“Meat” presented by Elle Dillon-Reams at Harlow Playhouse, Thursday 18 September 2025.

A review by Ian Beckett and friends.

All publicity is hype; except sometimes it’s not.

THE publicity for “Meat”, presented by Elle Dillon-Reams, promised “an electrifying roar of fury, a rallying cry of protest and unifying celebration of strength packed with heroism and heart.” “A playful and poignant exploration of identity” and it delivered on every level.

Saying it was “presented” by Elle Dillon-Reams is so appropriate – Elle wrote the piece, performed, laughed, danced, sang and morphed before the eyes of warm, captivated and engaged audience in Theatre 2 at Harlow Playhouse.

That “shame breeds in silence” is a golden thread that runs throughout “Meat”; the show gives a safe space to roar, for anyone who’s got a body, mind and soul.

“Meat” follows ‘a girl’ from the age of 8 into her 30s, detailing her journey through puberty, misogyny, and identity. Elle is the only performer on stage, but she enlists the audience, sometimes in conversation, sometimes through questions, sometimes as vocal aids, and sometimes by literally climbing over the benches to physically connect with them.

Elle shares her story, but in doing so makes it very clear that it is not just her story, her history, but a story that is our own, or at the very least resonates with many others. It is, as Elle says “a story that is all of ours”; if you cannot identify and empathize with the story then you should at least be able to understand it. And “Meat” through the laughter and tears demands that we understand, learn and educate, to eradicate the “shame”.

In the safe space “Meat” indeed invites the audience to roar, to express themselves with unrestrained freedom and honesty; to truly be themselves and to be true to themselves. And Elle does this by entering the arena and uttering the words ”I’m nervous….”. Elle takes on the form of several different animals, and yet it is her unerring humanity that touches the hearts of the audience.

I was fortunate to have family and friends watching the show with me. By the end of the evening I think we all felt like family and friends. We certainly understood Elle and perhaps understood ourselves and each other a little better. Here is a snapshot of their feedback:
Cate said “the show was traumatic, amazing, visceral…”

Angey said “put simply: “Meat” contained a message that all should hear. Elle Dillon-Reams is an artist that all should see.”

Wendy said “Elle gave voice to the things women deal with. Shame about monthly bleeding and having to soldier on even if you’re feeling appalling. Being ashamed to speak about it even when 50% of the world have to cope with it.

The impossibility of life for girls, having to be perfect, being accosted in public, and no one stepping up to help if there’s trouble. Elle’s line saying, you have to call out “FIRE!” if you’re attacked, as it’s about the only way to get help, made me feel sad”.

At the end of the event, for it was more than just a show or a performance, Elle thanked her crew and the audience, but she specifically thanked Nathan Stickley, the Head of Programming at Harlow Playhouse, who was in audience. Elle said, “There are a lot of programmers afraid to do things like this”. As a regular visitor to the Playhouse, I too am grateful that they show no fear!

Audiences in Cardiff can look forward to seeing Elle Dillon-Reams at Porters in “HoneyBEE” (which I had the pleasure of seeing and reviewing in April this year) on 27th Sept and in “Meat” on the 28th September.

“Meat” is also playing for three nights at the Omnibus Theatre, Clapham Common, London SW4 0QW on 3rd, 4th and 5th December. Highly recommended!