Blue & Pip is a heart-warming story about the struggles a queer couple face with their bodies, exploring the physical and emotional pain that endometriosis brings.

Blue (Yaz O’Mahoney) wants children of their own with their partner Pip (Holly Mallett), but after symptoms start to show, we realise that Blue will not be able to bear this child themselves. We then continue to explore the emotional trauma and the decisions Blue has to make in order to save themselves from the pain, but also in order to keep theirs and Pip’s dream of having children alive.

Pip is a caring, gentle soul, yet is very protective of their partner. They are seen storming into a conversation with Blue’s therapist when Blue’s diagnosis is taking longer than expected. They are supportive of Blue in everything that they do, but Pip starts the play adamant on having children of their own.

However, this changes as we go through the play. We learn along with Blue and Pip how long the waiting line is just for a full diagnosis and eventually any operations. Blue is faced with a choice when they learn that a cyst the size of a golf ball was removed during surgery. They could live on with the chronic pain, or have a hysterectomy surgery to remove the womb and uterus, but also remove the chance of bearing a child within them.

“The true protagonist of the show is time, as we hear a clock tick in the background of many scenes. ”

We also get to explore Blue’s thought process, however, some of Blue’s thoughts are not explained as well as others. We see their resentment of their mother, and we see them refuse her help, but we don’t get to explore why this is, and what was in their past. At other times, we see some somewhat clunky exposition and descriptions of characters’ thoughts.

The true protagonist of the show is time, as we hear a clock tick in the background of many scenes. We see that Blue has a big decision to make, with their body and relationship on the line.

“The romance on stage is very clear between Blue and Pip, with a somewhat excessive amount of kissing on stage between the two”

The romance on stage is very clear between Blue and Pip, with a somewhat excessive amount of kissing on stage between the two. The scene changes are at a relaxed pace, with the lighting on stage being kept the same for both the scene and whilst the set hands move items on and off stage. The set dressing is minimalist yet very charming, it shows a lot about the characters of Blue and Pip. A simple jar of money is kept in their room to remind them what they’re working hard and saving up for.

The audience is seated on 3 sides of the stage, surrounding the actors, allowing for a very clear view of what is going on. However, in a few scenes and conversations, it can be a little difficult to hear what is being said as the characters have their backs directly to the audience, especially if you are watching from the side, so I would recommend a seat at the front of the theatre.

The show has a climactic end when Blue approaches the sand beach. We still see their physical pain, but we also see their joy as they approach their happy place, which I personally found very thought provoking. Rather than leaving the show with the characters cured, we see that only time will change things, but we see Blue and Pip find a moment of happiness as they continue on with their struggle.

Blue and Pip is playing at theSpace (Perth Theatre), 5-27 August