by Amy Toledano

In anyone fifteen years old, emotions are running high. Everything feels bigger and more extreme than it actually is, so it’s easy to be swallowed up by all the feelings. Add on top of that being queer in the North of the UK, and the teen years are bound to be an absolute rollercoaster. Drip is a lovely reminder of what it feels like to be young, and how important friendship is.

Liam (played by the gentle and adorable Andrew Finnigan) has been living in Hull for a bit more than a year. His best mate Caz has decided they need to do something really exciting and brilliant for their school’s Project Prize. The thing is, this isn’t really something Liam feels particularly strongly about. But nonetheless he wants to make his friend happy and agrees to help her. Things become awkward when Caz decides that they are going to start a synchronised swimming team and Liam admits to her that he can’t swim.

Writer Tom Wells has created this character in such an innocent and lovely way that you can’t help falling in love with Liam’s sweetness, his admiration of Spiderman, and the songs he writes alone in his room. These tunes are a wonderful way to drive the story along, and Mathew Robins has done a brilliant job at writing little ear worms that encapsulate the feeling of growing up and of finding your way.

Set as a school assembly, this show has so many elements of what make great theatre. Passing out props to the audience so they feel as if they are as much a part of this story as Liam completely adds to the experience. The sing-a-long moments, the sound effects and simple set all come together to make this a gorgeous piece of theatre that will have you reminiscing on your own experiences of first loves and friends.

Drip runs though 22 December.

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