REVIEW: Sissy Boy, Jake Bickford, EdFringe 2026 ★★★

What do we desire? What makes us feel ashamed? And where do the two overlap? One-man show Sissy Boy explores these questions through the lens of a Bristolian teen on the cusp of starting drama school, who lives out his humiliation kink online whilst also having awkward first encounters on the dancefloor.

There are no straightforward answers when it comes to our sexuality. Who and what is queer, what do we get to explore openly and where does society draw the line even if your desire is, technically heterosexual? Whilst I went into this play expecting the story of a gay man and have heard from others that they thought the same, the first surprise of Sissy Boy is that the protagonist is in fact attracted to women. Just, perhaps, not in the way you’d expect; he has a secret online relationship with a femdom and a kink for women’s underwear which he sometimes dresses up in. The queerness lies in the desire itself, rather than who it is directed at.

Writer-performer Jake Bickford takes us through trips with the lads, a failed hook-up and an accidental kiss with another guy with humour and vulnerability. But the play takes a turn when the protagonist is confronted with the unexpected death of a loved one and has to process his grief whilst away from home at drama school. Through the light-hearted and darker moments of the play there is a sense of helplessness, of still needing to figure it out, of making it up as you go along. There is a touching moment when the protagonist asks his dad what it means to be a man but is left waiting for an answer. In that way, the play seems to be a vital representation for young men, especially with the current prevalence of the manosphere and looksmaxxing.

However, whilst Sissy Boy offers a deeply fascinating concept, it falters somewhat in its execution. Some of the story is told in past tense which immediately sucks any urgency out of the room, and the direction has Bickford sat down for long portions of the play which only enhances this issue. Especially given the late start time, adding more variety in the character’s movement as well as the lighting and sound would add more dynamic and thereby help the audience to stay fully engaged.

Similarly, placing all of the narrative in the present tense as well as reworking some of the more descriptive passages could have made the story feel more as if it was actually happening to the character. As it is, at times it felt like Bickford was telling us how the character was feeling rather than experiencing it and, as a result, there was something almost jarring about the more serious scenes dealing with grief and loss. Now, this could be a commentary on how young men are not taught how to deal with their emotions, however if that was the intention it did not come across clearly.

Overall though, this play is certainly unique in what if offers and explores, and Bickford’s portrayal of the young man is carefully crafted and seems deeply personal.

Recommended Drink: BuzzBallz – flavour of your choice.

Catch Sissy Boy from 7-15 August at 22:40 (50 minutes). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Box Office.