I sat down with writer and performer Paul Bradshaw to find out more about Tell Me Straight / Aggy playing at the King’s Head Theatre this Autumn.

tell me straight // aggy brings together two distinct plays exploring modern queer life in London. What inspired you to pair these two stories together as a double bill, and how do they converse with each other?

Before last summer, the thought hadn’t crossed my mind! We knew we had programming for aggy at Park Theatre, but it wasn’t until another double bill was announced when the idea of tell me straight joining the party became a consideration. Each play has its own distinguishable narrative; there’s no crossover in characters, cast or plot points, so they very much could be staged as standalone plays in the future. But the success of our run in March has led to this transfer, and we’re excited to get to mount them again as a pair. Staging them together means that audiences get two plays for the price of one, and they’ll hopefully feel entertained, inspired and challenged by the varied narratives and styles of design. I hope it means other companies begin to follow suit, because it has been such a rewarding experience as a team and audiences have been very responsive

From navigating romance and connection in tell me straight to testing
relationship boundaries, privilege, and identity in aggy, what drew you to
tackling these specific themes across the two pieces?

It’s so interesting, isn’t it, because ideas and stories don’t come to me fully formed. They are overheard remarks, or imagined back-and-forths, and then they grow into fleshed-out worlds through time, perseverance and space. I didn’t set out to write plays that tackle these themes; they became plays that do. I love developing work with actors because things inevitably shift and become more nuanced, through feedback, yes, but also just by simply hearing the words aloud.

Many scenes that didn’t make the cut in both plays and they weren’t discarded because they didn’t tackle these central themes; they just no longer felt necessary to the story. I don’t know many writers that start with issues before narrative. Saying that, I am so curious about the ways in which we all shift our personalities in social and professional environments, and I think both of these plays have that in common. To be honest, I can see that being a recurring theme in all of the work I write going forward.

How have you approached the balance between the awkwardness and the
genuine emotional vulnerability of modern dating?

Modern dating? Er…I am not the person to comment on this, as my dating life this year has been somewhat on the back burner, what with working across 5 projects. But who knows, ask me again this time next year.

aggy delves into creative ambition, race, and the idea of altering one’s identity
to succeed in art. What has been the most compelling aspect of exploring
those industry dynamics within the intimacy of a relationship?

All of it. This play has been in development since 2023, and it has been a huge learning experience for everyone involved. In that time, we had programming offers from several venues, producers attached, almost Edinburgh runs, etc. But I’m so grateful it took the time it did to secure the right team, venues and cast.

It has been so rewarding to stage this play that is knotty but human. I love the relationship between the characters, and the response we’ve had about the play has been overwhelmingly affirming. It’s a relief that audiences and critics are picking up what we’re putting down.

I think both characters are frustratingly relatable, and many people have commented that they’ve witnessed these conversations in their own lives. To me, that’s the biggest compliment.

If you could sum up the show in one word or phrase, what would it be and why?

Oh god, pressure… I guess, in tell me straight // aggy I aim to share that even folks in their mid-30s are still figuring things out, and when it gets messy, it comes at a cost.

Tell Me Straight / Aggy runs at the King’s Head Theatre, London, until 14 November. Tickets available at https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/double-bill-tell-me-straight-and-aggy-t8hc