The Sex Lives of Puppets

When attending a show with a title like this, one can never be quite sure what to expect. Blind Summit’s mission is to subvert traditional expectations of puppetry, and this performance certainly lived up to that promise.

Upon entering the black box studio, the set appears minimalistic—a white backdrop rolled out onto the floor, with boxes of puppets on either side of the stage and placards handwritten on cardboard. This simplicity sets the stage for what’s to come.

The show immediately hooks the audience. Presented as a mockumentary, the characters interact with an unseen interviewer/camera, often breaking the fourth wall to address the audience directly. The format consists of a series of these interview-style segments, each featuring different puppets with placards indicating the questions they are responding to. The script, co-written and directed by Ben Keaton and Mark Down, is wonderfully realistic, filled with the kind of fillers and idiosyncrasies that suggest it may draw on real-life verbatim interviews. This realism breathes life into the puppets, imbuing them with sincere, human qualities.

The performers, dressed in all black against the stark white background, are visible if you choose to focus on them, but they can easily fade into the background if you prefer to concentrate on the puppets. The first act concludes with a shadow puppet montage, where the lighting is cleverly used to both highlight the action and reveal the performers’ work. Some of these moments were particularly amusing.

I found the second act more enjoyable, perhaps due to the interval refreshments or simply because it took me a while to warm up to the show.

The show touches on topics such as cancer, homophobia, fetishes, and, naturally, sex—all handled in a way that feels both natural and deeply human. Some audience members might find these moments emotional. The puppets, with their seemingly lifeless black eyes, initially gave off a slightly eerie vibe, but their excellent voicing and puppeteering quickly allowed me to become fully engrossed.

Standout scenes for me included the financier and his partner recounting how they met and discovered his enjoyment of being a cat, as well as another couple struggling with the dynamics of give-and-take in their relationship. Their story progresses with romantic wooing that develops in an interesting way. Particularly memorable were the scenes involving a character discussing a buzzing toy and flying off stage, and another character’s dramatic, creatively performed internal drowning moment.

As one might expect from a show with this title, it concluded with a puppet orgy, made comical by the speed at which other puppets joined in and the frequency with which they fell off the table, only to be promptly thrown back on.

If you’re interested in bringing characters to life through text and performance, this show will both inspire and challenge you.

This show was reviewed on the 7th September 2024 at Southwark Playhouse Borough, London where it runs until the 28th September 2024.  Tickets available here: The Sex Lives of Puppets – Southwark Playhouse

Review written by Valentine Gale-Sides

AD/Gifted

Photo credit: Charlina Lucas

The Sex Lives of Puppets (curtaincallreviews.co.uk)