A well-staged, well-acted, but meandering performance

You can tell a lot about someone from what they keep in their suitcase. This premise made 2021 video-game Unpacking a smash hit, with players developing a hatred for a boyfriend they’d never even met. It’s also the jumping-off point for Bed, as an unnamed protagonist (‘Boy’, played by Ben Donaghy) goes through a suitcase of mementos, sharing their stories. His objects transport the audience across a series of bedrooms throughout Europe, gradually revealing the man on stage.

These scenes are intercut with the same character delivering a stand-up comedy routine at the side of the stage, permitting some fourth-wall breaking and audience interaction. ‘Boy’ is highly likeable here, and Ben Donaghy’s natural charisma quickly builds connection with the audience. But a discordant line where a joke should be, and the odd wistful look during a scene, suggest everything isn’t quite right. Hinting at an unreliable narrator, the show’s (somewhat clichéd) tension emerges from this idea.

Effective lighting and sound-design give each scene a strong sense of place, but it is writer-performer Donaghy who is Bed’s greatest asset. His natural delivery propels the show forward through sheer force of personality, and he captures a wide range of emotions with empathy and skill. His last show sold out the Durham Fringe and was awarded the Golden Knocker Award, and you can see why: Donaghy’s is a commanding presence, compelling the audience to fully engage with the stores he tells.

Unfortunately, there isn’t all that much to engage with. The anecdotes making up the bulk of the show are meandering, with little connecting them beyond ‘Boy’ being a travel blogger. This explains why he finds himself in so many different bedrooms. The final payoff to a simmering tension takes in themes of male mental health and social pressure in the internet age, but its implications remain unexplored. As a result, this reveal feels half-baked, never really overcoming the gentle charm of the early scenes.

Thus, Bed is a well-staged, well-performed but ultimately hollow show which lacks sufficient meat for the audience to sink their teeth into. There is definite promise, and Donaghy marks himself out as having a bright future. But a clearer commitment to its themes could yield so much more.