Puppy | King's Head Theatre

Years ago, a “face-sitting” protest was held outside Westminster in response to a quiet change in legislation. Puppy, a play written by Naomi Westerman, boldly and humorously showed her attitude to the issue.

Jaz (Ashling O'Shea) has been eyeing Maya (Amy Revelle), a librarian, up for a long time. One day, she follows Maya after she leaves the library and finds herself in the Princess Diana Memorial car park. It turns out that Maya has been involved in a dogging group. To get closer to her, Jaz also joins the group. As their relationship heats up, they start to share personal stories about themselves. One day, Maya tells Jaz that she's not only a librarian but also a porn actress. As Jaz learns that there is so much inhumanity in the industry, she encourages Maya to start her own company and create a comfortable environment. And so, they set up their own business.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg once said, ‘The government is not there to stick its nose in the bedroom...’, and the set of the play seemed to literally transport the audience to a bedroom. The stage is covered with a large carpet, huge pillows and cushions in different shapes, and two movable chairs. Illuminated by pinkish-orange lighting (Catja Hamilton), this small space becomes even more intimate.

The two girls have very different personalities. O'Shea's Jaz is introverted and even a little awkward with people at times, but is intelligent and has a stable core. Revelle's Maya, on the other hand, looks as if she is more confident, but is actually more sensitive than Jaz. However, while there are four other members of this group, their personalities displayed are relatively vague and one-dimensional.

Whilst the subject matter is bold and interesting, it doesn't go far enough in many ways. The relationship between Jaz and Maya develops so quickly that it almost seems like an abbreviated version of a story. The segments in which the two start a company together are skimmed over, always stopping at moments when they are just about to go deeper into the difficulties and how they deal with them. In contrast, the multiple occurrences of dogging throughout the show seem rather repetitive, serving no purpose in advancing the plot and instead taking up space to show the bond between people. It may seem like there are many elements shown in this story, but a lot of things are missing. But even so, such a discussion is meaningful.

Puppy runs at King’s Head Theatre until 27th April 2025.

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★★★☆☆ (3*)

Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | Photography by Steve Gregson