by Diana Miranda

It’s often said that the stomach is the body’s second brain. Supposedly, that pulling energy inside our gut – the thing we call intuition – is no woo-woo concept. This is certainly true in Ariana Xeno’s debut show, Stomach, which unravels the intertwined narratives of three women navigating environments that threaten their mental and physical health.

Set against the backdrop of doctor’s appointments – a waiting room with a water cooler and three lined-up chairs – this three-hander tragedy is a visceral rollercoaster of female relationships where the body becomes a battleground for instinct, hope, and resilience. The result? A story that is as haunting as it is heartening.

Stomach One (Annabel Gray) is in a relationship that feels off, but she hides the truth from her watchful mother. Stomach Two (Maya Loveday) is battling an eating disorder, rallied by her no-nonsense best mate. Stomach Three (Vigs Otite) is pregnant and unsure of her next move, her sister standing by her as she goes from clinic to clinic. A blend of dialogue and spoken word, Xeno’s storytelling digs deep into the emotional core of each character. She sprinkles in lyrical, repetitive lines that ricochet through the air, anchoring and weaving a story that draws the audience into the women’s struggles with an intensity that’s hard to shake.

Gray, Loveday and Otite deliver powerhouse performances that hold our attention tightly, each breathing life into their characters with both humour and sorrow. Their rapid transitions between stories feel seamless, creating a fluid narrative that merges individual experiences into a collective tale.

To reinforce the gripping atmosphere, sound and light design (soundscore by Bluegirl) add rich layers to the actors’ movements. Whether it’s a car speeding down the road, a frantic workout, or a disturbing bath, these elements swiftly transport us from beat to beat and punctuate the energy shifts. A timeline projection adds a simple yet smart touch, too, pumping up the intrigue and helping us navigate the play’s emotional ride.

Stomach is a piece that, if allowed, will get under the skin. In the air-tight black box of Camden People’s Theatre, the air can be cut with a knife. Laughter gives way to discreet hands wiping away tears and a collective holding of breath as the story reached its peak – a testament to the show’s raw honesty. At its core, Stomach offers solace through a message of sisterhood, emphasising the hope and resilience found in family, friends, and, if we pay attention, strangers.

This debut marks Ariana Xeno as a playwright and director to keep an eye on – someone who knows how to reflect the aches of the body and mind with a captivating pen and simple, abstract staging. Stomach doesn’t shy away from the difficult realities of life in a female body – the abuse it may suffer, yes, but also how we may reclaim agency over it, listen to it, and care for it. It’s a lyrical, cutting piece that confronts darkness but handles it with a smooth touch.

Stomach runs through 13^th August. 

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