Breaking Point
★★★☆☆ Ambitious
Bedlam Theatre: Sat 20 Sept 2025
Review by Salvador Kent.
Breaking Point from new company Heid First Theatre, at the Bedlam, is an ambitious project tackling big themes of misogyny, online forums, and young men’s mental health.
The play follows a police investigation into a young man, Josh (Daniel Thomson), prompted by his presence in misogynistic online forums. Co-written by Clara Bloomfield and Sam Mackinnon from Bloomfield’s original concept, and tightly directed by Bloomfield, the production occasionally lacks the visceral edge it promises.
Daniel Thomson (Josh) and Alex Della Ciana (DC Edwards). Pic: Ryan R Gerrard.
An interrogation by DC Edwards (Alex Della Ciana) plays alongside flashes into Josh’s life at home, where he is struggling with threats from members of the forums, exacerbating his personal mental health crises.
The character of Josh is well drawn. The text demands that Thomson holds the stage for the majority of the hour, and he is up to the challenge, playing the material with psychological nuance.
Against this, the other characters feel more functional. Della Ciana’s DC Edwards begins the play displaying enormous aggression, and a screaming register that makes large sections of the opening third feel a little flat. However he gives a great performance later on, when his character is written with more nuance.
fascinating
Harry, Josh’s brother, is performed with earnestness by Cameron Mclay. The character also feels a little underdeveloped, perhaps due to the time constraints of a one act play, but Harry’s backstory seems fascinating and could be more fleshed out.
Sam Mackinnon plays the role of concerned friend, Callum. The role is mostly functional, allowing for exposition of the protagonists inner thoughts. Mackinnon is believable as a concerned flatmate in a role that helps develop the play’s themes of male friendship.
Alex Della Ciana (DC Edwards) and Cameron Maclay (Harry). Pic: Ryan R Gerrard.
The play essentially exists to explore the social themes it raises, which works in principle. Whether this is the best form through which to express these socio-political themes is something that should be critically evaluated – and perhaps this is not the optimal one.
The absence of women in a narrative which is about the victimisation of women is glaring, and makes for weaker drama. The text also decides to exalt its protagonist, and the final act shows that Josh was not a misogynist at all – rather trying to change misogynists minds.
tense drama
Perhaps a more daring version of this work is achievable. One which is fully committed to the thorny ethical questions surrounding misogyny. A clear place to start is the inclusion of women, or at least more of a justification for their absence in a text which is ostensibly about them.
Despite these qualms, Breaking Point is a tense drama, boasting four well-worked performances and some intimate staging. It tackles social issues truly in the zeitgeist, and will hopefully touch some people, or broaden their perspectives.
Running time: One hour no interval).
Bedlam Theatre, 11B Bristo Place, EH1 1EZ.
Saturday 20 September 2025
Two performances: 5pm and 8pm.
Run ended. Archived listing.
Heid First Theatre Instagram: @heidfirsttheatre
ENDS
