Paul T Davies reviews Breaking Up With Jesus at The Space On The Mile at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Breaking up With Jesus
The Space on the Mile, Edinburgh Fringe
4 Stars
Joseph Richards has created a part stand up, part monologue, about the clash between Christian teaching and human nature and desire that does not fit into a heteronormative dictate. It's a deeply personal story, totally engaging, told with confidence and passion.
Richards talks to us directly, and the genius is in treating Jesus as a boyfriend, one who lets you down at key moments, has love for other people and isn't exclusive, and makes unreasonable demands that don't bring joy. Instead, depression and deep misery will occur if your sexuality and gender do not fit that restrictive narrative.
It's funny, has an excellent balance of rage and sensitivity and avoids preaching! There is a respectful nature to it, but Richards is clear on the toll breaking up with Jesus has taken. Music is also an integral part of the show and I left being very moved and reflective.
Paul is a playwright, director, actor, academic, (he has a PhD from the University of East Anglia), teacher and theatre reviewer! His plays include Living with Luke, (UK tour 2016), Play Something, (Edinburgh Festival Fringe/Drayton Arms Theatre, London 2018), , (2019), and now The Miner’s Crow, which won the inaugural Artist’s Pick of the Fringe Award at the first ever Colchester Fringe Festival 2021. In lockdown 2020 he created the audio series Isolation Alan, available on Youtube, and performed online in the Voice Box Festival. He is the founder member of Stage Write, a Colchester based theatre company, and his acting roles include Rupert in How We Love by Annette Brook, first performed at the Vaults Festival 2020 and revived at the Arcola and at Theatre Peckham in 2021. Follow: @stagewrite_
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