Review: The Pitch, Theatre 503

Theatre 503 is renowned for its pioneering role in supporting and championing new writing, and with The Pitch they have once again hit the jackpot. Philip Catherwood’s latest play originated as part of the theatre’s fantastic scheme to encourage new writing, namely the 10-minute Rapid Write Response, and was developed into its first outing at The Space in London in September last year. A run at the Lyric Theatre, Belfast, is next.

Catherwood writes like a dream – dialogue, character, and plot revealed through an utterly natural grasp of the Belfast youth idiom, and he is in every way helped by a superb cast – James Grimm as Robbie, Jake Douglas as Deren and Dión di Maio as Melissa. They completely own the script: indeed, it is so organic that at times it feels improvised. Mind you, they seem to have all accompanied this work from its inception, and it shows. Thea Mayeux, as director, uses the small, efficient set well, but it is the actions and objectives of the characters that are so clear – we know what world we’re in. 

That world is inner city Belfast at some future date, where there is an imminent referendum as to whether Northern Ireland should join the Republic and become one country. The pitch in question is a football ground where Unionist Robbie is training and playing football with his team, also trying to get his younger sister Melissa to join in. However, there is competition in the shape of a Gaelic football team (hence Catholic), of which Deren is a leading member, trying to use the area for their practice. At a stroke, Catherwood pinpoints the tensions that still reverberate in a post-Troubles Belfast, but in a subtle, clever way. The lads are not antagonistic, and indeed they come together in their laddish way to talk football, Man United versus Man City and their combined hatred of Liverpool. However, Deren harbours a secret desire for them to come together in other ways, excellently conveyed by Catherwood and indeed Douglas. 

Meanwhile Melissa, a thirteen-year-old with irrepressible energy, has amorous plans of her own, playing off lads keen on her against each other but also getting more attracted to Deren’s team; indeed, she switches to training with them. Robbie sees his Protestant football world being undermined, especially as they have been squeezed out of playing on the pitch by ever-increasing rents while the Gaelic team set up residence. And to crown it all, the referendum delivers a Yes to Union. There is a climax of feelings, Melissa gets blind drunk, admits her love plans have failed, but incisively confronts Deren with his own feelings – revelations and consternation ensue with consequences for all concerned. This final section is exquisitely managed and leaves us with a touching resolution, albeit tinged with sadness, for all three concerned. 

I normally complain about actors not keeping the ball in the air, but here, in concrete and figurative terms, the three actors combine to make this evening fizz along, with genuine moments of silence which they have patently earned and therefore carry so much meaning. Indeed, the first ten minutes are even slightly too manic – perhaps turn down the dial a notch here, especially in the small space that is Theatre 503. But this is a small niggle when everything comes together so beautifully; writing, direction, design and performances creating an organic whole that takes you on a journey that is engaging and life-affirming. Wonderful!

Written by Philip Catherwood
Directed by Thea Mayeux
Produced by Moya Jane Productions and Theatre503

The Pitch has completed its run at Theatre 503 but transfers to The Lyric, Belfast, next month.