Xavier Coy’s Fighting is a confronting no holds barred insight into the agonising hours, minutes and seconds that an individual must face when struggling with a mental illness.
Character A begins like it does everyday, as a fight to just survive. Survive the voices in their head, the weight of the day, the constant and enduring pointlessness of routine and worse still, the knowing that everything, all the bad decisions and mistakes made, are all their fault.
Through meticulous detail and highly emotive moments, Xavier Coy creates a truly remarkable story that peels back the curtain on mental illness and allows the audience to take in the agonising reality. Coy’s writing is exceptional, managing to strike the perfect balance between information heavy exposition, humorous wit and heartbreak self depreciation.
Coy takes on the double duty of directing the work, and this is an unfortunate decision as the production suffers from an artist being too close to their own work. The script lacks a dynamic pace, yes, a main theme of the work is the unending drudgery of life, however by leaning too heavily into this theme, the work becomes stilted and crucial moments end up flatlining.
Jay James-Moody’s performance is nothing short of sublime. They carry the show with grace, fury, heart and humility, with a vulnerability that makes them the perfect performer to tell Character A’s story.
Sophie Highmore and Dave Woodland are equally on point, portraying a litany of characters with chameleon-like talent. Each performer on stage is locked in, delivering the sensitive narratives with the utmost respect and honesty.
Tom Bannerman’s simple set allows Robin Legal’s dazzling lighting design to guide the story and create an ebb and flow that is often lacking in the direction.
It is easy to see why Fighting is already an award winning script – the themes and message are extremely relevant and spark much needed conversations around mental illness. Partner that with an exceptional production and the New Theatre has a MUST SEE work on their hands.
Fighting
New Theatre, 542 King Street, Newtown
Performance:
Season continues to 12 April 2025
Information and Bookings: www.newtheatre.org.au
Image: David Woodland, Jay James-Moody and Sophie Highmore in New Theatre’s Fighting by Xavier Coy – photo by Chris Lundie