Sick Dog is the second play I’ve seen this summer about a young person with a terminal illness, and while Before I’m Dead focused on a relationship with a therapist, this centres on a relationship with a care robot.
Scientist Winnie’s (Cara Crofts) illness is not revealed, but what is clear is that she is keeping friends and family at a distance, preferring instead to stay at home with the robot – Eliza (Pearl D’Souza) – she has created.
She is tetchy towards Eliza, finding her efficiency with chores and not-quite-human reactions annoying, but Eliza has a way with her that begins to break down that initial frustration.
Eliza learns about human relationships through watching episodes of Love Island with Winnie and what she tells her about her own past relationships. And
While there is an eagerness to please and a simplicity to Eliza, there is an underlying wisdom in her responses, and Winnie starts to learn about humanity from her robot.
It is one of several ironies that weave through the story.
Winnie can use science to create a human-like robot, but science can’t stop her from dying so young. Eliza, who obviously has the bible as part of the information installed on her hard drive, admits that God has got it wrong about Winnie’s fate.
There is also irony in the fact that both human and robot are having an existential crisis of sorts.
Pearl D’Souza gives Eliza a particular tone and movements. It’s enough to mark her as not human but not over the top and hammy.
The script has wit and shows promise, but Winnie isn’t rounded enough as a character to give emotional depth. And the themes feel a little underexplored.
I wanted to know more about Winnie and how she feels about her mystery illness, her relationships, why she is so isolated and why she created Eliza.
Final thoughts
Sick Dog is a gentle play about a human and humanoid bonding. It is an interesting premise and well performed, but there is more to explore which would give it more depth. I’m giving it 3 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sick Dog, Bread & Roses Theatre
Written by Maariya Khalid
Directed by Lily Gilchrist
Cast: Pearl D’Souza and Cara Crofts
Running time: 50 minutes
Booking until 13 August, 2026
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