Lucas Kad’s semi-autobiographical play, Pimm’s Without The Cucumber, is a coming-of-age story that examines queer masculinity and the pressures on today’s young men.
Kad comes bursting onto the stage as Jordan, a young man with main character energy who addresses the audience in the style of a TED Talk or manosphere influencer. He uses projected cartoon images to explain the realities of a football locker room for an awkward queer teenager, not yet out but already being read as “different” and “weak”. Jordan was that teenager, but now he has grown up, has left school and is ready to start the next stage of his life.
Despite the confidence of his entrance lecture, the reality is that Jordan still lives with his parents, and feels isolated with most of his friends having already gone to uni. He is working and trying to get over the break up of his two year relationship, but is focussed on starting his art degree after the summer. He says he is in his “healing era”, although it is not really clear what that entails other than going to the odd party and treating himself to an overpriced beverage.
Kad is a very engaging performer, and his solo show is heartfelt and enjoyable. His “lecturer” alter ego is overly loud and declamatory for the small space, but the character of Jordan is gentle and warm. There are some very funny moments, such as the pre-party pep talk he gets from his dad, and the final section of the piece is relatable and moving. The metaphor about Pimm’s is meaningfully expressed, as he realises that the people that flavour his life will always be there, and his observations about being mixed-heritage in Watford are filled with humour. Shout out to his queer-friendly auntie and her endless samosas.
Pimm’s Without The Cucumber offers some thoughtful insights into the experience of young people leaving home for the first time – excited to reinvent themselves and leave childhood traumas behind, but not yet sure how they fit into the world. The play lacks depth, and could do with further development, but Kad brings energy and tenderness to the role, and is a pleasure to watch.
By Deborah Klayman
Pimm’s Without the Cucumber plays at Paradise in the Vault, Edinburgh until August 15th 2026.
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