REVIEW: LET HER LIV* @ HEN AND CHICKENS THEATRE

🎭 Let Her Liv*

📍 Hen and Chickens Theatre, 109 St Paul's Road, London, N1 2NA

🗓 Monday 14th September 2026

⭐️ 5 Stars

A DEVASTATING, DYNAMIC, AND DEEPLY NECESSARY MASTERPIECE

Sometimes a play comes along that you just know you have to see, and LET HER LIV* was one such play for me. Even though its UK premiere at the Hen & Chickens Theatre only played for a strictly limited two-night run, I was absolutely determined that this was one I had to watch. I was utterly overjoyed to receive an invitation to review it, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.

The history of this piece is a journey in itself. First conceived back in 2015, the core concept flips the traditional grief narrative on its head. The plot follows the aftermath of the sudden death of Olivia, a young trans woman. What's really poignant is that this play would have been relevant and important when it was first written over a decade ago, but here in 2026, it feels even more urgent, heavy, and vital. It zeroes in on how trans identity survives through the memories of others when someone no longer has the agency to protect their own name.

That urgency hits you like a physical wave right from the opening scene, which is nothing short of heartbreaking. We watch as Olivia’s friends and chosen family read her official death announcement. In a cruel but all-too-real twist, her parents have chosen to deadname and misgender her in the press. The stage crackles with raw tension as we witness everyone's vastly different, fractured reactions to this erasure, before the action shifts to the quiet devastation of her funeral.

Structurally, the play is quite unique. Rather than standard back-and-forth dialogue, each of the eight characters delivers a monologue directly to the deceased. But here is the brilliant twist: they do this with a scene partner onstage. In essence, you have two separate monologues happening simultaneously in unison, with beautiful, slight crossovers every now and again. It creates a gorgeous, rhythmic dynamic unlike anything I have ever seen before on the fringe circuit.

The writing throughout is extremely strong, displaying a deep, empathetic understanding of trauma. It bravely explores a massive spectrum of conflicting emotions and viewpoints. Listening to some of these accounts was actually really devastating. At multiple points, you could feel a physical hush wash over the audience as we were all universally transfixed by the unfolding stories.

Of course, a script this delicate requires a monumental effort from its actors, and this ensemble cast was sensational. Each of them completely gave themselves over to their characters with absolute believability, navigating the complex overlapping text without ever missing a beat or dropping the emotional stakes. Their chemistry as a grieving collective was palpable.

The production elements kept pace perfectly, too. I particularly enjoyed the original musical compositions that played through the scene changes. They were incredibly impactful and atmospheric, giving the audience a chance to breathe while perfectly bridging the emotional gaps between scenes.

For the first night of the run, and considering the run itself was so incredibly short, I was floored by how tight and together this show was. There wasn't a single opening-night hitch. This has quite obviously been put together by a fiercely dedicated, passionate creative team who cared deeply about the story they were telling.

LET HER LIV * desperately deserves to get a longer run on a bigger stage. This is socially important theatre at its finest. Sometimes, theatre with a strong social message can accidentally slip into becoming more of a lecture, treating its audience like they're stupid or need to be taught a lesson. Nothing could be further from the truth here. Instead, it invites you into the room, trusts your intelligence, breaks your heart, and leaves you desperate to fight for the people who can no longer fight for themselves. An absolute triumph.

Neill Kovacic-Clarke

All views are my own and I pride myself on being honest, fair, and free from influence. Theatre is subjective and it is important to remember that all views expressed are just those of one reviewer.  

My ticket for this performance of Let Her Liv* was gifted by Placeholder Collective, who invited me to watch the show in exchange for my honest review. The fact that my ticket was gifted played no part in the content of my review or the star rating given. 

CAST:

Jared Scott as Alex; Marcus Collick as Wes; Erin Hughes as Sofia; Emma Levy as Charli; Catrin Lewis as Victoria; Song Marshall as Morgan; Noelle C. Sacher as Hanna; Agnes Vesterback as Lizzie-Beth

RUNNING TIME (approx):

40 minutes, with no interval

CONTENT WARNINGS:

Sudden death of a loved one; Trans identity; Emotional processing of grief and trauma

AGE RECOMMENDATION:

18+

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