Sessions by Sam Bates Review
Written by Beth for Theatre & Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review.
Sessions is a moving and emotional 60-minute play which addresses toxic masculinity, trauma, and the cyclical way it manifests in behaviours and habits which still manages to be humorous at times.
Written by Sam Bates, most of the play is conversations between George (Adam Halcro) and David (Naytanael Israel). We see the characters bond over Star Wars and football, learning to trust each other and see the human behind the actions.
Breaking up these scenes are occasional monologues, delivered directly to the audience, in which we see the two at their most vulnerable and honest. Bates takes great care when discussing potentially triggering issues, each line clearly purposeful and made with the audience in mind.
Halcro and Israel gave honest and raw performances, mixing the perfect balance of vulnerability and restraint to create wholly believable characters who we can't help but feel empathy for.
I would have loved to see more of these characters, to have more time to develop their relationship and hear further revelations as the walls that George had built up come crumbling down.
Bates has done a wonderful job with their debut as part of the Working Progress Collective, and I'm excited to see what they do next.
Sessions is playing at The King's Arms in Salford until 7th June
☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
