Former GP receptionist Holly Gow returns to Kentish Town’s Lion & Unicorn Theatre. How Can(t) I help? has already received positive reviews for previous runs but comes back to the venue as part of the Camden Fringe.
Drawing on her experiences of working in the NHS, Gow presents us with a hilarious, pithy production that paints an all-too relatable image of what GP receptionists endure – and anyone working in customer service, for that matter. From patients’ ailments to their hostility on the phone, a great deal is compacted into an hour.
The sixty-minute show flies by at a rate of knots. The laughs come quickly. Gow opens by dancing freely, setting the tone for what we soon realise will be a somewhat unique theatrical experience. It’s when she gets going with her dialogue, however, that we see she has a natural gift for storytelling combined with effortless charisma. Despite her character’s cynical outlook, we quickly warm to her. Various anecdotes are well received by the audience, who flit from laughing to knowingly nodding along.
The subject matter is heavy – most of us are aware of just how important the NHS is, but how it is also severely struggling. Yet Gow also manages to excavate the positivity out of her experiences. The ability to empathise with strangers is a key theme here. Ultimately, kindness is needed now more than ever in this world of uncertainty we find ourselves in and Gow leaves us with that upbeat message.
As writer, director and performer, Gow proves herself a real talent to watch out for. How Can(t) I help injects us with a perfect dose of welcomed comedy while also giving us a great deal of food for thought.
Review by Jonathan Marshall
How Can(t) I Help is a one-woman show, recounting the best and mostly worst times working as a GP receptionist. An NHS GP receptionist. We’ve all encountered and probably shouted at one of these beats, however this play addresses the view from behind the desk. From cheap coffee to fighting off stool samples. From assisting pervy men with checking their blood pressure to the aftermath of the pandemic.
HOW CAN(T) I HELP
Lion & Unicorn Theatre
4 to 6 July 2025
