Trestle, Brockley Jack Studio Theatre Review
Written by Sarah for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Somewhere between a community ‘improvements committee’ meeting and a zumba class in a “nice” town in Yorkshire, a friendship blossoms. Harry (played by Timothy Harker) and Denise (played by Jilly Bond) meet in their community temperance hall in the time between their respective retirement activities. The story is simple: 2 people become friends over several months in 2017, no one is quite what they seem, but their friendship survives. It is told through many, many, scenes set in this liminal space between meetings.
This setup does not allow for the audience to have time to fully engage with the lives of the characters and their emotional journeys are fragmented. The directing is heavy handed and the scene changes are unnecessarily long, not least in the endless putting up and putting down of the eponymous trestle table. Even if it is a ritual, theatrically, it is unnecessary and there are much more efficient ways of telling the story. Plenty of Zumba routines break up the awkward standing around, which is both circumstantial and a blocking issue. Zumba music was used to cover the scene changes in the first half and more traditional ‘Hovis advert’ style music in the second, the significance of which was unclear.
The actors commitment is evident, although lines are frequently often over emphasised and given too much weight. Similarly there is plenty of emoting which feels a little too large for the space and plot, regardless of the backstory. However, with more guidance, resources, and no doubt time in rehearsals and the space, the actors' efforts would be successfully realised.
Anyone forging ahead with making theatre in chronically under resourced circumstances ought to be commended. From limited budgets, rehearsal time, other commitments and constraints, just getting a show on is an achievement. The Jack Studio has some exciting and quality programming which should be seen.
The Yorkshire village and community in which Trestle is set is repeatedly described by Harry as ‘nice’, and this is a ‘nice’ enough piece of work which would be appreciated in lots of ‘nice’ areas of the country.
At Brockley Jack Studio Theatre until 8 March 2025.
★ ★
