(4 / 5)

Ever wondered what being taken hostage would be like, particularly at the fringe? or on stage? I appreciate there may be productions that indeed make you already feel that way. But with HOSTAGE by Bad Clowns, you g… well you don’t quite get a real hostage situation but you get a comical, chaotic hour of something like one.

Bad Clowns, a madcap comedy trio, take us on a journey from a fringe show about a character named Timothy Potts, supposedly loosely based on the main actors life, when his ex-writing partner escapes prison and holds all of us hostage. It would be easy for comedy groups to reinvent the wheel from their heroes and inspiration, but this is something different. The concepts and ideas are all brand new, with only the stereotyped themes handed over by us, the audience. What is great is that you can sense the close understanding and relationship the performers have, when things go awry or they improvise, slightly corpsing but clearly having fun, not only in their production but as friends and colleagues.

The acting is brilliant, with each actor having their own fully fledged character. This not only differentiates it well but adds levels to the performance, enhancing any surprises that come our way. They also feel comfortable involving us; we’re not spectators, we are taken hostage and involved in playing devil’s advocate or taking part in a twisted Black Mirror/Squid Game vote for death. They bring us into the performance, as old friends, and sometimes as friends who are just really bloody weird.

HOSTAGE is a fun-fuelled bubble of chaos, leaving sides splitting, a sense of bewilderment but certainly something enjoyed and unlikely to forget.

(3 / 5)

A tale as old as time… well… not quite in the Beauty and the Beast sense, but in a much more relatable, modern way.

Shotgunned is a rom-com meets coming of age story, where love is strong and intense, throwing in life changing events and eventually leading to the sense of “the one that got away”. It is equally heartbreaking and humourous, and follows the lost love story-lines we see more and more of; from 500 Days of Summer, One Day and David Nicholls’ other lost love book, Sweet Sorrow… this is a love story but not with its usual happy ending.

Ros and Dylan, intertwined already by their exes, meet at a party and in time fall in love, get pregnant, lose the baby and lose one another. With the use of blackouts, we jump forward and back in time, to see the happy times and then the breakdowns, mixing the timeline to keep us guessing. This is theatre and so keeping this non-linear is a good theatrical technique. However, the blackouts felt a little amateur and lost a bit of the theatricality for me. Maybe a song and light interlude or a clever exchange of props to slide into the next scene would give this some edge.

The performers have their A game on – like any fringe show, there are interruptions from late patrons and this doesn’t disturb them. Their connection feels natural and so the hard bits feel so much harder and the nice bits feel all the bit more light. You can’t help but get into their love. But there were times where I couldn’t quite gel with them as a couple and therefore [spoiler!] when they break up and never end up together, it isn’t as gut wrenching as it is meant to be. But you’re happy for them either way. It isn’t the acting nor is it the acting… but there’s something about these characters that just doesn’t hold you as a couple.

The writing is fantastic and helps with the bouncing of the characters, using moments of calling back to make you chuckle or gasp in recognition of a former conversation or comment. These are also used to go from positive to negative and visa versa, adding layers to the intimacy of these two characters.

Shotgunned is a lovely show. I really enjoyed it, with it feeling equal parts light and blue. Once further developed, this could be something that could really resonate with audiences.

(3 / 5)

A part promenade, part traditional black box, The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women brings the past and the present in a clash of injustice.

Beginning the production, we are introduced to our guide, our jester who introduces the performance in a casual and relaxed way. This character has its own darkness and path and isn’t one to forget. We are soon introduced to four different figures from past mythologies and stories, where we are given the choice of interacting with their stories. This later propels to the current day, a courtroom and continued injustices of women.

For me, it took a little time to realise and understand the reasoning for the great transition. The style and approach to them seemed very different, a potential disconnect but in time, did begin to culminate. The stories aim to transcend space and time and show that women imprisonment and hardship isn’t a new thing; it is steeped in history, and only changed its appearance from the invention of the justice system.

A clever staging; we are brought initially into opulance of these grand women, with their gold and magnificence over us. However, there was a choice to have different stories happen at the same time; you do not get to see all of them but the ones you do see create a spacial dynamic which is hard to engage with and you really do want to engage! I fear this is more the choice of performance space than a theatrical choice; the square room is pretty large but not enough to separate the sound. Not unusual for a promenade or immersive piece, we miss out on two stories, but all the more reason to come again. Despite the sound clash, microphones are provided and, perhaps a personal choice of mine, were relied upon too much and weren’t effective. They were there to help amplify these women’s voices and only hindered. It was hard to hear all the discussions and interactions. I personally would prefer no microphones in every show and the traditional projection to be used, but appreciate that Clean Break is known for working with non-traditional actors and therefore this may not be a focus.

Despite these nigglings, we get to a point where true stories of the women we see are broadcast. And they are done with informality, with vulnerability and courage. These are powerful and supported with theatricality but not bombarded. This subtlety is immensely effective and providing that moment to hook us in. Their familiarity and kindness to us as audience members in interaction is heartwarming, breaking a bit of the beginning sense of god-like characters and positioning them as one of us mortals, continuing to help tell the story of these ordinary women.

The Trials and Passions of Unfamous Women is a play with a lot of scope. The ideas are there and so is the effort, but some stage and tech choices sadly impacted its effect.

(3 / 5)

The age old pressure and discussions have been forever on women and the expectation to have children. But this isn’t for everyone and yet, this is still taboo in the 21st century.

Stark Bollock Naked addresses the pressures of age, society, other’s commentary on women’s bodies and the expectation to reproduce. It takes a look at this, at the viability and different situations and noting that it’s okay to not want that life, even after you thought you did once.

We are firstly confronted with a naked lady in front of us. The silence ensues and it needs to be congratulated that the performance starts ensuring that audience is awkward and uncomfortable, to make sure they take on the tricky subject.

The actual silence and pausing throughout is very powerful and at times comical and let’s us digest the relationship between the audience and performers. When the action begins, a really interesting projection is created, shown on the performer’s body and with an essence of stereotypical outfits of women as she monologues her story. This felt quite 1927 and the more hyper-realistic performances they create and was a really unusual and unique theatrical trick.

The narrative is comical, stating the facts and also very bold. There are comments on this person’s story, that are comments we, as women, are told not to say or think or feel. Stark Bollock Naked is throwing these into the ether and with no apology.

For me, it felt quite mismatched with what the performance wanted to achieve. It was really intriguing, performed extremely well and with a great concept and approach, but it felt a little like they weren’t entirely sure whether it was a comedy, an emotional production, a touch of clowning or avant garde. There’s nothing wrong with combining these but jumping from one to the other didn’t seem to sit well.

Stark Bollock Naked is exactly the theatre we need, where the unspoken rules around women are unleashed. However, more work is needed to combine the genres they are trying to touch upon.

(3 / 5)

We’ve all heard the stereotype of Asian women, mail order brides and all that comes with this. It becomes a joke within plays, movies and our society. But does anyone really think about the person behind this and what they go through.

Unforgettable Girl brings this stereotype to the forefront – comical and satirical, she embodies the Asian bride which is sexual, engaging and self aware. We see and hear her story, from her home to the call that changes everything. She also brings on the attitude and approach from middle class white society and the unforgivable but “nicely” put racism. It is throwing these unsaid issues in our face with no apology.

There is use of multimedia throughout which gives different levels between the performance and creating a hyper-version of reality. The stage and props are mostly made out of “trash” and is referred to, giving the sense of the little these women are thought of. Some slight comparison, while subtle, is made to white blonde barbie dolls, while a creepy voice over sexualises the mail bride over the phone. It is unsettling but powerful.

While the concept is really interesting and unapologetic, it felt slightly stunted between “scenes”. Perhaps there was a lot to change between characters and scenes and whether more physical theatre or theatrical techniques could be used to move between these, keeping the momentum and the dark atmosphere going.

Unforgettable Girl is anything but forgettable and a great concept, but still needs work to help it continue to grow.