FLUSH at Arcola Theatre Review
Written by Becky for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review. All views are our own
Content Warnings - Sexual assault, flashing lights, eating disorders, transphobia
Women’s toilets are not just for functionality; they are spaces for gossip, motives, pep talks, therapy sessions, bonding, and so much more. April Hope Miller explores the sacred space of the ladies' loos in her deeply relatable, totally hilarious, and sincerely poignant London debut, FLUSH.
Following a hugely successful run at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe, the one-act show follows the antics of various groups of women in a nightclub toilet. The ensemble performance by Ayesha Griffiths, Jazz Jenkins, April HopeMiller, Miya Ocego, and Joanna Strafford is impressive, with the cast multi-rolling a wide variety of narratives, from hen dos and work nights out to schoolgirls sneaking into the club underage. Tackling all-too-familiar themes like sexual assault, eating disorders, and transphobia, the show avoids being preachy. Instead, it effectively explores these global struggles through the everyday interactions of a shared female space.
Can a set be equally grimy but also immaculate? Set and costume designer Ellie Wintour creates a fun and striking visual display. Three symmetrical toilet cubicles sit centre stage, covered in fluorescent graffiti, with the thrust staging making the space more intimate, inviting the audience to peer into this private world.
Director Merle Wheldon does a great job of interweaving every narrative, inviting the audience to share the entertaining yet intimate space. The opening scenario sets the tone perfectly: two girls, one hiding from her Hinge date, the other hiding from an old school foe, bond in adjacent cubicles and decide to continue the night in their new friendship. This wholesome opening is not only a great hook, it gets the audience on side quickly before the rest of the show really begins.
The one role which remains consistent throughout is Jenkins’ Billie, a young American woman who is freshly finding her way in London. Jenkins nails the feeling of loneliness and vulnerability, breaking up the consistent stream of chaos with a heartbreaking solo performance.
Likewise, Miller’s character performance as the boisterous and confrontational maid of honour, Liv, is another standout. Miller does a remarkable job of shifting Liv’s behaviour from a larger-than-life comedic character to a sensible and empathetic social worker when she realises another woman is in distress. She encapsulates the heart of this play: that no matter the circumstances or walks of life, women are innately prepared to be there for one another because of the world they operate in.
Performing at Arcola Theatre until 6th June, FLUSH is a remarkable debut from Miller while also being a triumphant collaborative piece. It’s simultaneously hilarious and moving, standing as an important show in a world where misogyny and the ‘manosphere’ are alarmingly on the rise.
Flush plays at Arcola Theatre until 6 June.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
