It has been a long time since I left a show and woke up the next day still covered in goosebumps. Helena Cielak is bewitching in her solo performance, “sitting, screaming”, playing every character with charm and openness as she powers through this marathon of a performance. 

“Sitting, screaming” follows Sam in her last year of school as her world turns upside down. Her dad has cancer, her mum picks up more shifts, her brother is off being smart somewhere, and she is completely alone. Isolated. That is, until Mr David calls her into his office and she begins to open up. 

Helena is sharp and cutting, walking the line of humour and heartbreak that makes you hold your breath when the stagelights are up. You feel like you're watching a stage of performers, with the slight shift in body language and tone, she masterfully moves from one character to another. She is conscious and gut-wrenching in her performance, speaking to the teenage girl in all of us who just wanted to be seen. 

There are heavy themes in this show; I recommend reading the trigger warnings before watching. In saying that, I cannot stop thinking about this performance, and I couldn’t recommend it more. Helena Cielak and Director Lucy Clements, may you always keep writing and performing. As always, the Blue Room Theatre never disappoints.