★★★

“Simon Perrott’s script is uncomfortable, shocking and humorous”

Batavia Productions are a brave company. Their work in film and theatre focuses on vital social issues, from sexual harassment to suicide prevention, and this piece, now enjoying an extended run at north London’s Hope Theatre, does not shy away from big issues facing young people.

Mark (Jay Parsons) needs someone to talk to, but with being bullied at school, ignored by his family, and isolated by the rest of society, he doesn’t have anywhere to go. Enter Graham Norton. Or, at least, a signed picture of Graham Norton. In lieu of calling into Graham’s radio show, Mark finds peace in his ability to be open with this one photo, revealing the pain he suffers on a daily basis, all leading up to one final, devastating decision.

Parsons plays the awkward Mark as compellingly vulnerable and naïve. His confessions do not come easy. As a one-person show, our interest rides mostly on Parsons’ performance which at times seems under energised. A microphone is used to differentiate between characters (dad, school bully, sister) in a way that seems cumbersome and unnecessary. Parsons relies on voice rather than physicality in creating these scenes, and so the characterisations are less precise. Director Joseph Winters could have pushed his actor farther in this regard.

Simon Perrott’s script is uncomfortable, shocking and humorous. It is structured well, with a dramatic tension crystallising under the surface throughout the piece. Filled with lucid, fantastical descriptions, the script has elegance but suffers through a lack of engaging stories. The funniest moment involves an unsuspecting cat having a finger shoved up its behind, but even this gets milked just a little too much. Perrott’s insights into a young adult coming to terms with his sexuality certainly ring true however and are a witty reminder how fascinating and scary discovering your sexuality can be.

Ultimately though this is a sad tale. Is it a warning of the dangers of online communities? A reminder of how common thoughts of suicide can be for young LGBTQ+ people? We are offered no solutions, just questions. A fairly strong central performance keeps this show going, but if Batavia wants its audience to take action, we need to understand what it is we’re fighting for.

Reviewed by Joseph Prestwich

Photography courtesy Batavia Productions

ALTERNATIVITY at The Hope Theatre

★★★★

“a clever hour of disguised thoughtfulness which lands with tight performances and commitment”

It’s not a new idea to wonder how the birth of Jesus would have occurred in modern-day Britain, what is new is to approach that question with humour, quick wit and some subtle seriousness. Timothy Blore’s one-hour production is a re-telling of the nativity story where year zero Bethlehem is swapped for 2018 Billericay (think “there’s no room at the inn, the Holiday Inn”) and, whilst it consists almost entirely of nose-tapping references and snappy one-liners, does manage to land as a substantive critique of the moralising upper middle class of this country.

We open with a family of four playing Trivial Pursuit and a sharpened script driving a worryingly accurate portrayal of a mid-life Christmas with grown-ish children. Banter flies across the board as Linda and Michael (Gillian King and Chris Pickles) lead their family in what many in the young audience would recognise as a harrowingly accurate portrayal of being simultaneously berated with and embarrassed by your parents’ experience, knowledge and lifestyle. Matthew (Jack Forsyth Noble) and Luke (Jonathan Savage) are recognisable but not stereotyped; they are young men looking to establish themselves without actually rebelling against their life of plenty. The payload of the show is delivered in the last half an hour as Maria (Bella Nash) and Joe (Clemente Lohr) arrived after being made homeless, and ask if they can sleep inside, only to be placed in the shed.

A serious theme is smuggled to the audience inside the banter and references, giving the solid foundation necessary for the joking not to seem frivolous and self-aggrandising. But the message is simple and summed up most memorably with “you must live on cloud Corbyn if you think we’re going to let a couple of gypos stay”. A great script was delivered well by the entire cast ably directed by Scott le Crass. The rehearsal and thought that had clearly gone into the show led to both clarity and great amusement.

At times the piece serves the clever references of the writer, not the other way around but it’s hard to care when there is such fun and wit scattered throughout. Ultimately, Alternativity is a clever little show full of disguised thoughtfulness which lands with tight performances and commitment on stage and off.

Hope Theatre

Reviewed – 12th January 2019

★★★

“Simon Perrott’s script is uncomfortable, shocking and humorous”

Batavia Productions are a brave company. Their work in film and theatre focuses on vital social issues, from sexual harassment to suicide prevention, and this piece, now enjoying an extended run at north London’s Hope Theatre, does not shy away from big issues facing young people.

Reviewed by Joseph Prestwich

Photography courtesy Batavia Productions

In Conversation With Graham Norton

Hope Theatre until 26th January

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:

ALTERNATIVITY at The Hope Theatre

★★★★

“a clever hour of disguised thoughtfulness which lands with tight performances and commitment”

Reviewed by William Nash

Reviewed – 9th December 2018

Photography by Amanda Urvall Nyrén

Alternativity

Hope Theatre until 17th December

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue: