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Rotterdam
No, Alice, I don't want to become a man, I just want to stop trying to be a woman.
It's New Year in Rotterdam, and Alice has finally plucked up the courage to email her parents and tell them she's gay. But before she can hit send, her girlfriend reveals that he has always identified as a man and now wants to start living as one.
Now Alice must face a question she never thought she'd ask . . . does this mean she's straight?
A bittersweet comedy about gender, sexuality and being a long way from home.
Rotterdam received its world premiere at Theatre503, London, in October 2015, before transferring to Trafalgar Studios, London, in May 2016.
It's New Year in Rotterdam, and Alice has finally plucked up the courage to email her parents and tell them she's gay. But before she can hit send, her girlfriend reveals that he has always identified as a man and now wants to start living as one.
Now Alice must face a question she never thought she'd ask . . . does this mean she's straight?
A bittersweet comedy about gender, sexuality and being a long way from home.
Rotterdam received its world premiere at Theatre503, London, in October 2015, before transferring to Trafalgar Studios, London, in May 2016.
120 pages, Paperback
Published July 26, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 9, 2017
Reread review. 10/'22:
4.5, rounded up.
Revised my rating, as on a second read, this impressed even more than initially. Still too much yelling, and although questions about appropriation still linger, cisgendered Brittain does a bang-up job of articulating each character's issues.
Also, I had somehow missed that the playwright specifies that The Beautiful South's pop song ''Rotterdam (or Anywhere)" play over the closing moments, and that helps explain the title.
https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/th...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvczY...
Original review; 2017:
4.5, rounded down.
It's such a great idea for a play, I don't know why someone didn't latch on to it earlier: what would happen to a lesbian couple when one of them decides s/he is really a man and wants to transition? And for the most part, Brittain does the subject matter proud. My only complaint is that there are far too many scenes of people just yelling at each other, and some of the (pardon the expression) transitions are a bit abrupt. Brittain also has a gift for dropping some surprises into the mix (no spoilers here). Also, yes, the play takes place in the Netherlands, but the title is something of a misnomer. Still would love to see this done, and with a few tweaks, it would make a terrific film also.
4.5, rounded up.
Revised my rating, as on a second read, this impressed even more than initially. Still too much yelling, and although questions about appropriation still linger, cisgendered Brittain does a bang-up job of articulating each character's issues.
Also, I had somehow missed that the playwright specifies that The Beautiful South's pop song ''Rotterdam (or Anywhere)" play over the closing moments, and that helps explain the title.
https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/th...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvczY...
Original review; 2017:
4.5, rounded down.
It's such a great idea for a play, I don't know why someone didn't latch on to it earlier: what would happen to a lesbian couple when one of them decides s/he is really a man and wants to transition? And for the most part, Brittain does the subject matter proud. My only complaint is that there are far too many scenes of people just yelling at each other, and some of the (pardon the expression) transitions are a bit abrupt. Brittain also has a gift for dropping some surprises into the mix (no spoilers here). Also, yes, the play takes place in the Netherlands, but the title is something of a misnomer. Still would love to see this done, and with a few tweaks, it would make a terrific film also.
July 13, 2021
Rotterdam premiered in 2015 and I can easily see why it was so groundbreaking and important at that time. Now, six years later, it is still a great play but since there’s been (thankfully) so much progress around the subject, it also feels a little bit dated.
Still, Rotterdam was a good read about people waiting for their lives to change or start in a city where it seems impossible to settle. Brittain’s writing feels a bit ”shouty” at times and the intensity of the emotions hit me in the face in a good way. The play offered me lots to think about.
If there was a chance to see this on stage, I would.
Still, Rotterdam was a good read about people waiting for their lives to change or start in a city where it seems impossible to settle. Brittain’s writing feels a bit ”shouty” at times and the intensity of the emotions hit me in the face in a good way. The play offered me lots to think about.
If there was a chance to see this on stage, I would.
July 4, 2018
From BBC radio 3 - Drama on 3:
In Jon Brittain's Olivier-winning comedy about gender, sexuality and transitioning Alice is about to email her parents when her girlfriend drops a bombshell.
Fiona/Adrian ..... Felix Moore
Alice ..... Jeany Spark
Lelani ..... Lucy Phelps
Josh ..... Paul Heath
Director: David Hunter.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b8...
In Jon Brittain's Olivier-winning comedy about gender, sexuality and transitioning Alice is about to email her parents when her girlfriend drops a bombshell.
Fiona/Adrian ..... Felix Moore
Alice ..... Jeany Spark
Lelani ..... Lucy Phelps
Josh ..... Paul Heath
Director: David Hunter.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b8...
March 19, 2025
This play was very angry the whole time. It also carried a weird tone towards the trans identity of Adrian. Definitely felt like a straight, cis person wrote it which wasn’t very enjoyable. Every scene involved a fight until the end where they tried to make a happy ending but it just didn’t work for me.
February 18, 2024
1.5 stars that may be moved down
I’m sorry but I didn’t like this at all. I think the premise is interesting and could be a very complex, nuanced topic to explore but this play sadly does not deliver. it felt more of an explanation to cis people what trans people are, rather than an exploration of what it means to be queer and trans, which would be far more interesting.
I’m sorry but I didn’t like this at all. I think the premise is interesting and could be a very complex, nuanced topic to explore but this play sadly does not deliver. it felt more of an explanation to cis people what trans people are, rather than an exploration of what it means to be queer and trans, which would be far more interesting.
August 12, 2023
Fuck okay. Wow?? I have never read a play that I so personally related to. Jesus. I’m almost at a loss for words, my heart just aches. I’m going to audition for this play soon, i really really hope I get it.
June 7, 2021
I loved this so, SO much. This play changed the way I saw theatre completely (it can be ... good? And... relevant? And... queer in character as well as out?). This play has a great story, it is funny, it is heart breaking, it is gut-wrenching, it HAS NO GRUESOME RAPE (OMG!!!), and NOBODY DIES.
The reason I love this so much probably started out as having an awful lot to do with Anna Martine Freeman, who I was extremely happy to hear is queer (so am I! Wheee!). I felt a bit apprehensive about how all the reviews I could find about this play were cis people gushing about how daring and wonderful it was. Now, it IS, but there were a fair few that, while positives, didn't really seem to get certain things.
Adrian's experiences resonated with me a lot, and even though I am queer, not trans, I could empathise with a lot of his journey.
The reason I love this so much probably started out as having an awful lot to do with Anna Martine Freeman, who I was extremely happy to hear is queer (so am I! Wheee!). I felt a bit apprehensive about how all the reviews I could find about this play were cis people gushing about how daring and wonderful it was. Now, it IS, but there were a fair few that, while positives, didn't really seem to get certain things.
Adrian's experiences resonated with me a lot, and even though I am queer, not trans, I could empathise with a lot of his journey.
April 17, 2024
It was alright! I felt like this was a great idea, but the execution wasn’t great.
It made you just get a bit annoyed with Adrian… and quite frankly I didn’t see any love or reason for them to be together…
I would have rather seen more understanding on what it is to be a trans person and more depth to that, it all seemed just rushed. But okay
It made you just get a bit annoyed with Adrian… and quite frankly I didn’t see any love or reason for them to be together…
I would have rather seen more understanding on what it is to be a trans person and more depth to that, it all seemed just rushed. But okay
October 25, 2021
about identity v relationship, identity v place
LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+
May 24, 2022
Left me speechless.
August 5, 2022
Overall compelling and asks interesting questions. There were times when I found the dialogue style and humor grating.
October 22, 2024
A heartbreaking queer story that asks a lot of important questions about sexuality and labels.
April 19, 2025
🎭
3.5/5 stats
3.5/5 stats
June 10, 2025
The plot is great. However it feels like it’s heavily based on and inspired by Pronoun by Evan Placey.
February 11, 2021
Dude. I cried like four times reading this. As a trans person I literally felt Adrian so much. Everything he said I was like YEP. And it's complicated. identity is complicated. But staying true and honest and supporting people you love is the best we can do.
March 21, 2020
Not my favourite piece of queer fiction ever, though I imagine it has immense power when performed, as the dialogue has the capacity to carry such energy, such truth.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews