Review: Fort, Theatre503
A beautiful story that runs much deeper than two best friends looking for a ghost.summary
Rating
Good
If you saw a ghost what would you do? Fort begins late at night with two 15-year-old best friends Viv (Megan Marszal) and Daisy (Martha Harlan) waiting on a hillfort in North Dorset. Daisy has seen the ghost of an Iron Age soldier and is eager to show the apparition to Viv who is sceptical, but curious. This particular hillfort is a special place for the pair, who have been meeting there since they were children to get away from the judgement in the small town that they live in.
In an age where teenagers are presumed to be glued to their screens and live their lives vicariously through social media, writer Tabitha Hayward shows that she really understands young adults. This play identifies a sense of the innate desire for independence from home, but also defines a real feeling of loneliness and anxiety in parallel. Daisy and Viv know that as they get older will have to make some very impactful choices about their lives in making their transitions from children to adults.
In addition to Hayward’s excellent writing, Marszal and Harlan portray Viv and Daisy phenomenally. As the girls communicate, their mutual understanding is clear. Often they will interrupt each other, and at times they speak simultaneously. Marszal’s Viv is someone who has ambitions to move to Manchester and obtain a university degree, and yet the character can’t seem to sit still for more than two minutes, constantly fidgeting with her hair and clothes. Daisy, however is slightly different from Viv. She likes to be alone, but not for a long time, and prefers to hide within herself and keep secrets from others, which Harlan portrays beautifully. Director Rohan Gotobed clearly portrays Viv and Daisy as teenagers rather than adults, and in many ways the two protagonists still act in a very childlike manner. Their world is not restricted to the responsibilities of being an adult as they live unaware of bills to pay, or the need to shop for necessities.
The scenes in Fort are entirely located on the hillfort itself, and while Viv and Daisy talk at great length about their lives at home, and school, there is really no need to visualise these locations because they are only secondary compared to the shared experience of being on the hillfort together. The scenery gives an appropriate representation of the hillfort, but it is the lighting which really makes the production stand out. It creates a mystical feel, giving awareness that this place is truly unique for Viv and Daisy, where no one else is allowed…except for a wandering ghost.
Ultimately, Fort is about loneliness and the fear of being alone. In a world where no one seems to understand them, the pair understand each other, and now that things are changing so quickly they are very anxious about the thought of leaving one another, and the effect that might have on their friendship. It also exposes the challenging, contradictory anxieties that come with dealing with change. Viv is very open about her desire to go to Manchester, but deep down she doesn’t want to leave Daisy, whereas, Daisy acts like she prefers to be alone, but can’t stand the idea of being without Viv
Fort offers a clear message about the fears of growing up and a changing lifestyle, and while there are a few content warnings to be aware of highlighted in the programme, it is a production well worth seeing.
Written by: Tabitha Hayward
Directed by: Rohan Gotobed
Produced by: Olivia Teltow
Set Design by: Layla Bradbeer
Sound Design by: Freddie Lewis
Fort plays at Theatre503 until Friday 17th January. Further information and booking are available here.