Waterloo East Theatre – until 30 November 2025
Reviewed by Claire Roderick
4****
Mark is 15 years old and confused. Confused about his sexuality, social interactions and the cruelty of school life, and with nobody he feels he can talk to, he decides to chat with Graham Norton. Watching Graham’s show on TV and hearing his parents talk about what an open and comforting interviewer he is, Mark hopes he can air all of his troubles and thoughts without being judged. Unfortunately, his practise run sees him completely distracted by the hotness of his fellow imaginary guests on Graham’s sofa!
What begins as light-hearted anecdotes about sexual awakening at school, sexual arousal on the tube, the cat incident, and musings about whether he can be absolutely sure that he’s gay if he hasn’t “experienced a vagina” soon darkens into deeper self-analysis. Initially I questioned Simon Perrott’s writing style as the vocabulary and phrasing used is not that of a typical teenager, but as Mark talks about the bullying encountered at school, his isolated state becomes more obvious. He lights up when he plays his beloved albums, and it is made clear that the books he devours and thinks deeply about are how he measures his life, using more sophisticated and romanticised phrases modelled on his favourite romances.
Gerald Armin’s astute direction allows Jamie Kaye to deliver a stunning performance – sweetly naïve and searching for meaning at first, before the tone completely shifts and he breaks your heart as he talks about the online community he found as he had nobody to talk to. The talk with Graham has made Mark realise he is ready to take a big step. The latter part of the play is bleak and horrifying as the dark corners of the web that can be found by desperate and isolated children are explored. Perrott writes Mark’s thoughts matter-of-factly, with his decision seeming almost reasonable – in full compliance with his group’s rules.
In Conversation With Graham Norton is hard-hitting and heartfelt, a witty and emotive exploration of the confusion and pressures of youth.