Industry Reviews
"A cunningly constructed play. For a show about death and the limits of compassion, Bea is Surprisingly joyous. At times it is killingly funny..." Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
"In Bea [Gordon] has moved from self-identity to how that self communicates and is understood by others - that is, empathy. In the process he has transformed the philosophy lecture into a subtle, complex, challenging piece of theatre... It works. The pace and structure are deftly controlled and layered... " Richard Dennis, The Financial Times
"What's striking in the comedic and non-naturalistic impulses Gordon brings into play. He shows us not the bedridden body, but rather Bea's spirit, the lustily bouncy young woman trapped inside... The final image of release - Bea leaping up once again and dancing on the bed - is a life affirming, and death-affirming, glimpse of ecstasy." Kate Bassett, The Independent
"A subtle, complex, challenging piece of theatre... It works. The pace and structure are deftly controlled and layered... " - Richard Dennis, The Financial Times
"Direct and frank unlike any other play I've seen this year, and beautifully played" - Michael Coveney, Whatsonstage.com
"A piece of inventive, touching, and often disconcertingly amusing theatre" - Daily Telegraph
"A cunningly constructed play. For a show about death and the limits of compassion, Bea is Surprisingly joyous. At times it is killingly funny..."-Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
"In Bea [Gordon] has moved from self-identity to how that self communicates and is understood by others - that is, empathy. In the process he has transformed the philosophy lecture into a subtle, complex, challenging piece of theatre... It works. The pace and structure are deftly controlled and layered... "-Richard Dennis, The Financial Times
"What's striking in the comedic and non-naturalistic impulses Gordon brings into play. He shows us not the bedridden body, but rather Bea's spirit, the lustily bouncy young woman trapped inside... The final image of release - Bea leaping up once again and dancing on the bed - is a life affirming, and death-affirming, glimpse of ecstasy."-Kate Bassett, The Independent
"A subtle, complex, challenging piece of theatre... It works. The pace and structure are deftly controlled and layered... " - Richard Dennis, The Financial Times
"Direct and frank... unlike any other play I've seen this year, and beautifully played" - Michael Coveney, Whatsonstage.com
"A piece of inventive, touching, and often disconcertingly amusing theatre" - Daily Telegraph
