REVIEW | Text & Delete, King’s Head Theatre

Reviews

19 Feb

★★★★

Reviewer - Becky

*Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in return for an honest review.

Text & Delete is the story of two girls brought together by sheer luck and coincidence, as we watch their friendship unfold and their lives change for the better.

When an uninvited slob, Maudie, meets neat freak, Jess, apartment 48A descends into chaos. A dark secret is brought to the surface, & together these sworn enemies must uncover the mystery of a disintegrating aloe vera plant, stolen muesli & the loss of a loved one.

Written by and starring Ellie Gallimore as Jess and Kat Stidston as Maudie, the show tackles some challenging topics such as racism, grief, forgiveness and trauma. The chemistry between both actors was so endearing and almost familiar as if you were watching your own friends have a conversation before you. The comedic timing and delivery were perfect and didn’t feel at all forced or as if they were trying too hard to be funny, it came so naturally. Line delivery was sharp and witty but emotional when it needed to be.

The set design within the King’s Head was cosy and immersive, an additional reason as to why you felt so close to the characters and their story. You were up close and personal no matter where you were sitting within the theatre as the actors made full use of the entire room, leaving no space untouched.

Transitions between each scene were exceptionally smooth, much to the credit of lighting and sound, both designed by Patrick Richards. It was simplistic yet effective, perfectly blending into each scene without any confusion about what time had passed, and having such a small team behind it can be very hard to do well.

Nothing about this show was too pretentious, there was no need for a plot twist or bends in the story, it truly was what it set out to be. It was a refreshing experience to have a show that goes from beginning to end without the need for complicated plot devices, yet still manages to cover engaging and relevant topics of today's ever-changing world.

This was In Her Elements second production, which is a theatre company that offers paid professional opportunities to young industry creatives, something I think is very important in the ever-growing theatre industry. They specialize in female-centric new writing and revivals that feel relevant today, which I can fully get behind.

Text & Delete is a wonderful new piece of writing and theatre. Unafraid to address heavier topics that come as a taboo to many, using the device of clever comedic timing to keep the plot light and relatable. It will perform further dates at The Etcetera Theatre from 9 May until 13 May. Book your tickets here.