★★★★
Seeing disabled people be sexy on stage is rare, it’s even rarer to see queer disabled people being sexy on stage. Beyond that, to be sexy on our own terms, is where The Dan Daw Show exudes its power.
The titular Dan Daw explains to us at the outset that he wants us to see what is about to take place. Christopher Owen accompanies Dan Daw, taking control, dominating Dan and giving instructions.
Dan submissively carries out Chris’s every whim, crawling, standing on tables, being walked over. The intensity of their performance is undercut with humour and direct address which can let the audience off feeling that they are totally complicit in Daw’s fantasy.
As a production, you can’t fault the excellent work of the creative team, whether it be Mark Maughan’s direction, Emma Bailey’s design (which evoked an otherworldly carnival atmosphere) or Guy Connelly’s pulsating sound design.
For all the warnings and preamble, I found a lot of the scenarios between the performers more playful than extreme. Perhaps when you are also queer, it is less shocking to see men being close, sensual and exploring their limits. There was a deep beauty to it.
Dan Daw gives of himself in a way that connects deeply, the finale is beautiful, resulting in a standing ovation and a feeling that the audience has collectively experienced something unique and profound.
