REVIEW - COCK is smart, funny and an emotionally honest play

On Thursday, we were invited to Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester to watch the production COCK. Read what our reviewer, Lizzie Johnston thought about this excellent play...

I’d never heard of COCK before going to see it, so I walked in without much idea of what I was about to watch. With a title like that, I figured it might be bold or a bit out there, and since it was being put on by HER Productions at the always-reliable Hope Mill Theatre, I was expecting something sharp and interesting. What I didn’t expect was to laugh so much – or to leave thinking about it for hours after.

COCK follows John, a man who’s been with his boyfriend for years. Their relationship has its ups and downs, but it’s familiar and safe. Then John unexpectedly falls for a woman, W, and things get complicated. Suddenly he’s questioning everything: who he is, what he wants, and what’s expected of him. The story doesn’t try to give you easy answers, which is part of what makes it so engaging. It’s about identity, choice, and the messiness of trying to figure things out when nothing feels simple.

The first half of the show was genuinely hilarious. The pacing was fast, the scene changes were quick, and the script was packed with clever one-liners. There were moments where the tension would be building in an argument, and then someone would drop a line that had the audience in stitches. It gave the whole thing a rhythm that was really fun to watch. The second half slowed things down. It was more focused and intense, especially during the dinner scene where John, his boyfriend, W and, unexpectedly, his boyfriend’s father all sit down together. That scene was packed with emotion, and you could feel the whole room holding its breath at times.

The staging was super minimal, but that only made the acting stand out more. There was no set, no props – just a long, open space with the audience sitting on either side in traverse. Lighting and sound were used really effectively to mark shifts in scene and mood, but it was all stripped back in a way that felt very raw and real. It helped that Hope Mill Theatre is quite a small venue too – it made the whole thing feel more personal and intense. You were close enough to catch every expression, every shift in energy. 

Another subtle touch I really appreciated was that no one was ever completely alone on stage – there was always at least one other actor present, which added a constant sense of being watched or judged, which tied in perfectly with the play’s themes.

Callum Ravden (Witness for the Prosecution, Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream) gave a really strong performance as John. He managed to make the character frustrating and sympathetic at the same time, which is no small feat. Toby Hadoke (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Sherlock Holmes in Trouble and Loot, Accidental Death of an Anarchist) was excellent as John’s boyfriend – hilarious in the first half, but also heartbreakingly vulnerable in the second. His timing was spot on throughout and his ability to build tension with well articulated rants really took the play to another level. 

Hannah Ellis Ryan (Coronation Street, Boiling Point, Othello) played W with confidence and warmth. Her character was an interesting one for the audience, considering you wanted to view her as “the other woman”, yet she had genuine feelings for John and the chemistry between the actors was excellent. A standout moment was when W and John started getting to know each other and she was educating him on the female anatomy - it was full of laugh out loud lines.

The atmosphere in the theatre was electric. People were laughing, reacting to every twist and turn, and you could feel how completely tuned in everyone was - there was even a moment where the audience audibly gasped. The intimate setting of Hope Mill really helped with that – it’s a space that allows shows like this to feel up close and personal, and this one used it to full effect.

All in all, COCK is a smart, funny, and an emotionally honest play. It’s about big questions, awkward conversations, and the chaos of love and identity. HER Productions have done a fantastic job with it, keeping it simple and letting the writing and performances shine. If you want something that’ll make you laugh, think, and maybe squirm a little, it’s absolutely worth seeing.

WE SCORE COCK...



COCK is on at Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester until Saturday 7th June 2025

BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE!