REVIEW: Uncaged Theatre in Glitch - Burdall's Yard

Burdalls Yard, Saturday 23 May

What would you expect from a New Writing project? What would you even want from one?

This show gives it, and generously.

Five able & energetic actors [a sixth was unavailable tonight], consistently credible characters, minimal decor & props but still enough to play around with, actor-operated scene changes, all to put the most energy where it counts, there on stage.

Fast moving fast talking fairly funny, er, froughout: that’s lots of Fs and no buts yet.

Let’s be a critic for a moment: a couple of these are more like telly sketches than theatre - but no-one limited where these writers were to be heading anyway; and does the world really need another piece about a pretentious would-be writer who’s not writing? [I don’t think that’s a subject for a new writer at all TBH] - but as a peg on which to hang some rapid and natural dialogue it’s fine.

‘The End of the World’ by Geriant Hughes, and - still more so - ‘God is Dead’ by Joe Brooks, work the stage better and have further to go into the argument and the scenario; but all 4 writers show themselves worthy of some development, and this entertaining show is a viable part of that.

You don’t need to think of this as something worthy: think you’re going to enjoy new writers because they’ve got energy and are madly trying out ideas and enjoying every one. This was 2 hours very pleasantly spent, and sure beats the Bank Holiday movies on the telly. Treat yourselves!

Dr Zeno