Taboo - Bringing the unseen to the stage - Kilkenny Live

John Morton’s Taboo, which ran recently at the Watergate Theatre, isn’t just a funny take on a first date; it is an unflinching removal of the veils we collectively and individually hold up to protect ourselves. 

What he reveals isn’t simply the dirt on the carpet, but our reactions to discovering it.

At the heart of the play is a brave and resonant question: are any of us brave enough to reveal the truth? In a world saturated with criticism, judgement and opinion, vulnerability can feel profoundly unsafe.

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Told through the experiences of two young adults meeting for a first date, the evening slowly unravels assumptions and first impressions. Morton exposes how the stories we construct based on appearances are rarely the full picture.

Another powerful question emerges - one that feels especially relevant in the age of swiping left or right - the disposable dating scene. Will Tom, played by Dylan Kennedy stay after uncovering a dirty smell or will he run for the hills? Will Lily, played by Jenny Fennessy be able to see beyond the labels placed upon him and accept what lies underneath?

These questions feel urgent in such disposable times. Morton’s writing is deeply familiar to the Irish ear; he has an artful way of infusing humour into the most uncomfortable moments without ever laughing at the characters.

Instead, the audience laughs at the situation itself - because we recognise ourselves in it. There is no shame in what is revealed.

Red n Blue Theatre Company more than do justice to the text in their bringing of the words to life. The energy and physicality of the production hold the audience captive, ensuring there is never a dull moment.

What could be described simply as a first date gone wrong is, in fact, sharp social commentary. Taboo asks how we really behave with one another when the skeletons emerge from the closet. Do we flee and panic - or do we lean in and try to understand? It reminds us that everyone has skeletons and that they are often far less frightening than we imagine.

And if all of that sounds a bit heavy - don’t worry. If what you want is a genuinely funny play about a disastrous first date that has you belly-laughing, Taboo delivers that too.