REVIEW | Reboot Festival Week One, Barons Court Theatre

Written by Cathie.

*Gifted tickets in return for an honest review.

Sensitivities and trigger warnings: This is a basement theatre staging area in a pub, so several sensory sensitivities might occur.  The walls and ceiling are painted black and to signal each play ending and the preparation for the next one beginning, the lights are switched off so the space is extremely dark. It’s something to bare in mind if you suffer from any claustrophobia or nyctophobia. It could be disorientating for some as when the lights do come back on quickly, they are very bright. 

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September is an odd meld of endings and beginnings, whether supposedly saying goodbye to summer or the start of the academic year, it is always an exciting month. This week marks the beginning of the Reboot Festival at Barons Court Theatre. This festival, created by Kibo Productions, showcases 3 different line-ups of 6 short plays which change weekly and focuses exclusively on new and upcoming writers. With an overall running time of 2 hours including, these six plays lasted between 15-25 minutes, (with the last two plays being the longest). They were short, insightful windows into different moments of time, with a clear focus on relationships, connections and identity. 

Little Black Dress by John Mabey

This short play focuses on the finding of a little black dress hidden in a bag in a young couple’s (Erica Everett, Emanual Silva) apartment and the following argument delves into fluidity in gender and challenges traditional conceptions of masculinity. I really enjoyed how this play focused both on a positive acceptance of a partner’s gender identity and reflects on their own struggles and courage in expressing this part of themselves to their partner.

Just Nod by Anna Clart

This play focuses on the dynamic between two sisters (Pilar Malo, Georgia Alistair). Mostly this play’s dialogue is by the bubbly, outgoing sister who is frustrated but desperately trying to connect with her quiet, withdrawn sister who is clearly experiencing challenges with her mental health. It is heartfelt and although the ending is rushed, it clearly shows the deep enduring love between the sisters.

Closing Doors by John Minigan

This play focuses on two teachers (Erin Hunter and Kristin Duffy) response to an unplanned USA school shooting drill. Sorrowful and angry, this play looks at both sides of the issue of American schools not being a safe space for either students or staff.

Bound Set by Stephen Dierkes

This play focuses on a ‘grumpy/sunshine’ couple (Sophie Kisilevsky and Aidan Parsons) who have been kidnapped and their time tied to chairs in an unknown second location. Darkly humourous, this play focuses on mistakes in idiomatic phrases and the breakdown of a couple’s relationship as they frantically rush to escape their bonds.

My Ghost by Nina Tolstoy

This play focuses on the heartbreaking devolution of an elderly man suffering from alzheimers who’s blaming his memory loss on a ghost who leaves the taps running and the gas hob on. Focusing on the patient’s conversation with a doctor who is more interested in the disinterested carer than helping his patient, it is a poignant and anguished portrayal of old age and the disintegration of personality. (Benita Charlena Lambrechts, Luke Lindeman, Michael Molino)

The Dating Pool by Arianna Rose

This play features a central character played by Rebecca Hunt aged 61, who together with their younger selves at 16,23,36 and 49 (Sophie Leach, Alicia Gould, Wren Perkins and Adriana Cartade) looks back on past relationships, regrets and their tumultuous life thus far and if they have the courage to experience romantic love again.

For each of these plays the staging is simple and the few props are used to great effect in all of these plays. I would have liked to see more diversity in the cast as, although they are amazing, were mostly white.

Overall, this was a really fun and joyous celebration of new writers, a fabulous edition to London’s theatre scene and I am eager to see what the next two weeks of this festival will hold.