REVIEW: Out of Character - A Work In Progress

©️Prickly Ash Production

Created to explore how East and Southeast Asian female fan creators navigate patriarchal storytelling through reinterpretation, self-insertion, and resistance, Out of Character is inspired by real experiences within BL fandom and fictosexual culture. The show reflects on themes such as emotional repression, the romanticisation of violence, how rigid gender expectations can give rise to fictosexuality, and the search for moral protection within male narratives.

The subject matter is strikingly original and important, shedding light on issues rarely addressed on stage. However, the performances often felt exaggerated and remained on the surface. Emotional intensity was suggested, but never convincingly conveyed. Line delivery was uneven, and misplaced emphasis weakened the dramatic impact. Among the cast, Yiqian Shao delivered the most memorable performance. Her precise handling of text, controlled vocal delivery, and emotional depth offered glimpses of the level the production aspired to reach. The final moments of Peiyi Zhong and Yiqian Shao's performance were genuinely touching, and the narrative approach was distinctive.

Structurally, the production aimed to reframe the source material through multiple perspectives, presenting scenes almost like a series of short films. While innovative in intention, this approach fragmented the flow of the drama, repeatedly interrupting the emotional arc and weakening its impact. Pacing, cohesion, and dramaturgical clarity require further development.

Technically, the set was beautifully constructed, and the lighting design showed creativity, responding thoughtfully to actors’ movements and creating a strong visual tone. Yet the set itself did little to serve the narrative. The opening projection sequence was immediately compelling, but within five minutes, its looped use dulled its effect. Frequent shifts in perspective and scene transitions were key to the story, yet these changes were not clearly reflected on stage. While this may partly stem from the limitations of the venue, more inventive use of repositioning, lighting variations, or sound shifts could have expressed these shifts more effectively.

Sound was consistently used as background music, but because the actors were not miked, the team chose to keep it at a low volume. As a result, the score never carried the emotional weight it might have. The technical contributions demonstrated real skill and care, but greater integration with the storytelling is still needed.

Overall, Out of Character still feels like a work in progress, one with admirable ambition and originality, but in need of further maturity, particularly in text delivery and the collaboration between story and design.

★★1/2

For more information, please visit: http://edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/out-of-character

About Prickly Ash: Prickly Ash is an emerging theatre company founded in 2023 by three Chinese female designers who met during their MA studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. United by a shared interest in storytelling beyond conventional forms, the company focuses on creating design-led, devised work that amplifies underrepresented voices—particularly from East and Southeast Asian communities. With a multidisciplinary approach combining new writing, choreography, visual design, and audience interaction, Prickly Ash aims to redefine theatrical boundaries and foster cross-cultural dialogue.

Instagram: @prickly.ash.theatre
Website: https://pricklyash.framer.website/

Credits

Playwrights: Xinyi Huang & Yufeng Liu
Associate Director: Yufeng Liu
Creative Producer: Inini Xinyi Yin
Art Director: Ruolin Lei
Producer: Fei Han
Executive Producer: Jingwen Lu
Stage Manager: Jingwen Lu
Lighting Designer: Zhiyun Ren
Costume Designer: Jieming Lan
Musician: Moni Zhang
Video Designer: Inini Xinyi Yin
Visual Designer: Shuxuan Zhang
Dramaturg: Thomas Hume
Voice-over Artist: Fei Han
Cast: Peiyi Zhong, Yiqian Shao, Wenqi Yu, Styles Li (Xufeng Li)