Semi-Skimmed by BLACKWIRE Productions Review
Written by Liam for Theatre and Tonic
The debut production from BLACKWIRE Productions, Semi-Skimmed, written and directed by Cormac Myles, explores the feeling of wanting to leave a small town behind, and what happens when the past catches up with you.
The play follows Harry (Evan Elliott) and Bridget (Rebecca Conway), who have been close since school, alongside their friend Kai. After a camping trip goes wrong and Kai disappears, their lives take very different directions. Bridget is ready to leave for university in Sheffield and move on, while Harry feels tied to the place he has always known. The pair returns one last time to the campsite where it all happened, hoping for some closure, but the arrival of May (Kady Smith) begins to test both their friendship and their understanding of that night. The cast are a real strength of the piece. They work well together, and there is a natural connection between them that makes the relationships believable. The central performances feel grounded, which helps to carry the story even when it moves into more unusual territory.
The production makes good use of the Airdrie Arts Centre, transforming the space into a remote campsite. There are some strong visual and technical moments throughout. A falling sign is well timed and genuinely makes you jump, and the use of a spotlight to shift between past, present and future keeps the audience on their toes while adding a sense of mystery to how the story unfolds. There is also clear attention to detail in the set, with elements like a flickering campfire adding to the atmosphere, even if they are not always as visible as they could be.
Some ideas do not fully land in this space. As the play begins, part of the action takes place within the audience, which could have been a strong addition; however, due to the layout, it means certain moments are missed depending on where you are sitting. There are also times when sound cues are too loud and lines are lost, which takes away from some of the performances.
Lighting could also be pushed further. As the play takes place over a single night, a darker overall feel would help to build atmosphere and allow details like the flickering campfire to stand out more clearly. At points, the stage remains fully lit while the dialogue suggests it is getting darker, which disrupts the illusion of time passing.
Overall, Semi-Skimmed is a promising debut with strong performances and a lot of good ideas at its core. With some fine-tuning, there is clear potential here, and I look forward to seeing what BLACKWIRE Productions do next.
Semi-Skimmed played at Airdrie Arts Centre.
★★★
