Brief Play About Rage at Cockpit Theatre Review
Written by Eleanor B for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
I genuinely couldn’t take my eyes off this gripping piece of theatre.
Set over the course of one evening, the story begins with Val welcoming her friend Nell over for a visit. From the moment she arrives, something feels slightly off. Nell is intense, immediately launching into vivid details about her health issues and proclaiming that everyone should drink 25 glasses of water a day. Her mind seems to dart from topic to topic, often veering into uncomfortable territory and bringing up figures from the past that Val would clearly rather forget. Her presence quickly unsettles not only Val, but also Val’s boyfriend, Hugh.
Val has always harboured a quiet discomfort around Nell, a kind of simmering resentment that she’s kept in check over years of friendship. Nell’s odd behaviour, perhaps even neediness, creates an uneasy tension in the room. Hugh, meanwhile, is trying to hold everything together. He wants to appear grounded, devoted, in control, but as Nell continues her stream of strange anecdotes, backhanded compliments and pointed confrontations, the cracks begin to show.
Watching the play feels like glimpsing a conversation through a kitchen window, a fleeting, private moment of real life. But as Nell’s mental state slowly begins to unravel, it becomes more like watching a car crash in slow motion. You can’t tear your eyes away, no matter how uncomfortable it gets.
The atmosphere is heightened by a haunting live cello score, played by a silent figure seated in the corner of the stage, turned away from the audience. This subtle presence grows more significant as the story progresses.
The actor playing Nell delivers a masterful performance, one that makes you shift in your seat. You want to comfort her, to understand her, but also can’t help hanging on every strange, unexpected thing she says. Alongside her, the chemistry between the actors playing Val and Hugh creates a deeply believable relationship, which makes its slow unravelling all the more painful to watch.
The production was written by Deane McElree and directed by Sophia Golan, who maintained a tight emotional pacing and simmering tension throughout.
This play is staged at the Cockpit Theatre in Marylebone, a perfect venue for this kind of intimate storytelling. The black box space seats 170 people, creating just the right level of closeness between cast and audience. The actors are already on stage as you enter, reinforcing the feeling that you’ve stepped into someone else’s home. It’s a subtle but powerful touch that immediately draws you into the world of the play.
Brief Play About Rage is a brilliantly performed, tightly written production. Gripping, intense and surprisingly funny, it offers sharp insight into friendship, resentment and the things we don’t say until it’s too late. A definite one to watch.
Brief Play About Rage played at the Cockpit Theatre on 3 and 4 August.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
