★★★★★

“warm, sincere, contemporary and very funny”

Jerome K Jerome wrote ‘Three Men In A Boat’ in the late 19th century as a humorous travelogue, providing a social comment on Victorian society and leisure, which went on to become one of the most enduring comic novels in English literature. It has indeed never been out of print and has inspired numerous adaptations for stage, radio and television. The book follows three friends (and a dog) as they embark upon a boating holiday up the River Thames from Kingston upon Thames to Oxford.

This production is a long awaited collaboration of two award winning Berkshire theatres, Reading Rep and The Watermill producing a world premiere of Camille Ucan’s debut play ‘Three Hens In A Boat’ lovingly inspired by Jerome’s classic but with a contemporary twist, focusing on three women – a grandmother, mother and daughter – embarking on a hens do with a difference.

From the moment we enter the auditorium the combination of the muted lighting by Jonathan Chan, the charming riverbank setting designed by Jasmine Swan and the subtle yet effective soundscape by Ella Wahlström, creates a sedative effect on the senses transporting us to a timeless part of the Thames. However the modern city looming in the distance, beyond the tranquil meadows, places us firmly in the 21st century. There is even a decent sized skiff on stage which is of course, so central to the voyage.

I absolutely loved this production, transforming it to an all female intergenerational piece is inspired. The audience witness the physical and emotional meanderings of the women as they not only navigate the Thames but the complex mother / daughter relationships of the three generations, whilst understanding the unconditional love that binds them all together. Not only is Camille’s writing warm, sincere, contemporary and very funny, she also plays the role of the ‘woke’ granddaughter. All three of the women’s performances (Verona Rose as the mother and a scene-stealing Ellen O’Grady as the grandmother) were truly sensational. A nod to the composer Lauryn Redding here, who deftly balances the music to suit the mood and different age groups perfectly.

Abigail Pickard Price’s confident direction and inspired use of the small set, together with a stellar cast and production team has created a real gem of a show – a joyful, hilarious yet poignant journey for everyone

STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE at the Gillian Lynne Theatre

★★★★★

“it is beautiful, and moving, and has real grit”

Standing at the Sky’s Edge is an unabashed love letter to Sheffield. It follows three generations of residents in Park Hill, the infamous brutalist 1960s former housing estate which dominates the Sheffield skyline. Each story seethes with the unfairness of the treatment of the residents, but the play as a whole is full of joy and hope.

To call it a musical feels inaccurate, it is a play with music. Writer Chris Bush has structured the play around the music of Richard Hawley, perhaps best known as former guitarist for Pulp, and as such sometimes the songs feel incongruous, but often serve to energise and buoy up the mood.

We follow three sets of Park Hill residents, across three timelines. There is Harry (Joel Harper-Jackson) the youngest ever foreman at the steel factory, and his wife Rose, (Rachael Wooding) who move in as thrilled former slum dwellers in 1960. Then in 1989 the same flat sees the arrival of Joy (Elizabeth Ayodele), Grace (Sharlene Hector) and George (Baker Mukasa) who have fled Liberia hoping for a better life. Joy’s doubts about this new home are softened as she forms an incredibly sweet bond with local boy Jimmy (Samuel Jordan). Finally in 2015 Poppy (Laura Pitt-Pulford) has bought the flat, but, having moved up from London by herself, she struggles to find the sense of community she has been hoping for.

As with all multi-generational stories, there will be ones that are more engaging. The London audience responded well to Poppy’s story, chortling at her doubt that Henderson’s Relish would enhance her Ottolenghi dish. Personally, I found Poppy’s story quite painful to watch, especially when her troubled romance is set against such legitimate struggles. However, that is the point. The play doesn’t shy away from questions of privilege, and struggle being relative. Richard Hawley tells that after a preview to only former and current Park Hill residents, a former resident shook the hand of one of the gentrifying new wave, and invited them to the pub. It is a play which bridges divides and fosters empathy.

“Ben Stones’ set is astonishing”

Robert Hastie’s direction intertwines these stories, so they never feel separate and isolated. One scene sees everyone having dinner, passing around the Henderson’s Relish, emphasising the idea at the core of this play – all of these very different people have lived their lives in this one flat.

The cast is enormous, and extremely talented. Particular standouts are Rachael Wooding as practical and pragmatic Rose, Samuel Jordan as Jimmy, both lovesick and revolutionary, and Lauryn Redding as Nikki, Poppy’s bold and bolshy ex-girlfriend.

Ben Stones’ set is astonishing, building an on-stage version of Park Hill, complete with the famous ‘I love you, will u marry me’ graffiti. There is a maze of levels, and the band peek out from within the brutalist jungle. Mark Henderson’s lighting design is vibrant and exciting, especially in the musical numbers. Ben Stones’ costume design is also thoughtfully evoked, especially to show the passing of time in these tangled lives.

There are parts of this production which don’t quite land. For example, an awkwardly poetic narrator, who brings a pomposity to a play which thrives in its earnest realism.

But it is beautiful, and moving, and has real grit, without being impossibly bleak.

THREE HENS IN A BOAT

Watermill Theatre

★★★★★

“warm, sincere, contemporary and very funny”

THREE HENS IN A BOAT

Watermill Theatre

Reviewed on 27th May 2025

by Sarah Milton

Photography by Pamela Raith

Last ten shows reviewed at this venue:

THREE HENS IN A BOAT

THREE HENS IN A BOAT

THREE HENS IN A BOAT

STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE at the Gillian Lynne Theatre

★★★★★

“it is beautiful, and moving, and has real grit”

“Ben Stones’ set is astonishing”

STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE at the Gillian Lynne Theatre

Reviewed on 28th February 2024

by Auriol Reddaway

Photography by Brinkhoff Moegenburg

Previously reviewed at this venue:

STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE

STANDING AT THE SKY’S EDGE

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