WORTH A LOOK?: *****

It’s arguably theatre’s most memorable moment of the year so far and now the song is available to listen to and watch (see below).

• Read on for reasons including how allowing Taylor this moment to update the play with music is nothing short of astonishing

In our review of Self Esteem as Maggie in Teeth ‘n’ Smiles we wrote: ‘Three-quarters of the way through this revival of a David Hare play with music which originally starred Helen Mirren its new star Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem, sits on the steps leading up to the stage and plays a new song she has written herself solo on the guitar as her character finds her voice.’

Taylor’s performance as a fading rock star in a going nowhere band that’s imploding between sets at the Cambridge University May Ball on the suggestive 9 June 1969 was acclaimed as authentic although critics were less kind about the 50-year-old play.

It reminded this writer accurately of times spent around bands and gigs in the 90s and allowing Taylor, or Self Esteem as she is better known, to pen a song marking her turning point in the play with music at a time when she’s creatively at her own credible musical peak is nothing short of astonishing.

You can feel the understanding of her character come alive in the picked guitar and lines including: ‘I was always selling nothing, an offer you couldn’t decline but I will smile and say that: ‘Everything is fine.’ It’s not the first or the last time I’ll use that line.’

Or: ‘When you go through the storm and still come out wanting more and you know as I do it’s no justice but there’s truth in all you’ve seen. You just had to be looking.’

It’s not quite the iconic visual spectacle of Rachel Zegler’s EVITA addressing the masses from the Palladium balcony but it’s actually far more revelatory, emotional and open hearted.

Catch Teeth ‘n’ Smiles at the Duke Of York’s Theatre in London before it closes 6 June 2026.

• Main pictures via Facebook courtesy Teeth ‘n’ Smiles Tickets
• Have you seen a Self Esteem show before and what did you think of this 1? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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