Review: Sh!t Theatre: Or What’s Left Of Us, Soho Theatre

Fringe royalty, Rebecca Biscuit and Louise Mothersole of Sh!t Theatre, have created a poignant and unique theatre / folk / ‘singaround’ mashup, orbiting around an overarching theme of death. This was my first experience of their work but things are different on this occasion, a fact expressed by the duo in their poetic, hard-hitting exploration of grief. Instantly, there is an undeniable sense of both Biscuit and Mothersole being innately talented and aware of how to craft a powerful, soul-baring piece of theatre, inspired by their experiences of loss. As much as it is about death, it is also about love. Alongside this, it is a truly funny show. Sh!t Theatre brings the fun, even if they are desperately sad. The humour eases you in, then your heart is crushed ever so slightly.

The duo express that they no longer know what to write. Following the opening song, a sombre number for which they wear badger heads, we are taken to a folk bar in Leeds, (that was firebombed shortly after their visit). Here, they find folk music and with it a community whose characters are described throughout (they speculate which of them was the arsonist) and a boozy night. Their new love of folk music provides solace for the duo in the wake of devastation. Audience members are picked out by Biscuit and Mothersole to sacrifice a splash of their beer (a strong theme; they wear wheat headpieces of two varieties during the show), during a rousing song in which we are encouraged to join. Following more joyous and silly moments, they return to a looming truth; loss has prompted a new form of work to emerge.

Black and white folk-style tapestries hang at the back of the stage along with a barrel, and at its centre is a wooden pew style bench, in keeping with the folk-esque, rustic aesthetic. Gripping tankards throughout, the pair look the part in this setting, dressed in black and white folkloric outfits. Josephine Tremelling’s lighting choices perfectly reflect the tone of the show, guiding the various mood shifts throughout, and during the stunning ending, which ties their story together, the lights dim so slowly that by the end of the duo’s lament they are almost in complete darkness.

Structurally, with its episodic nature, the show is faultlessly slick. Details woven throughout, and appearing in the heart-wrenching finale, create a touching end to a beautifully crafted work. The infusion of folk music, a genre that commonly explores death, life, loss and love, works beautifully with Biscuit and Mothersole’s powerful examination of their experience of grief.

The most impressive element of this show is how precisely both performers know their strengths and how to play on these in line with their storytelling style. It is always a joy to see artists making work in response to their own truths and in this case, Sh!t Theatre have laid bare their devastation and it comes straight from their broken hearts. Their storytelling abilities and musical skills are masterful, complemented by a grounded presence that demands attention. Both performers easily switch from playful to quiet devastation. It is captivating. 

The magic of this show comes from the duo’s undeniably strong chemistry. They are co-performers, writers and producers, but clearly also close friends. All of their jokes land and it can be felt, in Soho Theatre’s downstairs venue, that Biscuit and Mothersole have the audience in the palm of their hands. I am now a Sh!t Theatre fan, and I cannot wait to see what they do next.

Performed and created by: Louise Mothersole and Rebecca Biscuit
Dramaturg by: Ursula Martinez
Lighting by: Josephine Tremelling

Sh!t Theatre: Or What’s Left Of Us plays at Soho Theatre until Saturday 1 March.