Review, Playfight, The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic – ‘A funny, brutal and important play that earned its standing ovation’

Writer Julia Grogan’s award-winning debut play arrives in Bristol following a successful run in the Edinburgh Fringe.

Three teenagers gather at the base of an old oak tree, always referred to as ‘Tree’ to discuss their own certainties about the world. They know everything, but of course we learn that they don’t.

It is a funny, brutal, and ultimately joyful piece, all set around ‘Tree’, a shocking pink ladder surrounded by wood chippings. This is their safe space, even though the thoughts and events they describe are anything but.

Keira (Sophie Cox), Zainab (Nina Cassells) and Lucy (Lucy Mangan), are 15 years old and each one of them perfectly captures the three separate personalities. Keira is the boldest of all, and desperate to have sex, although she needs to evidence this by tragically showing others through the medium of a phone video.

Zainab is more serious, trying to understand who she is amid the strict confines of her family life. We don’t realise at first, but ultimately the play revolves around the more unusual of the three, Lucy.

On the surface, she is the most sure who she is; a committed Christian, although keen to discover whether she will ever have a ‘fuzzy feeling’ that goes further to full orgasm.

Writer Julia Grogan has said that she delved into her own past to recall what it was like to be a 15-year-old girl with the determined conviction that her friendships will go on forever and whatever her mates tell her is true.

Even though Playfight is a coming-of-age play, it goes far further than that, seeking to understand, as well as laugh at and with, what goes on in modern girls’ heads and the impact a male dominated world has on them.

It is very noticeable that every one of the girls’ discussions about sex pays lip service to the role played by men and boys. Is violence during sex normal, or just the way it is? When Keira tells sensible Lucy how to pinch another part of your body to make the pain inflicted somewhere else to go away, we wince with shame.

There is conflict, especially the moment Keira takes a different route from her friends and the squabbles and play-fighting seem just that, until they take a sinister turn.

Director Emma Callendar makes excellent use of ‘Tree,’ with the items found under the chippings moving the narrative along nicely. The rapidity of scene changes not only help the pace, but every episode, no matter how brief, adds something to the story.

A powerful piece leads to an awful choking reality that surprises but also serves as the critical point for the whole story. The brilliant, realistic dialogue and acting underline the truth and importance of Playfight, which received a deserved standing ovation at the Weston Studio on press night.

Playfight is at The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic on March 14-29 at 8pm with additional 3pm matinee shows on Saturday (no shows Sunday or Monday). Tickets are available at www.bristololdvic.org.uk.

The show is presented by Grace Dickson Productions and Theatre Uncut, in association with Bristol Old Vic.

All photos: Paul Blakemore

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