★★★★★ Before 30
I saw Tom Hartwell’s latest play, Before 30, back in May. In
fact, it was the last night of its short run at Jamie Eastlake’s new Theatre
N16 venue in Tottenham Hale. I foolishly didn’t write about it at the time
which, with hindsight was a mistake. I sincerely believe that reviews are the
currency that young writers and theatre companies rely on to progress and
hopefully succeed.
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Theatre N16's new venue in Tottenham Hale |
There has been much discussion recently by the grander critics who aren't prepared to review plays where actors aren't paid appropriately. Sadly I think that this is particularly hard and even naive, but that’s a story for another day!
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Tom Hartwell - Before 30? |
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The joys of Deliveroo |
Hartwell has expertly written himself a one-person show with
Before 30, the story of, ‘Chris, an aspiring chef - making ends meet between
job applications by delivering food to people who can’t be bothered to cook.
His past struggles with depression and anxiety resurface when faced with the
prospect of facing thirty, constantly comparing himself to his accomplished
grandfather, who seemingly achieved everything so easily’.
While Before 30 is very funny, Hartwell also explores the mental
health issues thrust upon a generation by the seeming hopelessness of security
and the lack of a ‘traditional’ family unit and structure.
As I said in my brief May review summary, Before 30 is ‘a
brilliant piece of funny, incisive writing coupled with a tour de force
performance’, once again, as with Contactless, brilliantly directed by Phil Croft. Further, it reinforces Hartwell’s position as a writer of
considerable talent who has an eye for a visual gag, but above all an inherent,
emotionally shrewd and mature understanding of the society about which he
writes. I hope that Before 30 doesn’t disappear into the ether after this brief
sojourn in Theatre N16 as it deserves to be seen by a much broader audience –
in fact, all of his work should be seen more widely.
Tom Hartwell has also created and presents London Fringe Podcast - the podcast shining the spotlight on London Fringe Theatre. www.londonfringepodcast.com
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