“Both these plays have at their centre an act of explosive violence, and it was this overlap in theme that made me decide to bring them together as one night of exciting theatre.” (Claire Evans, Director)
Review by Claire-Monique Martin
He Said / She Said at the White Bear Theatre presents a bold and intriguing premise: two actors, two writers, two acts of violence. These worlds collide only within the shared theatrical space, connected not by narrative but by theme—murder—and the environment in which they unfold.
Structured as two distinct 45-minute monologues with an interval between, the production offers a diptych of storytelling that is both contrasting and complementary. Each piece stands entirely on its own, with no crossover in character or plot, and yet the shared space invites the audience to draw connections—however loose—between them.
The first piece, Misconduct by Dom Riley, performed by Gwithian Evans, is extraordinary. His portrayal of a man recounting a final trip with two school friends to a Leeds United away match is at once hilarious and quietly devastating. There’s a casual charm to his storytelling that draws you in, peppered with humour and nostalgia, but underneath lies something far more poignant. The impending departure of one friend—off to become a teacher—casts a shadow over what should be a celebratory “last hurrah.” Evans navigates this emotional duality with remarkable ease. At one point, you might find yourself wondering trivial details—“What football club does he support?”—but it quickly becomes clear that such specifics are beside the point. What matters is the connection, the memory, and the unravelling beneath it.
In stark contrast, Ladykiller by Madeline Gould, performed by Geebs Marie Williams, delivers a chillingly precise performance. Her character feels like a calculated blend of Hannibal Lecter and Professor Moriarty—cool, intelligent, and disturbingly methodical. Watching her is like being invited into the mind of someone meticulously planning and executing a murder, and crucially, getting away with it. Where Misconduct is rooted in emotional recollection, Ladykiller is sharp, cerebral, and deeply unsettling.
Director Claire Evans handles both works with clarity and confidence, allowing each to retain its individuality while benefiting from the intimacy of the space. The diamond-shaped staging of the White Bear Theatre proves particularly effective, drawing the audience into proximity with the performers and heightening the sense of immediacy. Lighting and sound are thoughtfully employed, subtly shaping the tone of each piece without overwhelming it.
The set design, featuring a reversible panel—white for one performance, terracotta for the other—mirrored by the chairs, is a clever visual device to distinguish the two worlds. That said, it arguably feels more aesthetic than essential; the performances themselves are more than strong enough to carry the shift in tone and narrative without additional visual cues.
What lingers after the final moment is not just the quality of the performances—though both are exceptional—but the structural choice itself. Should these two pieces be connected only by the theme of murder? It’s an interesting proposition, and one that certainly showcases the strength of both writers. Yet there’s a part of me that wonders what might have emerged had one story been explored from another perspective—perhaps through the eyes of Mickey’s girlfriend, or the police officer about to interrogate a blood-covered suspect.
Still, this is a minor musing rather than a criticism. As it stands, He Said / She Said is a compelling and sharply executed theatrical experience. Two separate worlds, expertly performed, momentarily sharing the same space—leaving the audience to bridge the gap between them.
Photo credit: Yuchu Zhao
Cast
- Gwithian Evans — Richie (Misconduct)
- Geebs Marie Williams — Her (Ladykiller)
Creatives
- Claire Evans — Director & Producer
- Dom Riley — Writer (Misconduct)
- Madeline Gould — Writer (Ladykiller)
- David Fitzhugh — Designer
- Marta Fossati — Lighting Director / Technical DSM
- Jan Giedroyc — Sound Designer
- Yuchu Zhao — Production Artwork & Photography
Ticket link: https://www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk/whatson/he-said%2Fshe-said