
BoyBi is an exhilarating one man show exploring the adventures and adversity of growing up bisexual. Written and performed by 19 year old Evan Reynolds it first showed at the Clapham Fringe 2022 and is now back by popular demand! We sat down with Evan to talk about the making of such an honest piece of work...
What inspired you to create this show? Why this story?
I always like to say that I want to create work that I wish I’d seen growing up, and for me, I never saw a piece like BoyBi in any form of media, really let alone theatre! This is a show that I would’ve loved to have seen, it would’ve massively helped my self discovery, and I think it would’ve been one of the only pieces I felt truly seen in, so I wanted to be able to do that for people like me and anyone who may not realise they’re like me, or even anyone who just wants to see the world through my lense.
You describe the piece as a exhilarating, what do audiences have to look forward to?
I think the audience should expect to have a lot of fun, the piece is rooted in comedy and is constantly making jokes and very unique references. In my opinion it’s amazing how the piece goes on such a journey but never leaves George’s bedroom, it’s exhilarating in a sense that is a rollercoaster, and you can’t really believe how much has been covered in 55 minutes. And hopefully they should expect a tune or two ;)
What inspired you to create this show? Why this story?
I always like to say that I want to create work that I wish I’d seen growing up, and for me, I never saw a piece like BoyBi in any form of media, really let alone theatre! This is a show that I would’ve loved to have seen, it would’ve massively helped my self discovery, and I think it would’ve been one of the only pieces I felt truly seen in, so I wanted to be able to do that for people like me and anyone who may not realise they’re like me, or even anyone who just wants to see the world through my lense.
You describe the piece as a exhilarating, what do audiences have to look forward to?
I think the audience should expect to have a lot of fun, the piece is rooted in comedy and is constantly making jokes and very unique references. In my opinion it’s amazing how the piece goes on such a journey but never leaves George’s bedroom, it’s exhilarating in a sense that is a rollercoaster, and you can’t really believe how much has been covered in 55 minutes. And hopefully they should expect a tune or two ;)

Have there been any obstacles in the creation of BoyBi?
Overall, it has been pretty plain sailing, but with the piece being semi autobiographical, it does bring some challenges, sometimes I felt as if there was a mental barrier as I didn’t want to offend or hurt any of my friends or family.
Although BoyBj is rooted in comedy. It still touches on some very emotional topics and that’s what makes it so raw and beautiful, however in the process I was so worried what my friends or family would think having to hear the way I felt in past experiences.
Who should see this show & why?
In my opinion, the show is so attractive to so many different type of people. From our first run at the fringe, it was amazingly well received by queer people, but also by older generations and then also some of the most ‘manly’ men I know we’re sobbing in the audience, so truly I think it’s great for everybody.
But in its simplest form it’s a love letter to people who have struggled growing up bisexual people who don’t feel like they’ve been or represented in the media. However, I truly think it can be appreciated anybody who just wants to come, have a good time and see the world through a bi lense :)
Overall, it has been pretty plain sailing, but with the piece being semi autobiographical, it does bring some challenges, sometimes I felt as if there was a mental barrier as I didn’t want to offend or hurt any of my friends or family.
Although BoyBj is rooted in comedy. It still touches on some very emotional topics and that’s what makes it so raw and beautiful, however in the process I was so worried what my friends or family would think having to hear the way I felt in past experiences.
Who should see this show & why?
In my opinion, the show is so attractive to so many different type of people. From our first run at the fringe, it was amazingly well received by queer people, but also by older generations and then also some of the most ‘manly’ men I know we’re sobbing in the audience, so truly I think it’s great for everybody.
But in its simplest form it’s a love letter to people who have struggled growing up bisexual people who don’t feel like they’ve been or represented in the media. However, I truly think it can be appreciated anybody who just wants to come, have a good time and see the world through a bi lense :)

Who are the collaborators on this production?
Well I’ve got an amazing director called Yuxuan Liu, he’s absolutely wonderful, we didn’t know each other before the process, but he is truly amazing and he’s managed to bring out a side of me and the piece that I couldn’t even of imagined beforehand.
I obviously wrote the play itself however, I had some amazing advice from the Bread and Roses writers group and Emma Bromley, from all things considered theatre, who are absolutely amazing by the way. :)
Then musically I wrote the songs and had assistance on the production side from Will Rhead and Holly Katabawla who are two of my best friends so it’s so warming that they get to be a part of this amazing journey as well.
Then, finally, I have Conor Fleming, who has helped me with the lighting design, and he also techs the show.
What attracted you to stage this production at The Bread & Roses Theatre?
Having been a Clapham boy myself, I’ve always been attracted to the Bread and Roses theatre. However, the stage itself leans itself perfectly to style of the show, this show is so raw, an intimate and the bread and roses theatre supports that amazingly.
Clapham was the place where I gained full acceptance of myself and my sexuality so it’s really rewarding to come full circle and be back there performing this piece.
What have been the highlights of the process for BoyBi?
Honestly, the whole journey feels like a highlight, I started you writing this when I was 18 in my bedroom and finished it 6 months later before my 19th birthday and on a fluke sent off an application to Clapham fringe.
To hear back two months later that I got accepted, and then with no budget, with no support no guidance I’ve managed to build myself a team and a community of people who genuinely love and care about my piece of work.
It actually feels mental to me and even emotional. Then to see the reaction from my friends and family. The fact I managed to write something that evoked so much emotion from an audience is crazy. So it sounds so cringe but the whole thing is a highlight.
Well I’ve got an amazing director called Yuxuan Liu, he’s absolutely wonderful, we didn’t know each other before the process, but he is truly amazing and he’s managed to bring out a side of me and the piece that I couldn’t even of imagined beforehand.
I obviously wrote the play itself however, I had some amazing advice from the Bread and Roses writers group and Emma Bromley, from all things considered theatre, who are absolutely amazing by the way. :)
Then musically I wrote the songs and had assistance on the production side from Will Rhead and Holly Katabawla who are two of my best friends so it’s so warming that they get to be a part of this amazing journey as well.
Then, finally, I have Conor Fleming, who has helped me with the lighting design, and he also techs the show.
What attracted you to stage this production at The Bread & Roses Theatre?
Having been a Clapham boy myself, I’ve always been attracted to the Bread and Roses theatre. However, the stage itself leans itself perfectly to style of the show, this show is so raw, an intimate and the bread and roses theatre supports that amazingly.
Clapham was the place where I gained full acceptance of myself and my sexuality so it’s really rewarding to come full circle and be back there performing this piece.
What have been the highlights of the process for BoyBi?
Honestly, the whole journey feels like a highlight, I started you writing this when I was 18 in my bedroom and finished it 6 months later before my 19th birthday and on a fluke sent off an application to Clapham fringe.
To hear back two months later that I got accepted, and then with no budget, with no support no guidance I’ve managed to build myself a team and a community of people who genuinely love and care about my piece of work.
It actually feels mental to me and even emotional. Then to see the reaction from my friends and family. The fact I managed to write something that evoked so much emotion from an audience is crazy. So it sounds so cringe but the whole thing is a highlight.

What do you think the future of british fringe theatre looks like and how does this show fit into it?
Do you know what I’m probably the worst person to answer this as I haven’t got too much experience with fringe theatre.
However, I think that works to our advantage. We aren’t trying to fit into a mould of what fringe theatre should or shouldn’t look like, we’re simply doing what we want to do and holding ourselves to no standards or limitations we are just BoyBi.
What's next for Evan Reynolds?
This is a very interesting question, what’s the ideal next plan and what is actually next are too very different things!
I’m still studying at Royal, Central School of speech and drama, so there’s probably gonna be long hours and a lot of hard work in my future. But I’m also very passionate about my writing and my theatre making as well, I truly don’t think this is the end of a BoyBi. I think this is the start of a very exciting journey.
We’ve managed to create something so amazing with such small facilities and funds, and I just know once we get more and more. This piece is gonna just snowball in its potential!
Do you know what I’m probably the worst person to answer this as I haven’t got too much experience with fringe theatre.
However, I think that works to our advantage. We aren’t trying to fit into a mould of what fringe theatre should or shouldn’t look like, we’re simply doing what we want to do and holding ourselves to no standards or limitations we are just BoyBi.
What's next for Evan Reynolds?
This is a very interesting question, what’s the ideal next plan and what is actually next are too very different things!
I’m still studying at Royal, Central School of speech and drama, so there’s probably gonna be long hours and a lot of hard work in my future. But I’m also very passionate about my writing and my theatre making as well, I truly don’t think this is the end of a BoyBi. I think this is the start of a very exciting journey.
We’ve managed to create something so amazing with such small facilities and funds, and I just know once we get more and more. This piece is gonna just snowball in its potential!

Catch BoyBi at The Bread & Roses Theatre 3rd - 5th November 2022, 7:30pm BOOK NOW