*3.5 stars
Why did they have to end this play with a sing-along of "All You Need Is Love" like come on...
Otherwise, this had some tense and sweet moments, and it's the first play I've read in a long time, and I'm happy to be diving back in.

Swansea Boy is a play set between the 1980's and 1990's and follows Colin, a young Welsh man who dreams of being a painter. Colin has repeated interactions with the other cast of characters, including his parents, his best friend, a man he met on holiday in Greece, and finally James, the young man he falls in love with. However, James discovers that he is now living with HIV and will eventually die from AIDS, so Colin has become his carer for his final years, with the other characters flitting in and out of their lives.

The play's themes of sex and love were overt from the very first word. It was very easy to follow the play, and there was just enough descriptions to make it easy in my head to see the scenes as though I were watching from the audience. This play is filled with reflections, humor and tragedy, and the life of Colin and those he loves makes it an emotional read.

I highly enjoyed this. The characters all felt real, and the author did an amazing job at balancing all the emotions to make sure none of them overpowered the others. I also personally enjoyed how each new act was set in a different country, and the way that different cultures interwove into the narrative. This is a play I'll definitely read again.

A beautiful, rich, and meaningful story. The characters are so fleshed out and realized. The story is emotional, And the dialogue is very realistic. Colin is a very strong lead with an amazing character arc. I would love to see a recorded version of this play someday!

I was excited about this, but the play opens with Colin talking about blood spurting out of his dick, and you know what? I'm just going to quit while I'm ahead. Not for me sorry.

This play was a moving and beautifully written journey through Colin’s young life — growing up gay in 80s Swansea, chasing art and freedom in London, and ultimately finding heartbreak in Morocco. The dialogue was sharp and emotionally rich, with a cast of characters that felt real and distinct. It hit me hard — especially Colin’s sense of isolation and ‘otherness’ as a young person. Like him, I grew up in a rural area some years ago, and his story made me remember my own longing to escape, run away, and find my place in the world. Touching and powerful, with moments of genuine human connection and comfort.