Coco

When Tim arrests his longtime friend Jo for killing a chicken named Coco, what begins as an absurd investigation reveals deeper wounds. Jo carries a pronounced limp with no physical cause—a visible manifestation of invisible trauma from losing his parents and the family farm that defined his world.

Coco the chicken represents more than a pet; she is Jo's final tether to his former life, a symbol of both comfort and imprisonment. As the story unfolds through darkly comic interrogations and awkward revelations, we discover that Tim's arrest is an act of desperate friendship—forcing Jo to confront the grief that has paralyzed him for years.

The murder of Coco becomes a shocking yet necessary act of liberation. In this oddball investigation layered with love triangles and loyalty, Jo must choose between the safety of his trauma and the terrifying possibility of healing. "Coco" asks whether sometimes we must destroy what we love most to save ourselves.

"Coco" emerged from my fascination with how humor can serve as both shield and sword when confronting unbearable truths. I crafted this piece to explore the space where absurd comedy meets profound grief—where laughter becomes a survival mechanism rather than mere entertainment.

Jo's invisible limp became the central metaphor for how trauma manifests physically when we refuse to process it emotionally. His attachment to Coco represents our human tendency to cling to symbols of the past even when they prevent us from living in the present. I wanted to examine how sometimes the things that comfort us become the very things that imprison us.

The decision to structure this as a murder investigation was deliberate—it allowed me to peel back layers of truth gradually while maintaining the absurdist tone that makes difficult material accessible. Tim's role as both friend and arresting officer embodies the complexity of loving someone enough to force them toward painful growth.

This work reflects my belief that comedy can be profoundly healing when it doesn't shy away from darkness but instead finds light within it. The play operates on multiple levels—audiences can engage with the surface humor or dive deeper into its exploration of how we communicate (or fail to) about our deepest wounds.

Beginning as a 15-minute piece at Voila Festival, "Coco" has grown through performances at Camden People's Theatre, Baron's Court Theatre, and Brighton Fringe. I'm now developing it into a full-length work that will further explore how we break free from the beautiful prisons of our own making.

Production Details

Camden People's Theatre, Baron's Court Theatre, Voila Festival, 2022

Cast: Luka Alegic, Giorgio Galassi

Written and Directed: Jagoda Kamov