Laughter and tears are plenty in this coming-of-age tragicomedy centred on a woman navigating trauma, mental illness, and finding a place to heal.

The first thing I notice about Shakira Newton is her stage presence. Perhaps due to recency bias, I can’t help but draw a comparison to Marys Seacole’s leading woman Kayla Meikle. Full of gravitas, with an innate mastery of comedic timing; it’s what makes this story of a queer, mixed-race woman reclaiming her power and self-worth a captivating one.

Newton is a brilliant actor. She cleverly guides us through her life decisions from teen to adulthood, from her honeymoon phase of “love at first Facebook message”, to darker, lonelier moments of depression after experiencing domestic violence.

Though filled with heavy topics such as self-harm and suicide, she is adept at using comedy to frame each experience through brilliantly written lines, pauses, and adlibs that release tension or heighten the impact of a scene where necessary. It’s all so expertly done.

The work faulters under Carlo (Lo) Feliciani Ojeda’s direction. Scene transitions are at times clunky, too sharp, and underdeveloped – there’s a moment of music and movement used to break up dialogue that needs a heavier touch. The set and design are also overly simplistic.

Newton has nothing but two chairs, a jumper, and a Christmas hat to navigate different scenes, whilst the lighting does the bare minimum. It is important to let the writing and acting speak for itself, but it feels like an over-reliance on Newton’s talents, and she takes it in her stride. Things I Can Laugh About Now is phenomenal, and with more development, these elements can elevate the work further as it has potential for even higher heights.

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