Review: Private View (Soho Theatre)

Review by Heva Kelly

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jess Edwards' debut play, Private View, comes to Soho Theatre in a masterpiece of female expression, queer love, and the power dynamics within a fracturing relationship. This volatile journey of two women meeting and becoming entangled, strikingly played out by Patricia Allison and Stefanie Martini, feels like your very own private view into two women’s worlds, each balancing on the brink of collapse.

To see Private View is to be hit, post-applause, by a wave of gratitude for a production that holds open the door to sapphic romance and queer women’s voices—opposing the ongoing and historical underrepresentation that so many seem keen to ignore. With a majority-queer female team behind it, it’s no wonder the piece is seeping with passion and originality.

Too often, we box queer theatre into a corner, but Edwards' magnetic writing ensures this is a play that is relatable for all, no matter your sexuality or experiences. At its heart, it uncovers the truths of co-dependency and draws us in with its descriptive brilliance. Its universal resonance comes through most strongly in its poetic labyrinth of discussion about how we can get lost in the tricky, multifaceted parts of life and love.

Within the chasm of this play’s relationship is an electric representation of queer sex. The play leans into the messiness of intimacy - portrayed with so much depth and truth, it is a “thank goodness” moment compared to many of its predecessors, which still cling to two-dimensional, hyper-sexualised waffle and nonsense. This play holds up a defiant “give it a rest” sign to queer sex and female experiences told through the male gaze, and takes the reins by stepping into its own power. Private View proves how deep, dynamic, and passionate sapphic love stories can be.

For those drawn in as fans of the hit show Sex Education, Patricia Allison absolutely lives up to expectations, giving a powerful, layered performance that brings clarity to the emotions behind being the youngest, or least “ahead”in a relationship. Stefanie Martini brilliantly encapsulates the opposite dynamic as the older partner, delivering a compelling portrayal of toxic affection. Both Martini and Allison demonstrate a wonderful combination of technical skill and emotional truth. Perhaps the only improvement now is for them to relax, knowing they’re exceptional, as some moments come across slightly “Shakespeare-like” or vocally over-performed, where a touch of “less is more” might help the speech feel more natural in moments.

Director Annie Kershaw, the 2024 recipient of the Genesis Future Directors Award at the Young Vic, has also struck gold here. Everything feels intentionally placed and well designed, showcasing a clear, bold, and thrilling vision. The production is clearly a labour of love by the whole creative team. The work of movement and intimacy director Ingrid Mackinnon is evident, with Martini and Allison displaying physical chemistry bursting at the seams. I was also delighted to see Soho Theatre taking responsibility for the actors’ well-being by giving each audience member a sticker to place over their phone camera and reinforcing that photography is not allowed, presumably for the actors due to the vulnerability of some moments within the play.

At times, you feel a little like you’re on a rollercoaster with the quick shifts in time and place, alongside the interlacing of topics such as grief, careers, science, and money. However, you soon enjoy being thrown about as you build a connection to the characters and become invested in where the story will take you next. The sci-fi-like staging and excellently paired light and sound design mean that by the end, the flashing lights and fast-paced style not only grow on you but fully captivate your attention.

Ultimately, Private View is an overdue win for sapphic romance and an exciting examination of co-dependency. I hope to see this play take its seat at the table alongside other two-hander relationship lifecycle plays, such as Lungs by Duncan Macmillan, as it absolutely deserves the same level of recognition. A reminder that love, in all its chaos, deserves to be held up to the light. A play that asks you to look closer, feel deeper, and reconsider the private views we keep hidden within ourselves.

Private View plays at Soho Theatre until 20th December. Tickets from sohotheatre.com 

Photos by Ciara Robinson