Stage: The knife-edge of hoarding

Breathless
by Laura Horton
with Madeleine MacMahon
dir Stephanie Kempson
prd Ben Lyon-Ross
lighting Natasha Whitley
composer Ellie Showering
Soho Theatre, London • 7-18.Feb.23

Subtitled A True Life Story of the Knife-Edge of Hoarding, this one-woman show bristles with details that will resonate with anyone who places value on the things they collect around them. Written by Plymouth's Laureate of Words Laura Horton, it's an astute collection of sharp comedy and earthy emotions, touching on wider themes about insecurities and connections.

Pushing 40, Sophie (MacMahon) has just begun seeing Jo, the first woman she has dated after years of relationships with men. And she begins to see a future with Jo, who is patient, honest and kind to her. But Sophie is hiding a secret: she won't let anyone come to her flat because it is overflowing with designer clothing she has bought at charity shops and sample sales. Not everything fits her, but each piece offers an indefinable sense of comfort, revealing what she calls "versions of me" that once were, are now or are to come. 

As Sophie narrates her story, she cycles back to anecdotes from her childhood and young adulthood. Cleverly, these never try to explain why she hoards so much clothing; instead they offer glimpses into her emotional life, her sharp sense of humour and an undercurrent of irony in how she sees the world around her. Then as she gets to know Jo, there are other issues, including the horror at Jo's minimalistic home, in which she can see only three pairs of shoes. But while she worries that Jo will reject her if she learns the truth, she begins to confront her obsession.

MacMahon connects immediately with the audience, using focussed eye contact and a confessional attitude to make the show feel almost unnervingly intimate. The stage consists of a chair and racks of garment bags, which MacMahon uses to provide elements of grounded realism in an abstract environment. Lighting and an inventive sound mix extend this effect, pulling the viewer right into Sophie's mental process without ever being voyeuristic. Without trying to make us understand Sophie, the show helps us sympathise and, more importantly, see her for who she is. Not only does this change our perspective on hoarders, but it helps us embrace the hoarder with in us and perhaps find a way to live with this is a healthier way.

For details: SOHO THEATRE >

photos by Christopher Vaughan • 8.Feb.23