Review: Animal, at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

Couple of days behind, but it has been back to the Hope Mill this week, to see a brand new work. And I've realised, the first straight play I've seen there, as opposed to musicals, or community opera (La Boehme if curious). 

Animal is co-produced with the Park Theatre, winning Hope Mills inaugural "Through the Mill" Prize, written by writer and activist Josh Hepple, giving insight into someone who I don't think we see represented enough. 

That being, what it's like to live with a disability

David (Christopher John-Slater) is 25, gay and has cerebral palsy. He needs 24 hour care, and can't eat on his own, let alone w**k. When his best mate suggests going on Grindr, David's sexual animal (you could say) is released through a series of random hook-ups. The question is, how long can it last? 

The best moments are when we get to see David be truly vulnerable, and when the audience sees into his world, possibly unsurprising that Hepple has cerebral palsy himself. But what's truly beautiful is that everything int he script, whether funny or moving, whether it drags a tad or is explosive, is never at the expense of David's disability, but rather as an extension of his sexual curiosity. 

Add in that every single character feels like someone you know, and you have a play that LIVES

Animal has this classy subtlety about it's emotions, despite the roller coaster of having a really funny moment one minute and something much more disturbing the next. It ultimately reminded me that love is complicated. And I'm not just talking about the romantic (or perhaps in this case sexual) kind, but between friends too.  Everyone deserves to be loved and accepted, and that's often not always easy. With that in mind, I hope you give Animal a chance if you can. 

Animal is running at the Hope Mill Theatre until 2nd April.