Can’t Wait To Leave – Jack Studio Theatre, Brockley

Writer/Director: Stephen Leach

Reviewer: Christine Stanton

“Strong Script, Likeable Performer“

4 / 5

Ryan only moved to London to join his brother, but now his brother is moving away after buying a home, getting a swanky new job and starting a family with his girlfriend. Ryan on the other hand, is stuck in a shared flat in Zone 6, working as many hours as he can as a Deliveroo driver and trying not to completely max out his overdraft.

Now his brother is leaving, there’s nothing much keeping him in London, he doesn’t really know anyone – apart from his recent fling with Richard – a wealthy, controlling older man that’s taken a shine to him. He decides he needs to plan an escape route – finish the tenancy on his flat and go somewhere new. Somewhere that doesn’t make him feel like an outsider, somewhere he can fully be himself without constantly feeling like he needs to keep up with everyone else, but the problem is, he doesn’t know where that somewhere can be.

Zach Hawkins is brilliant as the solo actor in Stephen Leach’s relatable, fast-paced production. Ryan is an interesting protagonist – cynical and jaded, his impatience and frustration about the expensive, competitive, soulless aspects of the City, is well established, without making him unlikeable. It is in fact quite the opposite, his candid honesty allows the audience to warm to him quickly, sympathetic and understanding towards his struggles. The script is punchy, moving through various situations and time frames without losing sight of Ryan’s characterisation or the overall feel of the show. The longer Ryan stays in London, the more tense he becomes, and as the show progresses, by the latter half he is like a firework, his frustration fizzing and bursting at the seams, ready to blow at any moment.

Though rather than a loud, busy, explosive culmination to match the pacing of the rest of the show, Ryan instead experiences something shocking and emotional, knocking his hard exterior and momentarily changing his confident, chaotic storytelling style, to subdued and reflective. It’s an interesting change of pace, that works really well in grounding the audience further into the storyline. Hawkin’s displays emotion excellently, sensitively referencing the subject matter and carefully piecing himself back together.

The stripped back set of just a few seats and posters on the back wall, helps Hawkin’s to keep audience focus entirely on his monologue, with the script being so descriptive that it’s easy to envision each scene. A strong performer for a personable, realistic, enjoyable show.

Runs until 9^th November 2024