Review: Amanda - The Night Before Me (The Bridge House Theatre)

Review by Daz Gale

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One of my favourite things about the rich versatility of London theatre is the opportunity to head off the beaten track and discover a new gem. While central London is home to some of the most prestigious theatres, big and small, every corner of the capital boasts culture - sometimes just setting foot in a seemingly innocuous pub will reveal a theatre above or behind it. That was the case for me this week as I took a trip on the Windrush line to Penge for the first time (despite being a lifelong London resident) for my inaugural visit to the Bridge House Theatre. This 50 seat theatre can boast some exciting programming, with perhaps their most ambitious and exciting yet in the form of Amanda - The Night Before Me, starring RuPaul’s Drag Race UK legend and all round good egg, Divina De Campo. Having received critical acclaim across Europe, would its London premiere prove to be an equally thrilling night?

Amanda - The Night Before Me is a musical starring one person, but playing 14 characters. Divina De Campo is the titular Amanda, telling the story of her journey into self-discovery and embracing her authentic self the night before she has life-changing gender-affirming surgery. Revealing moments from her childhood as she first started to sense she may be in the wrong body to her childhood crush to the misunderstandings and questioning regarding her sexuality, the show takes audiences on a thorough, rapid and rarely uncovered process.

Written by Rory Six, with an English version by The Phantom of the Opera lyricist Charles Hart, Amanda - The Night Before Me is a beautifully sensitive retelling of a very timely subject, At a time where trans people are facing more and more adversity in life with attitudes going backwards and rights being taken away, this is an incredibly important show in its attempt to dive into the life of one person and hope to change mindsets. The likelihood, of course, is that the people who do see Amanda - The Night Before Me will be those who don’t need their minds changing, but just the fact that this musical even exists is a step in the right direction for increasing trans visibility and furthering the fight to create a more accepting society,

The writing itself is full of vulnerability and authenticity, focusing on one person but showing all the other people affected by their journey. Rather than sugarcoat it all and pretend everything is all tied up in a neat bow, Amanda - The Night Before Me doesn’t hesitate to display the hurt and confusion of Amanda’s loved ones in a show that will both make you think while tugging at your heartstrings. There are also moments of comedy to be found, with many a laugh-out-loud moment in a musical that perfectly displays the conflictions and complexities of a situation such as this. The original songs prove fairly strong too, though admittedly some of the lyrics did come across as rather clumsy at times - nonetheless, I found myself leaving the theatre singing one of the numbers which is always a good sign.

One clever detail in this production is the staging itself. With just two rows surrounding the stage on three sides, this is an incredibly intimate production, but that intimacy is part of the success of the story. As a bed and some cushions replicate what is presumably Amanda’s bedroom, there are intriguing details in the actual design behind and above this, which eventually reveals itself to be a chrysalis ready for Amanda’s metamorphosis - an incredible metaphor, brilliantly realised and another example of the great care and sensitivity used in this production.

The biggest draw for this production, however, is Divina De Campo. Time and time again she has proven what a force to be reckoned with in musical theatre with credits as diverse as Ride The Cyclone, The Spongebob Musical and Hedwig. There are obvious similarities to the latter here, but Amanda - The Night Before Me showcases De Campo at her best. A truly remarkable performer, the way she embodies all the different characters is a testament to her versatility. The performance allows her to demonstrate her amazing vocals, soaring at their best and bringing the musical numbers to new heights, as well as effortless comic timing and an authentic vulnerability that endears her to the audience with ease. With nobody to share the stage with, De Campo more than fills the space, making the production feel far grander than the small space it is in while never losing the necessary intimacy. What Divina De Campo does in Amanda - The Night Before Me is absolutely jaw dropping and needs to be seen to be believed.

Amanda - The Night Before Me is as intimate as theatre gets, with its exposing nature making the cosy surroundings of Bridge House Theatre the perfect fit. As Amanda tells her story, it is hard not to form a connection with her and feel strongly about the situation thanks to both the story and the remarkable performance from Divina De Campo. It may not be a show that has been on many people’s radars, but it is one I would urge people to see both for the importance of its message and for the astonishing performance at the heart of it.

Amanda - The Night Before Me plays at The Bridge House Theatre until 10th October. Tickets from thebridgehousetheatre.co.uk 

Photos by Andreas Hofmarcher