Even a Monday evening in Soho isn’t precisely quiet. There are nonetheless crowds outdoors the pubs, simply smaller than Saturday’s, and the vacationers will nonetheless stroll proper into you. I nonetheless managed to get pleasure from my stroll to the Soho Theatre for a press evening, having fun with the sensation of not figuring out what I’m going to stroll into – I do as little googling as potential as a result of I like a shock. An hour-and-a-half later I left Soho Theatre feeling much less clueless, however completely bewildered after Welcome Home, written by sole-performer Willy Hudson. Hudson guarantees “a big queer sci-fi epic” (wonderful, proper?),…
Rating
Excellent
An outrageously NSFW queer extravaganza that includes the charming Willy Hudson, Welcome Home is a singular and unpredictable celebration.
Even a Monday evening in Soho isn’t precisely quiet. There are nonetheless crowds outdoors the pubs, simply smaller than Saturday’s, and the vacationers will nonetheless stroll proper into you. I nonetheless managed to get pleasure from my stroll to the Soho Theatre for a press evening, having fun with the sensation of not figuring out what I’m going to stroll into – I do as little googling as potential as a result of I like a shock. An hour-and-a-half later I left Soho Theatre feeling much less clueless, however completely bewildered after Welcome Home, written by sole-performer Willy Hudson.
Hudson guarantees “a big queer sci-fi epic” (wonderful, proper?), and no matter image that conjures up in your creativeness, belief me once I inform you it’s not that. Entirely unpredictable, it swings from karaoke to sex-show to household drama to one thing unknown and deranged. Don’t get me fallacious although: I liked it. Hudson is so alluring that the bizarre spectacle that he unfolds in entrance of us in some way appears… so proper. The sci-fi affect provides scope for silliness, and the queerness inhabits each second of the one-act efficiency which deserves celebrating.
I’ll admit that the primary couple of minutes didn’t win me over. Hudson is off-stage to start with, however his presence is integral to the vitality of Welcome Home, so I discovered it onerous to giggle alongside at first. Then he enters with a tune (written by sound designer and composer Tom Foskett-Barnes) which is just so-so, presumably as a result of it’s onerous to make out the phrases. Yet it wasn’t lengthy earlier than his allure received me over, with an ease of speaking to the viewers which made me shortly really feel like a buddy.
The story itself is loosely tied round an autobiographical interval of breaking apart with a boyfriend and the next retreat to the household dwelling. It accommodates some moments which can really feel acquainted to queer audiences, of popping out, acceptance, rejection and so forth which really feel actually uncooked behind the humour. The ‘serious’ components are so touching, and to distinction with each the sentiments and the humorous is the surprising excessive which you’ll have to attend to see for yourselves – Hudson makes positive we preserve the secrets and techniques. Just please, PLEASE learn the content material warnings.
An enormous staff have come collectively for Welcome Home: thirty-five creatives and much more supporters are talked about within the programme. In retrospect, the very fact it didn’t appear to be that many individuals had been concerned most likely means all of them did their job extremely effectively. It was slick, well-paced and only a nice present. An extremely NSFW expertise, so go together with an open thoughts and along with your sense of humour switched on and I’m positive you’ll get pleasure from it as effectively.
Writer by: Willy Hudson
Produced by: Daisy Hale for Willy Hudson Ltd.
Directed by: Zach James
Set and Costume Design by: Anna Orton
Composer and Sound Design by: Tom Foskett-Barnes
Welcome Home performs at Soho Theatre till 11 February 2023. Further data and bookings may be discovered right here.