rest on the performer, a choice that amplifies both the piece’s intimacy and its occasional unevenness. The soundtrack, however, is a triumph. From Pink, Taylor Swift and Alanis Morissette to The Rocky Horror Show and more atmospheric underscoring, the musical choices are smart, deliberate and often thrilling, punctuating key moments with emotional clarity.
As part of the Camden Fringe, a festival that champions emerging voices and work unafraid to tackle personal, complex themes, it feels entirely at home. The show’s rawness and honest exploration of identity sit comfortably within a programme built on authenticity and experimentation. This is a piece that will most certainly make you listen, even if it doesn’t always fully land the weight of what it sets out to explore.
Written and Performed by: Isaac Quinn
Tech/Crew: Caolan McGinley
Retardant plays at the Libra Theatre Café as part of Camden Fringe until Sunday 9 August
