Playfight
A review of the play by Julia Grogan
Last week, some of the Dear Em team attended Playfight by Julia Grogan. We promise, there are no spoilers in this review. It was a production that made us laugh, cry, and reflect, often all at once hehe!
A tldr...
At its heart, Playfight explores many of the conversations young people are already having, or trying to have, about sex, friendship, shame, identity, and growing up.
It is honest about how awkward, confusing, and vulnerable these conversations can be, particularly when expectations, assumptions, and social pressures begin to shape how we see ourselves and each other.
The play thoughtfully explores the expectations placed on young women, the impact those expectations can have on self-esteem and belonging, and the ways young people navigate relationships while still learning about themselves.
It also explores queer love, friendship, and connection, creating space for experiences that are often overlooked or misunderstood.
The Dear Em team’s main takeaways
What resonated most with us was the play's willingness to hold complexity with care.
Playfight touches on a number of difficult and deeply relevant topics, including sex, relationships, shame, self-worth, violence, and belonging. It does so in a way that feels honest, nuanced, and profoundly human.
Rather than reducing these experiences to simple lessons or clear-cut answers, the play acknowledges that many of the challenges young people face exist in shades of grey.
It creates space for audiences to reflect on the realities of growing up, the pressures placed on young people, and the complicated ways we learn about ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us.
To be in the audience was...
The best experience. There was something incredibly powerful about experiencing this story alongside a room full of people.
Throughout the performance, audiences laughed, sat with moments of discomfort, and reflected on conversations that many of us have had, or continue to have, about growing up, relationships, identity, and belonging, together.
It was a reminder of the way storytelling can bring people together and create space for empathy, connection, and deeper reflection.
We got to tell the cast how much we live laugh (cried) loved it, too
One of the most meaningful parts of the evening came after the final curtain call.
Audience members were invited to write letters to the cast, creating an opportunity to reflect on what the production had stirred in us and to share our appreciation with those who brought the story to life.
We were grateful for the chance to send a little love back to a cast and creative team who approached such complex themes with honesty, care, and humanity.
We will leave you with this:
Playfight left us thinking about the conversations young people are having every day, and the ones they often feel unable to have.
Playfight is everyone’s story. If not yours personally, someone you grew up with or a friend. Every word, every movement had meaning and linked up to a moment of reality. The actors, the lighting, the sound all connected to become a chaos of heartbreak and enlightenment.
It reminded us of the importance of creating spaces where young people can explore relationships, identity, self-worth, consent, expectations, and belonging openly and without judgement. These conversations are rarely simple, and the experiences that shape them are rarely black and white.
Thank you to the cast and creative team for creating a piece that was thoughtful, challenging, and deeply moving. It is a story that has stayed with us long after leaving the theatre, and one that continues to spark reflection and conversation.
Read more about Playfight through the links below:
