Review: [BLANK], Bridewell Theatre

Alice Birch‘s [BLANK] was written with 100 scenes, designed to be performed in any random order and using any number of the scenes. Which does give some serious possibilities! It also means a lot of work is needed just to piece together what scenes to use and in what order. It’s undoubtedly an ambitious project, and if there is one thing SEDOS have, it’s high ambition, always seeming to pick big and bold plays to challenge both its (amateur) cast and creatives. 

Birch’s aim for [BLANK] was to portray the experiences of women in prison and the impact on their families. The problem is that this doesn’t come across in SEDOS’ version, most likely due to the choices made in scene selection and running order. Instead, the prison theme is rather ambiguous, and I’d even argue blurred from the very opening scenes; a domestic abuse victim telling the police officer she is scared, followed by her death in Scene Two and then the recording of the news report about it as Scene Three. None seem to lean on the prison aspect, nor hold any connection to anything that follows. It’s not that these scenes are badly performed, but that they confuse what is to come. 

We’re shown a collection of scenes that at first seem to have no connection, but slowly threads do begin to appear. And whilst the original text was written about prisons, you wonder if SEDOS have selected their scenes to highlight the failures within the systems that are meant to support woman; social services, police, prisons, all stripped back to the point that the support is at times non-existent, leaving mothers, daughters, sisters struggling to cope with where they find themselves. But it’s a little too loose, too disconnected to really hit home what it is they truly want to say with this production. 

[BLANK] is still a worthy piece of work, however, and has plenty to make for an interesting night at the theatre. Director Zoë Thomas-Webb‘s decision to have the cast walking across the stage between scenes, almost depositing the required actors for the next scene as they go, is well managed and makes for a highly effective visual. Similarly, the movement as performers bring vast amounts of plants onto the stage, building a small garden in front of us, works well as a metaphor for the care and nurture these women require, but are often left without, represented by plants being knocked over. It’s a lovely and clever touch.

Along with this visual presentation, Ruth Luckins’ lighting is beautifully employed. In the large black cavern that is Bridewell Theatre strong spotlighting is used to highlight sole performers and focus our attention where it’s required. There’s also a simplistic but effective look to Edith Webb’s costumes, nearly every performer in various shades of pink.

Questions over the scene selections aside, the 15 strong cast still manage to draw out plenty of emotion from those they are asked to perform; the nervous policewoman informing a mother of her daughter’s suicide; a pregnant, imprisoned mother expressing fear that her children will feel abandoned; the social worker being interrogated for the death of three children – all offer powerful insights into a system in turmoil. It certainly makes for some thought provoking theatre. You really do have to admire SEDOS for taking risks, and this production is definitely not lacking ambition.

Written by: Alice Birch
Directed by: Zoë Thomas-Webb
Produced by: KC Lylark
Costume design by: Edith Webb
Lighting design by: Ruth Luckins
Set design by: Kate Halstead

[BLANK] plays at Bridewell Theatre until 28th September. Further information and booking details can be found here.