★★★★★
It was in 1902 that Sir George Frederic Still first described what now would be diagnosed as ADHD. It’s a neurotype much discussed, rarely understood and even rarer still, treated respectfully. I say this, because if I read another review that says ‘ADHD is a trend at this year’s fringe’ I might go spare. It’s not a trend – and Pillock is a perfect example of theatre that shows what it’s like, without it being a mawkish ‘freak-show’ study for allistics to go ‘ooh is that what they are like?’
Jordan Tweddle plays Pillock, a queer Cumbrian actor whose ADHD is apparent but never discussed. By his own admission, his fear of it being taken the wrong way, leads to his avoiding the topic. Yet we are thoroughly immersed in his world. His acting career reduced to medical role-play, his lactose intolerance, his estranged family and his yearning for connection. Kieran Sheehan’s movement direction gives Tweddle this frenetic energy that compliments the stream-of-consciousness monologue; it’s engaging and allows for moments of reflection and punctuation. Pierre Flasse’s sound design purposefully adds to those points.
The character of Pillock is so authentic to the queer neurodivergent people I know (and in one case have married) that it was eerie to see it on stage. The excitement of a new relationship with Eugene, this direct no-nonsense American (Tweddle inhabits him perfectly) is captivating – you lose yourself in the story and your own heart breaks at the same time as Pillock.
One has to be careful of the Fleabagerisation of solo theatre at the Fringe, and occasionally I felt it sailed a little too close to that wind, but it was Scott Le Crass’s direction that ultimately saved it from that. With a sparse set of three circular platforms in various configurations – we got to see Pillock from many differing dimensions. Having seen previous work Le Crass has directed, they have an innate ability to draw out the vulnerability of their performers, showing a rawness and depth that’s incredibly powerful.
Pillock is on at Assembly Rooms – Front Room til the 25th August
