SINCE U BEEN GONE (Ameera Hamid Productions)****

By Cal

Link: https://www.ameenahamidproductions.co.uk/sinceubeenhome £20 for bundle – script (RRP £9.99), KitKat Club KitKat, sweet, handwritten note from Tabby, exclusive postcard, access to show but you’ll need to watch the show first as the bundle won’t arrive till after the show stops being available. It’s really lovely and great value. Some online plays cost more even without a bundle.)

Available until: December 3^rd

Age Guidance: 14+

Trigger warnings: Reference to self-harm, suicide and transphobic language

Warnings: Strong language, sexual content and reference to mild drug use, flashing lights, loud music

This is one of those plays I don’t really want to review because this is someone’s personal story and what right do I have to say if it’s good or not?

It is good – there’s absolutely no doubt about that. It’s very moving and raw and overpoweringly emotional and so courageously honest. But am I seriously going to sit here and write a review about someone’s life?

Since U Been Gone was written by Teddy Lamb, who is now Tabby Lamb. Names are so important. They have to be right. When my parents adopted me, they said I could call myself whatever I wanted. I liked my name (which might or might not be the one I use here) so I stuck with it, but I appreciated being asked. One of my brothers chose to have a new name. He loves it. I don’t think I actually know what his name used to be. I don’t need to know. It’s not my brother’s name, why would I need to know about a name that isn’t his? And Tabby is Tabby. Not that my opinion matters one bit, but I like it.

The play is spoken, but it’s accompanied by a guitarist. Their appearance suggests they’re male, but you can never assume someone’s gender. There’s no particular look when you’re non-binary. Sometimes the music is background music. Sometimes it heightens a sense of emotion or drama. Sometimes the music has a specific role in the drama. It works really well.

In Since U Been Gone, Tabby is speaking to a friend who has died. They (Tabby) talk about the history of their friendship and some of the things they did together. Tabby doesn’t hide from the times when they could have done something more to help their friend, or at least something different. They tell us everything. I’m sure we all have memories of times when we could have reacted to something in a different way, but would all of us be able to write it into the play, stand up on stage and perform it to an audience? This isn’t a performance that was filmed in lockdown, just them and a camera. It’s a recorded performance in a theatre with a real audience.

They describe the people who used to be in their life so vividly. The close friends, the relationships, the fleeting contacts which went nowhere but still remain in their mind and find their way onto the page. Ironically, it can be difficult to describe real people and make them feel real and vibrant and exciting. Tabby describes people who feel real, people I wish I could have known too. People who were not perfect but who were clearly great and meant so much to Tabby. Tabby presents them with love and they present them as human beings. The result is a beautiful play.

It’s an important play because the subjects really matter. Sexuality. Gender. Mental health. Sex. Death. Grief. Most of these things have been or will be part of all of our lives, even if it’s not directly happening to us. So many things are put into words which don’t usually seem to be said out loud.

Alongside this, Tabby comes to terms with who they are. There is more about their friend than there is about pronouns, but when Tabby mentions it, they do it with so much feeling. There is definitely another story there. Perhaps another play, though that’s up to them. I would be grateful for any play from this playwright who cuts to the heart of issues, and tells stories which will inspire and help people as well as educating them. And entertaining them too. It’s full of important subjects which matter, but it’s also a great play with some really hilarious moments. Tabby has charm and wit. And so much talent.