Jonny Woo : Suburbia
Jonny Woo gives us the queer experience raw with a heartfelt and visceral tribute to his upbringing and life before the big cities.
Drag icon and owner of The Divine, Jonny Woo, bares all at Soho Theatre in this theatrical piece, including poetry, spoken word, burlesque, and storytelling. Suburbia is a labour of love and his most honest work, with tender care wrapped in each segment.
Donning the stage with net curtains and chiffon dresses, Jonny Woo arrives in his signature alt-drag persona. He delves into the 1980s effects of Thatcherism on the UK and queer community and how growing up surrounded by the fear of AIDS. Moreso, he incites discussion around being HIV positive - or not - and the mental toll this takes on individuals, alongside how society still makes judgements based on someone’s status.
These sections create the emotional bulk of the performance as Jonny regularly poses thought-provoking and emotive questions to the audience. This is theatre that questions society and the audience, leaving you with those questions and letting them fester. Taking us back to his youth and the first time he encountered the worry of HIV, we hear a first-hand recount of events that represent the lives of so many and even more who can no longer tell their story. Jonny reminds us that life is precious and should be enjoyed with opportunities taken and risks thrilled. But we are also reminded of our humanity and place in the wider world.
The costumes featured are more than visibly beautiful; they are sewn with meaning and come from Suburbia. Rescued from a deceased crossdresser, these gowns have been given a new life. Something is compelling about this transition from the hidden bedrooms of the English Gardens to the Soho Theatre. Jonny Woo has the intellectual ability to create theatre that is moulded in art and emotion with pristine detail.
Though the stage is dressed exclusively with two curtains, it is through these suburban housewife nets that costume changes are visible and often on stage. This deliberate act showcases the performance and the art of performing. It directly highlights to the audience the naked individual versus the performer who arrives on stage and the thin veil that separates the two. This raw transparency is the pinnacle of Jonny Woo’s Suburbia, as regardless of where someone comes from, their upbringing, gender identity, sexual orientation, class or race, we are all naked human bodies masquerading in society.
Growing up in the suburbs of Kent, Jonny Woo sings and talks about elements of his life that led him to explore gender identity, sexuality, and everything in between. This exploration led him to become a performer and the owner of an LGBTQIA+ space, The Divine.
Jonny is a powerhouse performer and can now provide spaces for those like him who are coming from places where “queer” is still a slur. Much like Suburbia, he has made a space where identity is embraced, and life should be celebrated and fun.
Like life, Suburbia peaks and troughs with tear-jerking raw honesty matched beautifully with high-camp lipsyncing numbers. Jonny Woo’s talent and storytelling are limitless—all must-see Suburbia.
This show was reviewed on the 15th January 2025 at Soho Theatre, London where it runs until the 25th January 2025. Tickets available here: Jonny Woo: Suburbia - Soho Theatre
Review written by Ryan Lenney
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Photo credit: Harry Elletson
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