one4review | On 13, Mar 2025

.Magnificent. Electrifying. Unmissable.
This is the kind of theatre that London lives for. It should be shouting from the rooftops!

The world premiere of Stalled at the King’s Head Theatre has everyone talking—and for all the right reasons. Set entirely in a women’s restroom in Seattle, where the lives of several women become unexpectedly and profoundly intertwined. At the heart of it all is Maggie, a restroom attendant navigating a recent loss, crossing paths with a grieving mother, a neurodivergent daughter, a passionate teenage poet, and a queer computer tech—each grappling with love, loss, relationships, sexuality, family, anger, and self-worth.

The staging is nothing short of genius. The stalls, sinks, and black-and-white checkered floor become an intimate, dynamic backdrop, used to absolute perfection in both staging and choreography. Every inch of the space is maximized to draw the audience deeper into the raw, emotional core of the story.

Then, there’s the music—utterly first-class. With echoes of Standing at the Sky’s Edge and Rent, the score is both soul-stirring and exhilarating. But make no mistake—Stalled is no cookie-cutter musical. This is an entirely unique creation, a force of its own. And trust me, some of these songs will definitely become go-to audition pieces for drama students in years to come.

The performances are nothing short of extraordinary. Lauren Ward (Maggie) and Josie Benson (Cynthia) ground the show with their nuanced, heartfelt portrayals, their budding friendship a core emotional anchor. Among the younger cast, Regina Co (Krystal) delivers a standout performance—one of those names you’ll want to remember.

At just 90 minutes, my only minor complaint is that it almost packs in too many narrative threads—some of which deserve even more exploration. But in a theatre landscape where stories like these are still too rare, Stalled is a breath of fresh air. An all-female cast taking on such urgent, relatable themes? Yes, please.

A thought-provoking, deeply moving experience —exactly what great theatre is meant to do.

Grab a ticket. Now.
****
Reviewed by Steve H