Sisterland at Jack Studio Theatre (SE Fest) Review
The penultimate production in this year’s SE Fest (jointly hosted by Brockley’s Jack Studio and Penge’s Bridge House Theatres) is a new piece by Georgia de la Cour that follows five women on a night out. It’s set in the magical land of the club toilets where the two friendship groups retreat over the course of an evening to hide, laugh, cry, confess and occasionally vomit - finding strength, liberation and friendship bonds along the way.
As the play begins, we’re instantly drawn into this world with a simple set, two toilet cubicles set centre stage, accompanied by the pulsing beat of the music that’s playing out in the club. Any initial concerns that this constant background noise might overpower and distract from the actors were unfounded as within a couple of minutes you stop noticing and it’s easy to focus on what’s going on. The sound, designed by Michael Scales, is an integral part of the production – giving us all of the noises we associate with a trip to a club bathroom – from flushing toilets to more personal contributions.
The play focuses on five young women who are navigating their twenties and the typical milestones of that decade – rubbish boyfriends, partying hard, crap jobs and selling used knickers online to buy Mum a birthday present (well maybe they’re not all typical!). But there are also some bigger issues just below the surface, and as the play progresses, the laughs and banter are replaced with some difficult conversations, revisiting past trauma and facing up to painful truths.
With a sixty minute running time, there’s a lot being revealed and it does feel a little as if we’re just skimming the surface of the bigger issues without being given enough back-story or context. But this is just a snapshot of the women’s lives, and offers a very relatable observation on how the No (Wo)man’s Land of a generic club toilet can turn into a space for bonding with strangers, instant friendships and a bit of alcohol-fuelled solidarity (perfectly displayed in a joyous drunken sing-along from these newest of besties).
The five actors convince in their roles. Hannah Patrick (Michelle) and Tabitha Kenworthy (Lydia) have a shared history that’s clear in their easy chemistry, with little resentments coming to the surface that make the friendship real and convincing – and the truths shared showing the strength of their bond.
Juliana Grossi (Petra) has the strongest character arc, early scenes are very much played for laughs – with excellently timed reactions from Lucy Benton (Lara). This makes her later vulnerability more impactful, and something that could have been given more time as resolution and moving on felt a little too swift. The third friend in this group is Cassie, played by Jadene Renée Prospere, in a very strong performance that established her as level-headed and warm, definitely the friend you’d go to in a crisis. When she’s forced to re-evaluate her carefully laid plans, her reactions and expressions clearly show what she’s thinking and feeling, making her a beautifully rounded character.
Sisterland is very entertaining and very relatable to any woman who has ever retreated to a pub or club toilet to escape the noise – only to find the noise in her head is just as loud. It doesn’t quite pack the emotional punch that it could as we’re left wanting to know more about these five women and the events that have brought them together, but it’s still a great slice of life showing that the bonds of sisterhood can be formed in the unlikeliest places.
You can find out more about Sisterland, the Jack Studio Theatre and SE Fest here.
★★★★
Written by Penny for Theatre and Tonic, September 2026.