Buff follows a primary school teacher who, following a bad breakup from a long relationship, decides to start dating again, but finds the dating world is even crueller to plus-sized, black, gay men than he remembers. However, it's his own prejudices and failures he has to confront when he realises he's developing feelings for his new flatmate, the gym-going Instagram model Jamie.

The pressure was all on Jamal Franklin in this solo-performed play, and he played the character with such richness that you could really feel the story happening around him without ever seeing or hearing from another character. In fact, the character was so authentically charming that you couldn't help but root for him even as his slow breakdown leaves him as the villain of everyone else's story. The audience are the sole witnesses of the many straws it took to break the camel's back.

With clever writing, funny quips and perfectly placed queer culture references, Buff balances the serious with the silly in its exploration of one man's insecurities. It's ending note is hopeful - prejudices can be let go of, harmful cycles can be broken, and relationships can be mended. Because if you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?

Lily Tibbitts