Eigengrau

          So, Eigengrau, what does it mean? Well, its defined as 'the colour seen by the eye in perfect darkness'.

          I was invited to the press night of this production and I must admit I knew absolutely nothing about it, even that the plays title was a real word. I also didn't do any research as I wanted to go in with completely fresh eyes and without any pre-conceived ideas. Eigengrau, by British playwright Penelope Skinner, was first performed in 2010 at the Bush Theatre were it was met with critical acclaim. This production has been produced by Dark Skies Theatre, as a response to the British government starting the 'Lets Talk Loneliness' campaign in June, which is designed to try and tackle the stigma of loneliness.

          The play sees four young people in their 20s thrown together. In their struggle to find their places in the world amongst the chaotic backdrop of London, they have their beliefs tested to devastating effect. Cassie (Isabel Della-Porta) is a feminist fighting against the patriarchal oppression. Her flatmate Rose (Katie Buchholz) believes in true love and leprechauns. On the other side of London, Mark (George Fletcher) believes in his masculinity and marketing, while his flatmate Tim (Callum Sharp) is forever struggling to find the will to get out of bed in the morning.

          The theatre, Waterloo East, is hidden away in the back streets near Waterloo Station. I've walked around this area many times and not really noticed it there. Like all theatres located in the arched under railway lines, at least all the ones I've been in to, it has an over whelming smell of damp. This is kind of to be expected, but it still something I don't like. I feel very off put. I was glad when I entered that actual auditorium and fount the smell greatly reduced. The theatre space is painted black with the stage completely bare, all except six boxes of various sizes lined up along the back wall. These boxes are moved and rearranged throughout the show to create very simple but effective sets.

          Penelope Skinner's writing is sublime. It really represents the mind of young people, but also the minds of society at large. She writes what we are all thinking, or at least what we presume other people are thinking. Its extremely naturalistic and a very easy style to follow with a steady pace and clear progression of story. Its perfectly complemented in this production by the four actors. They all play extremely well off each other, with no awkward pauses or one actor being better/worse than the others. There acting was as naturalistic as the writing. They were a joy to watch. In such a small space as this theatre, one really got to see them performing their craft in detail, something larger theatres don't give you the opportunity to do.

          I was however slightly disappointed. Not with the show, but with how this show has been publicised. Now I'm not saying this because I'm a man and I want to push my masculine agenda out into the world, but the online material for this show is totally focused on the two female actors. The men get almost forgotten. I know this is a feminist piece and is all about female empowerment. In fact when the show is produced its often marketed with the line 'What does it mean to be a good feminist? What does it mean to be feminist?'. That doesn't mean however, I feel, that the male actors should be left out. The show was partly funded via Crowdfunder.co.uk, an online community were people are able to raise money from the general public rather than through bank loans and/or other lenders. On the page to advertise and promote this show (click here to see) there is no mention of George or Callum whatsoever. It simply says 'Staring RADA graduates Isabel Della-Porta and Katie Buchholz'. I could almost forgive this. Ok, maybe they started this page before they had confirmed the male actors? But then one looks at their official website. Yet they have the pictures of all four actors, and if you hover over the images their names come up. However if you click on the images of either George or Callum you are taken to the pages for Isabel and Katie. You can find literally nothing out about Callum or George, both of whom have been in a number of theatre productions and/or television shows. They are also extremely talented actors and so it seems a discredit to their skills to not have any information about them. 

          That being said, it was a good production. Its wasn't the most enthralling thing I've ever seen, but nine years after it was first preformed its still as relevant as ever. I know form experience how lonely a crowded city can feel. How it can be a struggle to find ones place in the world or to understand your self worth. Yes this may be a piece with feminist undertones, well not undertones they are thrown in your face right from the start, but its a show relevant to all. 

The show is running at Waterloo East Theatre until September 22nd 2019

For more information about the show or to book tickets, click here

Man Number Five

          This show, which will be at Edinburgh Fringe from the 19th - 24th August (2019), promotes itself as a one woman show exploring 'themes of romance, consent, sex, comedy and women'. It also says that the rise of the Me Too movement makes this piece highly relevant. I was intrigued when I was invited along for a preview performance. 

          I unfortunately must say I was slightly disappointed by the performance. The preview took place at Ram Jam Records, a lovely award winning live music, comedy and theatre venue in Kingston Upon Thames. In fact it is the only pub theatre space in Kingston. It has a wonderful atmosphere with lovely background music playing from the moment I entered, with the soft glow of candle light. It refers to itself as "Kingston's best kept secret", though I'd say maybe it was even London's. I would go so far as to say its one of the nicest pub theatres I've ever been to, seating just 60 people in what it refers to as 'Jazz club style'. I was shocked to find just 8 people were in the audience for this show, one being the director and two being the actresses parents. I decided I shouldn't let this formulate an opinion in my head before the show started, but I wasn't overly impressed after it was over.

          The work portrays the real life story that leads to the writer and actress, Julia Bentley, being sexually abused. She says she was desperate to release something that had held her back for so long. I know that this piece was probably exceptionally hard for her not only to write but also to perform. I in no way want to diminish her experiences or how she may have felt at any given time, but I need to look at this objectively as a piece of theatre.

          Julia performs the piece perfectly. She displays pain, anger, confusion and lust spliced with comedic moments of joy. She really portrays the conflicting inner most thoughts of a women exceptionally well. Not that I'm overly familiar with these thoughts seeing as I'm a man. The show felt exceptionally disjointed at the start, and I found it hard to follow. It was setting up the situation and character, but it was done in a very confusing way. After a while the show, and Julia, got into the flow and I began to be able to understand the show a lot better. She exposing the sex positive attitude of modern women and stamping all over the term 'slut shaming'. Why cant a woman date multiple men at the same time? "You need to have five men at any one time - one for ever weekday". Different men fulfilling different needs but being just as annoying and complicated as each other.

          Julia is currently studying a BA in Acting and Contemporary Theatre at East 15 where she says her passion for writing has been ignited. I'm sure with a little improvement and finding her true voice her writing will massively improve. At the moment though, its very obviously a piece written by someone fairly green in the writing world.

          The more I settled in the more I understood what was happening and how things were going. I just think the writing needs some more development. Saying that though, the ending was phenomenal. Its just a shame it could all be that way. The last five minuets or so were full of raw emotion that was exceptionally hard hitting, very moving and brutally honest. I felt her pain, anger and confusion. The girl with the power becomes powerless. Just as you have been beaten by the emotion and left in shock, Bentley askes the question; "When did no become a turn on? No. That's not sexy, right?"

          Overall a competent piece, though I feel the writing needs a little more development. An exceptionally poignant work that I feel is coming at a time where women are feeling more empowered to speak out about their experiences. I'm sure this will be one of the most emotionally shocking pieces of theatre at Edinburgh Fringe this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if its one of those pieces people cant help but talk about.

You can find out more and book tickets for the performances of this show at Edinburgh Fringe, here.

For other 2019 Edinburgh Fringe shows and performances here.