At a time when trans rights and safety are threatened by recent rulings on the use of public spaces, as well as attacks from politicians, some notable celebrities, and the media, You’ve Gone Quiet by Cerys Duffy gives a much-needed trans perspective.
The play uses an unusual second-person narrative technique whereby we, the audience, are addressed as Beth, a trans journalist. The device enables us to become immersed in Beth’s world, and we learn a lot about her long before we actually see her.
Beth’s friend Tara is desperate to become a mother and is struggling to get pregnant. Suspecting that her husband is infertile, Tara persuades Beth (who is a pre-operative trans woman) to help by providing a sample of sperm. When Tara lies to her husband about the baby’s origins, and Beth writes an article about becoming a parent, the impact on their friendship, relationships, and mental health is huge.
Meanwhile, Beth’s friend and fellow trans journalist Samantha is so desperate for money to pay for the medicine and medical care she needs to complete her transition that she betrays Beth.
In the first half, characters are introduced as larger-than-life and, in some cases, such as Tara’s Welsh husband Ian and Rory’s brother Gaz, unreconstructed male stereotypes. However, in the second half they develop more emotional complexity and nuance, resulting in some heartfelt and sensitive moments. The acting is energetic, with some stand-out performances from Gennifer Becouarn as Tara and Matt Vicary as Rory.
You’ve Gone Quiet is two hours long, including an interval, but thanks to sharp writing and fast-paced direction (from Andy McLeod), it doesn’t feel long. The play covers many important topical issues including TERFs, trolling, unfair dismissal, lack of platforms for serious campaigning journalism, being replaced by AI, mansplaining, toxic masculinity, and the lack of gender-affirming care on the NHS. Each of these topics is significant enough to be a central theme, but by packing in so many, it feels a bit like skirting over a list of issues.
The show is packed with laughs. Much of the humour relies on expletives, and the jokes provide light relief from some harrowing truths. You’ve Gone Quiet is an honest and empathetic tale of love and friendship that shines a light on the challenges faced by trans people today.
Listings and ticket information can be found here
