Amy Trigg is, in my opinion, one of the greatest stage actresses of the moment. A playwright and actress alike, Trigg’s work reaches new heights, epitomised by her winning ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical’ at the 2024 Olivier Awards, for her smash-hit performance as physiotherapist Agnes in The Little Big Things. With over a year now passed since the show left the West End, it’s time for us to look back and countdown the ten best Agnes moments from one of the most underrated musicals of the past few years.
Agnes, a no-nonsense physiotherapist with a quick wit and dark charm, is one of the key people charged with enabling protagonist Henry Fraser to adjust to the world after his life-changing accident whilst on holiday with his brothers. With a healthy dose of comedic, thoughtful and inspiring lines, which ten have characterised Trigg’s portrayal as one of my favourite performances of all time?
#10 ~ “Let’s do all the things we shouldn’t do”
Agnes’ first appearance in Act 2 launches straight into one of the best songs in the show, which has also found itself as my morning alarm. Heading to the Fraser household late at night, Agnes inspires Henry and his mother Fran to throw caution to the wind and head out for a night clubbing. Henry, having recently returned home for the first time since getting his wheelchair, is initially sceptical, before Agnes convinces him to go anyway.
This short line, comprising the chorus and title of the song, is a positive reminder to all of us to push our own boundaries, try something new and, occasionally, break ‘the rules’ in order to have fun. With so many deadlines and other pressures constantly surrounding us, it can be all too easy to shut ourselves away from so many of the things we enjoy in order to get work done. But sometimes, just sometimes, it’s okay to forget about the things we should be doing, and try something a little different.
#9 ~ “Alright! Keep your pants on…for a few more minutes, anyway!…He’s my husband. And whatever you think it is…you’re absolutely right!”
Continuing Agnes’ cheeky streak, we next turn to a near-streak by her husband, nurse Marco. Having just reunited Henry with his not-so-secret crush Katie, the trio are interrupted by Marco entering to tell Agnes that “physio’s free”, before spinning around to reveal aside from his surgical scrubs, Marco is wearing only his underwear. Agnes, hardly flustered by the situation, quickly explains to Henry and Katie that Marco is her husband, before rushing off after him, assumedly to ensure the physio room is fully prepared…for patients, of course.
Agnes’ character is never afraid to speak her mind, and having such a star-crossed couple working together in the hospital is always sure to spark giggles and flirtatious moments. But this line reminds all of us just how much we sometimes should “do all the things we shouldn’t do”. The dynamic between Agnes and Marco, executed so perfectly by Trigg, shows the passionate and deep relationship between the two, and the relationship that they have formed so well. Should medical practitioners be up to such acts in a hospital setting? That’s an entirely different question, but for the sake of a good laugh, let’s let these two get back to their…work.
#8 ~ “Shit happens”
Short, sweet and simple. Minutes after we are first introduced to Agnes in Act 1, we hear her solo song, talking with Henry’s mother Fran about what his life will look like after he leaves hospital. When Fran says that the entire episode wasn’t part of the plan, Agnes questions whether there even is a plan in the first place, importantly pointing out, in the form of a song, that indeed, “shit happens”, and pushing Fran and Henry to reimagine and rethink after such a monumental shift in both of their lives.
What more is there to say about this than that it’s absolutely true; shit, does indeed, happen. And we have to deal with that, for better or for worse, but rarely do we have it spelled out so bluntly, and with such powerful truth. We can all do with some tender, loving care from time to time, but occasionally, there’s no room to sugar-coat it. Sometimes, we have to simply accept what has happened, and deal with it regardless. And who better to deliver such a sobering message than someone who spends the rest of the play making us laugh so heavily?
#7 ~ “I could play for England B!”
As Act 2 begins, we join Agnes in the Fraser household with his three brothers, as Agnes talks to them about how their house needs to be adapted ahead of Henry’s return. Clearly not breaking through to them, she decides to speak to them in terms they understand – rugby. As she begins, the conversation turns to Will making it onto the England rugby team, which is quickly clarified by his brothers to mean England’s B team. Let’s just say that Agnes isn’t entirely impressed…
We can all agree that to play for the second England rugby squad is impressive. But we can all also agree that Agnes’ response is equally impressive – and hilarious! Agnes’ character is never afraid to sprinkle some comedy into serious situations, and this is a prime example of her friendly yet teasing manner, especially as she becomes closer to the family she is now guiding.
#6 ~ “There’s a whole world waiting for you Henry, you can’t stay in this bubble forever…we need your bed for one thing”
As we near the end of Act 1, and some of the realities of Henry’s new life begin to dawn on him, our favourite physio once again returns to offer some sage advice and encouragement…as well as a reminder that he is not the only person within the hospital. Connecting the story back to present-day issues, Agnes encourages him to start to work towards his discharge, for his sake, and for the sake of the next patient who needs attention!
This particular quote comes in two parts. Starting with the gentle push, this reminder to Henry is a subtle reminder to all of us as well. In an increasing social media age, where we are siloed and categorised so extensively, stepping out of what we know into something larger is always a good thing. We can all benefit from bursting a bubble here and there to bring us closer to those nearby. And the second half, like many throwaway lines in this piece, are small hints to the health of not only the patient in question, but the system tasked with bringing him to a better place. People should be able to take as long as they need, and the impending pressure of the need for a bed will be all too familiar to those who work in healthcare.
#5 ~ “If I had the chance, I’d do it all again”
One of Agnes’ final lines in the play, the one which makes even her character break, along with a good swathe of the audience is a truly moving moment. When Henry asks Agnes whether she can still see ‘her from before’, Agnes describes her own struggle with pre-accident Agnes. But she ends her touching moment with this simple proclamation, that despite the hardships and challenges that adapting to her new situation brings, she wouldn’t change the way things had happened at all.
This, for me, is a really important quote, and one which embodies one of the central tenets of this musical. So often, people with disabilities are infantilised, pitied and more by their able-bodied peers, wondering why ‘it happens so such good people’ or ‘wishing they could just take it away’ from them, yet all whilst ignoring this very privileged position such sentiment arises from. People with disabilities are no lesser people, they are the exact same as every other person, just with different accessibilities. This simple line helps to reclaim a narrative that so many people impart, and recognises that having disabilities doesn’t make things worse necessarily, just different.
#4 ~ “Our past is important, but we don’t need to think about it 24/7”
Taken from the same point in the play as the previous quote, Agnes takes this opportunity to reassure Henry that whilst the old him is still there, he needn’t dominate his life. As they both discuss their new lives, and the accidents that led both of them to where they are, Agnes draws on her own experience to remind Henry to continue looking forwards, not always back, in order to move on and continue to adjust.
Whilst applied in very different ways, this sentiment is something that we can all, and should all, draw upon. Be honest with yourself – are you still hung up on that relationship that didn’t work out? Do you still remember that terrible time that you or your world fundamentally shifted for reasons in or out of your control? We are all shaped by what has happened to us previously, but we must never forget that the key word is ‘previously’. Those things will always be there and will always be a part of us. But remember not to hold onto the past so tightly that the future is clouded.
#3 ~ “The word you’re looking for is ‘disabled’. Disabled is not a swear word. Henry is disabled, I’m disabled, I’m disabled in this hospital, & yes, I’m even more disabled out there. The lift’s broken; I’m more disabled. There’s no ramp; I’m more disabled. I sit in rooms full of people who say ‘no’, who say ‘can’t’; I’m more disabled. And you know what? Lifts can get fixed, ramps can get built, what we need to do, right here, right now is focus on the things we can do & stop being such a bunch of bloody can’ts”
As Henry’s dad discusses his son’s condition with his mother, Henry and Agnes, he becomes unable to say that Agnes is ‘disabled’, fumbling and choking over his words as if about to call someone a slur. But in true Agnes fashion, she drops a wisdom bombshell, essentially swears at Andrew Fraser and receives a round of applause for her efforts.
There is nothing to say about this quote except that its truthfulness rings loud and clear. Read it again.
#2 ~ “One that will…surprise you. I mean, look at me. One minute, I’m 19, speeding along in my Fiat Punto. Then, blink. I’m choosing my first wheelchair. Blink. I’m a qualified physio. Then, blink. I’m talking to some blinkered woman in a hospital corridor, I mean anything can happen”
Similarly to our previous quote, but this time schooling Henry’ mother, Agnes responds to Fran asking what sort of life Henry will have after the accident. A budding young rugby player, Henry’s life is set to be markedly different to what was previously intended. Sprinkling in her usual mix of comedy, gentle rebuttal and the first details we get of Agnes’ own accident, this is one of our first moments to truly connect to her character, showing the sassy and no-nonsense approach she is set to take for the rest of the show.
Agnes’ way of dealing with Fran’s lack of self-awareness in this scene is perfection. She takes a very ill-judged question and flips it on its head, showing just how naïve Fran, and her entire family, still are at this point. Agnes does work with Fran for the rest of the scene, and by the end of the play, Fran is a strong supporter and advocate. But everyone starts somewhere, and occasionally, some gentle yet tough love is what’s required.
#1 ~ “Right…& I want an hour alone with Johnny Wilkinson. But seeing as unicorns don’t exist, I suggest we get on the fucking horse shall we?”
When Agnes and Henry first meet in hospital, she asks him what he wants to get from physiotherapy, with Henry remarking that he wants “to get up and walk out of here”. With an eyeroll that you can almost hear, Agnes decides to bring his wishes back to the realm of possibility, with a well-timed and hilarious remark that catches the entire audience off-guard the second the final word is uttered.
I have used this phrase several times in regular conversation since first seeing this show. Because it is so perfect. So punchy, and hilarious, yet with a solid point behind it, who could resist cracking this one out from time to time? This is the epitome of Agnes’ hilarity in this show and reminds all of that sometimes, just sometimes, realism helps.
The Little Big Things is available to stream on National Theatre at Home
