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Review: Baggy Bra, Bridge House Theatre

Baggy Bra follows the tale of Barb (played by Siân Parry-Williams) with wit and empathy as she tries to keep her bra shop afloat amidst rising energy bills and hungry developers preying on the vulnerable. With the support of adult daughter Eloise (Devan Woodward), who designs her own range of bras, and practical boyfriend Ted (Ray William Butler), who fixes what he can, Barb does everything to hold onto the building she finds so important. We are quickly transported to Wales where, in thick accents, Barb and Eloise invite the audience to draw boobs on the walls – a…

Summary

Rating

Excellent

A warm and light-hearted play exploring the importance of giving breasts the care and attention they deserve, and set against a backdrop of rising economic pressures.

Baggy Bra follows the tale of Barb (played by Siân Parry-Williams) with wit and empathy as she tries to keep her bra shop afloat amidst rising energy bills and hungry developers preying on the vulnerable. With the support of adult daughter Eloise (Devan Woodward), who designs her own range of bras, and practical boyfriend Ted (Ray William Butler), who fixes what he can, Barb does everything to hold onto the building she finds so important.

We are quickly transported to Wales where, in thick accents, Barb and Eloise invite the audience to draw boobs on the walls – a reminder of the plethora out there. After being offered to book a bra fitting and keep hold of a loyalty card, we begin proper.

Writer Izzy Searle injects this neat set-up with dialogue brimming with puns and lateral thinking that keeps an audience on its toes. Ted’s energy-saving invention of the ‘hooter heater’ (a bra with two hot water bottles strapped to it) is just the tip of the iceberg. 

Parry-Williams leads this all-bar-one female cast and crew from the front line with a charming performance of a multi-dimensional woman – a caring maternal character that is equally flirtatious and stern. Although Harriet Eaton could refine her accents throughout her multi-roling, the presence she brings to each character is distinct and well-chosen. However, the hidden gem for me is Woodward as Eloise: her upset around being called ‘the Saturday girl with dreams for a more exciting life that she can’t imagine realising’ is palpable. 

The strong direction offered by Amelia Lloyd reinforces the clear power dynamics between the characters and utilises pace effectively, employing fast yet intelligible moments balanced with more spacious and lingering sequences. Laura Bunce’s lighting design works to establish an airy tone and reflect the more melancholic moments. This complements the fantastic stage design by Megan O’Reilly that roots us in a playful feminine world.

Whilst being a light-hearted comedy, the play also effectively communicates awareness around the importance of checking your breasts regularly for lumps, how 8/10 people are wearing a bra too small for them and that men get breast cancer too. These messages are delivered through the vehicle of a strong story and never feel didactic.


Written by: Izzy Searle
Directed by: Amelia Lloyd
Lighting and sound by: Laura Bunce
Produced by: Harriet Eaton, Sian Parry-Williams and Izzy Searle

This run is now complete, but the show is due to reappear at the Squad House Theatre in Stockport as part of the Greater Manchester Fringe (27 – 29 July). Further information here.

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