• Review For Us
    • In London or across the UK
    • at Edinburgh Fringe
  • List Your Show
  • Advertising
  • Musicals
  • Plays
  • Ballet & Dance
  • Previews
  • First Look
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
    • Edinburgh Fringe Interviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
  • Home
  • News
    • West End
    • Off-West End
    • Regional & Tours
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • Digital Theatre
  • Tickets
    • Discounts
    • Musicals
    • Plays
    • Opera
    • Dance
    • Concerts
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
    • Edinburgh Fringe Interviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer
No Result
View All Result
Theatre Weekly
No Result
View All Result
Home Reviews

Review: Coming Clean at Trafalgar Studios 2020

by Greg Stewart
January 10, 2020
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Coming Clean at Trafalgar Studios Review photo credit Ali Wright

Coming Clean at Trafalgar Studios Review photo credit Ali Wright

When Adam Spreadbury-Maher directed the 35th anniversary production of Kevin Elyot’s Coming Clean at The King’s Head Theatre, the prospect of not one but two West End transfers probably felt like wishful thinking.  Yet, here we are, and for the second year running, Coming Clean is presented at Trafalgar Studios with only one cast change to its previous run.

This Kevin Elyot play was written before his most famous work, My Night With Reg but you can already see the trademarks of Elyot’s writing developing, and the precise like nature of his explorations in to gay domestic life.

It’s set at a time when homosexuality had just been decriminalised and before the AIDS crisis took hold, Tony (Lee Knight) and Greg (Stanton Plummer-Cambridge) are celebrating five years together, in a relationship which allows them both to sleep with other people, providing it’s nothing more than a one night stand.

       

When Tony hires a young out of work actor as their cleaner, things start to get messy and their relationship, and the rules with which it operates, are tested to the limit.  Despite the emotionally volatile subject matter, Coming Clean is filled with moments of hilarity and jaw dropping one-liners, usually delivered wonderfully by Elliot Hadley in the role of William.

Jonah Rzeskiewicz joins the cast as Robert, the young gay cleaner who isn’t as innocent as he may first appear. Rzeskiewicz gives the character an abundance of innocence which makes the second act all the more compelling, he exudes the right kind of awkwardness that explains why the events that unfold in this Kentish Town are just the beginning for young Robert.

You mightalso like

Talawa TYPT image supplied by publicist

TYPT25 Returns This Summer with Director TD. Moyo at the Helm

Sam Goodchild and Yannick Budd Coming Clean The Turbine Theatre Photo Credit Mark Senior

First Look: Coming Clean at the Turbine Theatre

As with the previous productions of Coming Clean, the attention to detail in Amanda Mascarenhas set design is second to none.  For the audience it’s like stepping back in time, and in the intimate setting of Trafalgar Studios, feels like a voyeuristic intrusion on the lives of these men of yesteryear.

Spreadbury-Maher’s direction is also incredibly detailed, and the transitions between scenes work particularly well.  He has teased out from Rzeskiewicz and Hadley, in particular, two amazing performances at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Coming Clean sits like a kind of time capsule, but one where we can still recognise the themes and characters which inhabit it.  London is lucky to have a third opportunity to see this fascinating and emotional play which has been staged beautifully.

Book Coming Clean Tickets

       
Jonah Rzeskiewicz as Robert Credit Ali Wright
Jonah Rzeskiewicz as Robert Credit Ali Wright
Jonah Rzeskiewicz as Robert Credit Ali Wright
Jonah Rzeskiewicz as Robert Credit Ali Wright
Lee Knight as Tony Stanton Plummer Cambridge as Greg Credit Ali Wright
Lee Knight as Tony Stanton Plummer Cambridge as Greg Credit Ali Wright
Lee Knight as Tony Elliot Hadley as William Credit Ali Wright
Lee Knight as Tony Elliot Hadley as William Credit Ali Wright
LtoR Stanton Plummer Cambridge as Greg Jonah Rzeskiewicz as Robert Lee Knight as Tony Credit Ali Wright
LtoR Stanton Plummer Cambridge as Greg Jonah Rzeskiewicz as Robert Lee Knight as Tony Credit Ali Wright
Stanton Plummer Cambridge as Greg Credit Ali Wright
Stanton Plummer Cambridge as Greg Credit Ali Wright
Greg Stewart

Greg Stewart

Greg is an award-winning writer with a huge passion for theatre. He has appeared on stage, as well as having directed several plays in his native Scotland. Greg is the founder and editor of Theatre Weekly

Related Articles

Talawa TYPT image supplied by publicist
News

TYPT25 Returns This Summer with Director TD. Moyo at the Helm

Sam Goodchild and Yannick Budd Coming Clean The Turbine Theatre Photo Credit Mark Senior
First Look

First Look: Coming Clean at the Turbine Theatre

The Cast of Coming Clean
News

Full Cast Announced for Coming Clean at the Turbine Theatre

Turbine Theatre Spring 2024 Season
News

The Turbine Theatre 2024 Spring/Summer Season Season Announced

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Twitter Facebook Youtube Instagram

At Theatre Weekly we give theatre a new audience. You'll find our theatre news, theatre reviews and theatre interviews are written from an audience point of view. Our great value London theatre tickets will get you the best deal for your theatre tickets.
Theatre Weekly, 124 City Road, London EC1V 2NX
  • Join Our Community
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact Us
  • Advertising

Recent News

Medusa Marketing Image supplied by the company (1)

Review: Medusa at Guildhall School of Music and Drama

Spin A Play (Credit Lynsey Nicol)

Spin-a-Play Brings Improvised Chaos to Camden Fringe 2025

© 2022 Theatre Weekly

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tickets
  • Digital Theatre
  • News
    • News
    • West End
    • Off West End
    • Regional & Tours
    • Digital
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
  • Edinburgh Fringe 2025
    • Edinburgh Fringe News
    • Edinburgh Fringe Previews
    • Edinburgh Fringe Interviews
  • Contact Us
    • Join us as a Reviewer

© 2022 Theatre Weekly