Presented by A Beth Sitek, Ros Watt and Camden People’s Theatre Co-Production

Review by Harri Dimdore-Miles

Bunker One at Pleasance Courtyard

‘Trans people are awful’ achieves what it is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. It truly shocks the audience with a piece of utterly unique and bold theatre. I don’t believe any of the audience could say they have seen anything quite like it. From the ballroom dance with two severed penises to the heart wrenching monologues about Man’s (Ros Watt) trans experience – the play oozes brave originality.

This comedy thriller by Ros Watt and Beth Sitek follows an unnamed young trans man (Man) who has embarked on a ‘project’ that will end his life. He has murdered 14 men from hook ups, looking for the perfect body parts for his transition – a surgery that he will do on himself. Only through this will Man achieve the male cis gendered body he is meant to have.

Ros Watt is a star. His presence is mesmerizing and likeable from the outset, even as he marches on stage covered in blood and begins to divulge his grotesque crimes, we are transfixed. His bodily presence is electric and cheeky. In the opening scene he sits atop a table striking sharp and sexual poses as he mimics news anchors from across the globe (with impressive range in accents) detailing the shocking murders he’s committed. It is a challenge to create successful contrast between the deeply sinister plot and outrageous comedy, but Watt is the ideal performer for this. That being said in the darker, more harrowing scenes he really comes alive and shows unbreakable depth. Watt’s brutally sad delivery pulls at your body – pit in your stomach, heart swelling, tears in eyes, mouth agape.

The play is every bigoted right wring transphobe’s nightmare and in fairness for the rest of us it is quite terrifying. However, this absurd story boils down to the rawest sharing of a trans persons ruminations. It cleverly magnifies very understandable, forgivable feelings of dysphoria into acts of sheer horror. The depth of the plot is made even stronger by the desperateness of these cis men to be spared but theirs’s and everyone’s failure to fathom what Man wants from them or why he is doing what he is doing. Throughout we are however reminded, trans people are individuals who are trans and not one monolith. Man is awful and he is trans, but this does not mean trans people are awful.

The final act is the strongest and contains a twist which knocks the wind out of the audience, producing audible gasps followed by stillness. It is smart and perfectly ties up the messages of the play. All in all, this is a serious stand out show – the writing is superb, and the acting is potent. Queer and gender queer fringe goers especially must go and see ‘Trans People are Awful’.

---