Review: T*ts Up at Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay
Set entirely in the still, sterile space of an oncology waiting room, Tits Up is a raw and honest portrayal of three women grappling with the realities of a breast cancer diagnosis.
Written by Alison Stanley, the play unfolds in real time, inviting the audience to sit beside the characters as they wait, reflect, and reveal. What could feel claustrophobic becomes intimate and deeply human, thanks to three compelling performances, particularly those of Leah Bell and Becky Clayburn.
Leah Bell is effortlessly excellent as Tina, a single mother facing the unthinkable: how to prepare her adult son with learning disabilities for a life without her. Bell brings a grounded dignity to Tina, portraying her not as a tragic figure but as a woman clinging fiercely to love, responsibility, hope and her knitting needles.
Her performance anchors the play - maternal, measured, and brimming with good humour. Tina quickly becomes the heart and hilarious soul of the waiting room.
Becky Clayburn, as Rosie, is terrific. Brash, funny, frightened and heartbreakingly young, Rosie has the energy of someone who’s been rudely yanked from life’s party.
Clayburn captures the character’s sharp humour, veiled fear and simmering fury with real authenticity. Her portrayal is unflinchingly honest - one moment laughing about shagging in a festival tent, the next raging against a body that’s betrayed her far too soon… and a mother whose demonstrations of love are serving as a constant reminder of what she’s dealing with.
When Alison Stanley’s Rachel arrives - designer handbag perched on a tea towel, pride barely concealing panic - she adds a disruptive edge to the room.
Stanley stays on the right side of where character study meets caricature, allowing Rachel’s brittleness to crack just enough to reveal the frightened woman underneath and the circumstances which have underpinned her life choices and unwavering drive to succeed.
The interaction between the three characters flows well, with shifting alliances, unspoken judgments, and unexpected tenderness unfolding with natural rhythm.
Deftly directed by Katherine Newman, the structure of the play is simple, but layered. Between moments of dialogue, each woman steps out of the shared space and delivers a spotlit monologue directly to the audience.
These asides act as confessions - unfiltered and poignant, allowing us to learn the back stories the characters don’t always share aloud: the private fears, regrets, and memories that make them who they are.
The play’s static setting - a single room, a single stretch of time - really works.
There are no big revelations or dramatic twists, just three women caught in a shared moment of the unknown.
Rather than dwelling in despair, Stanley’s script, which was informed by the real experiences of women in North Tyneside - emphasises solidarity, humour, and human connection… reminding us that even in the bleakest of waiting rooms, there’s still room for laughter and compassion.
Much more than a cancer story, Tits Up is a celebration of women - messy, funny, brave, and stubbornly alive.
The play is at Laurels Theatre, Whitley Bay until April 12. Tickets from the website.