22 January 2025
Who knew that the word snowball would be so triggering? That the very mention would elicit such joy that the memories stirred would see this reviewer gently bouncing and then practically levitating out of his seat with happiness in the back row at Soho Theatre. But that’s exactly what happened last night at Jonny Woo’s stunning new show, Suburbia, an intoxicating, highly personal memoir, a mix of remembrance and performance art, vividly written and performed with élan, charting his life from a childhood “beyond the Elizabeth Line” in Medway to the (sex) clubs of New York and the queer community in London.
It takes place on an almost bare stage apart from gauze curtains that can be pulled to create illusion and quick change fashion reveals, the nets also serving as a visual metaphor for the suffocating constraints of the suburban life he fled as a teenager. Clever trance like lighting (design by Sam Hoppen) quickly introduces mood changes and locations switch in an instant.
Arriving on stage lip synching to “Rose’s Turn” from Gypsy and delivering haunting, wistful new versions of the Pet Shop Boys’ “Suburbia” and “Sweet Transvestite” from The Rocky Horror Show among others, Woo constantly surprises, impresses and astonishes in a variety of dresses left by a secret transvestite to a friend who lives on a canal barge. Nothing is known about the identity of this secret cross dresser apart from the fact that they wanted the garments to be used in the queer community after their death – and they had great taste in chiffon and lace! On Jonny Woo the floaty creations could not have a better showcase.
A story of self-destruction and survival, Woo’s journey – like for so many of us growing up in the AIDS era – saw him battle with self worth, lack of confidence and addictions, and survive danger on many occasions.
What led him to become the artist he is today has been the subject of previous successful solo shows, but now in his fifties, Woo is ultra reflective and he is literally ready to bare all (wink wink). Among the personal anecdotes there is clever use of period audio clips, including Margaret Thatcher’s anti-gay hate speech and the infamous HIV/AIDS public service announcement by John Hurt. The resulting show is a total triumph; a surprising and welcome tour de force on a cold stormy Tuesday night.
But what about snowballs, I hear you ask? In my favourite section of the show, as Jonny discovers a bag of discard pills at the back of the stage (such a pivotal moment, the bag gets its own follow spot!) he becomes visibly excited as he takes us back to the London dance/rave scene in the 1990s and the proliferation of Ecstasy and its effect on the queer community. For those of us who were there (and also discovered bags of pills on more than one occasion in darkened clubs!) it it feels totally authentic. Woo lists the different kinds of ecstasy pills – including snowballs – with reverent nostalgia and elicits whoops and cheers from the older gay contingent (me included) as he dolls out the pretend Ecstasy tablets to the audience (clue they give you minty breath). It turns out that snowball was his E of choice (also mine) and as the happy house music cranks up, and Hoppen’s club lights burst into life, Wood exhorts us to raise our arms to the heavens enmass and join with him in a communal memory of a blissful time. It is a joy to experience and for that thrilling moment alone, I wanted to give our cheerleader the greatest bear hug imaginable.
Jonny Woo: Suburbia is a wonderful testament of a life lived well and worthy of celebration. We give enormous thanks for the life of Jonny Woo. And the bequest of the secret transvestite. Long may they florish.
Season ends January 25.
