Review: Tea, Texts and Top of the Pops, Barons Court Theatre

“Embrace your grief, for there your soul will grow”, wrote psychologist Carl Jung. Leah Watkins’ new play Tea, Texts and Top of the Pops explores just that: how grief changes a person and the differences between how each of us deals with it.

The story follows two sisters dealing with the death of their father. Noah (Muireann Gallen) is the eldest, the one trying to hold it all together with a level-headed yet avoidant approach. Her grief is quieter in comparison to younger sister Sam’s (Leah Watkins) emotional outbursts, reverting to a teenager-like state of anger and rebellion. She is argumentative and uses alcohol as a crutch for coping. Evidently, the whole journey to healing is a bit more difficult for her. The contrast highlights how Sam’s reactions encompass socially unacceptable forms of grief.

Despite often finding themselves strained or distanced, both sisters fight for their relationship in a constant push-and-pull dynamic. Their unconditional love for each other is endearing. Watkins’ dialogue encapsulates typical sibling dynamics: the bickering, the love and the connection. At times, the structure feels repetitive, as though we revisit the same sentiment played out again in different scenes. Some more nuanced character development or a switch-up in the pacing would alleviate this. By contrast, the writing is stronger in its humour. The jokes and witty comments are well-written and provoke laughter from the audience. It alleviates some of the heavier tension in the theatre for brief moments of respite.

An excellent soundtrack is carefully curated to set the mood in transitions between scenes. David Bowie, Neil Young, and The Animals all play, evoking a sense of nostalgia and a call to the past. It acts as a way of remembering and resurfacing memories of their father and a form of bonding between the sisters.

The subject matter itself is very difficult and heavy, and, largely, the play never really reaches the emotional intensity it is striving for. The last fifteen minutes do achieve an emotional weight that is moving, though. Gallen’s acting here shines; her depth of sadness and range of expression are convincing and heartbreaking. 

Tea, Texts and Top of the Pops is a heartfelt exploration of the journey of grief. A reminder that it is never linear or easy, it grips its teeth into some heavy subjects and shows the importance of having a shoulder to lean on.

Written by Leah Watkins
Directed by  Flo Petrie  

Tea, Texts and Top of the Pops has completed its run at The Baron’s Court Theatre