‘This next song is called Kiss My Tits.” In Laura Horton’s play, we meet a punk band formed by frontwoman Leah as a tribute to Alan Partridge’s PA Lynn Benfield – but also as a snook cocked at Leah’s 40th birthday and encroaching maturity. Two best friends have been pressganged into taking part, and here we all are at their maiden gig. It unfolds in real-time in front of us, and – even by punk standards – it is not carried off with much aplomb.
There is comedy to be found in three middle-aged women in “snazzy cardigans” delivering an in-yer-face gig without any perceptible musical ability. There’s tragedy too, as the story unfolds of the breakup from her abusive ex that Leah (Madeleine MacMahon) is struggling to get over. Her pals, mouthy Ali (Peyvand Sadeghian) and dizzy Shonagh (Holly Kavanagh), are here sacrificing their dignity to chivvy that process along. But when Pete phones midway through the gig, Leah’s commitment to punk, and to the breakup, wavers.
