Skank @ Pleasance Courtyard

Skank, written and performed by Clementine Bogg-Hargroves, follows Kate, a 20-something dealing with work woes, debilitating health anxiety, and an office crush on ‘sexy Gary'. Starting the hour holding onto an empty can of beans, looking for the correct recycling bin to deposit the tin, it’s clear as the action unfolds that Kate is holding onto much more than that empty can. 

The bulk of the play takes place in Kate’s workplace, where she’s languishing at the bottom of the career ladder. She’s not enjoying work, and a series of interactions with colleagues (where Bogg-Hargroves chats to recorded voices) see her eye-roll her way through conversations with people she wouldn’t choose to be friends with outside of work. Kate’s real passion is writing, but she often finds it difficult to get the words onto the page, which may strike a chord with other aspiring writers.

Through the course of the action, Kate visits the doctor several times, facing a crisis that makes her wonder if she’s going to die. The panic over her health and the medical procedures she undergoes allows Bogg-Hargroves’ performance to truly shine. We feel for Kate as she faces the prospect of a potentially life-changing diagnosis. Although billed as a comedy (and there are some laughs to be had) with themes of mental and physical health struggles, it feels more like a drama. 

There’s a lot to like in the play; Bogg-Hargroves is a great physical performer and an engaging presence. Yet many of the plotlines feel undercooked. Kate’s trying to find her place in the world, and it feels like Bogg-Hargroves is trying to nail the tone and purpose of her piece. There are some real standout moments and a relationship with her brother Sammy that is sweet but underexplored. The play finishes at another doctor’s appointment, letting go of some of what she’s been carrying throughout the hour: a hopeful – rather than a neat – happy ending. 

---

Skank, Pleasance Courtyard (Pleasance Two), until 29 Aug, 4.40pm, £11-13.50