See Primark and Die at Finborough Theatre Review
Written by Sarah for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
For more than four decades, theatre luminary Claire Dowie has been a part of the theatrical landscape with her unique brand of “stand-up theatre,” challenging conventions and conformity, and confronting issues like mental health and gender head-on. Dowie first performed at The Finborough Theatre in 1987 and now returns with Swansong, a repertoire of four of her plays from across the decades.
See Primark and Die was first performed in 2010 under the title ‘Buy Little Buy Less Buy Nothing At All’. It is a comment on compulsive, capitalist consumerism via quirky British shopping rituals. It moves between laugh-out-loud one-liners, to poetic apparitions and highly relatable musings from Spermarket’s social cache to the astronomical cost of eco funerals and dying. Hopefully not in Peckham Primark.
The story describes the characters ‘shopohobia’ from the panic attack in Primark to the spoils of ‘dumpster diving’, the death of Aunt Alice, and her friendship with her neighbour Angela, which ends in agriculture and animal husbandry. Dowie reflects on ageing, the everyday, feeding bodies to pigs and has an inspired theory about the degeneration of the NHS and how to resurrect it with vote-winning wisdom.
The stage is set with a simple rail of white clothes and a white kimono upstage. Dowie is a warm and charming performer, reminiscent of Victoria Wood; a funny Brummie with a twinkle in her eye. However, there is a characteristic satirical tone which pokes and cuts through the humour giving weight and depth to the stories and quips. There is a simplicity in the storytelling and communication which is easy, engaging and honest. A thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying evening!
The other plays in the repertoire are Adult Child/ Dead Child, Why Is John Lennon Wearing a Skirt? and H to He (I’m turning into a Man) until 5 July.
★★★★
