★★★★★ Starved
Michael Black has written an emotional, gut-wrenching, moving
story of both love and despair with moments of frightening realism, coupled
with laugh-out-loud comedy. Who would have thought that a study of different
types of biscuits was an act of treachery to your social standing - even when
starving? A Rich Tea, Hob Nob or Custard Cream will never seem the same.
Set in an abstracted view of a destitute bed-sit, Esteniah
Williams’ intelligent, seedily-detailed design allows the audience a glimpse
into the world of Lad and Lass’s squat, and life on the run – living hand to
mouth on a diet of Cup-a-Soup, vodka and roll-ups.
As we see their liaison ‘spiralling towards breaking point, they
fight and flirt, dream up stories and drag each other down. But caged by
circumstance and warped by their own toxic relationship, will they ever be able
to escape and survive?’
Running at 60 minutes, Michael Black as Lad and Alana
Connaughton gave expertly intricate and intimidating performances as two dispossessed,
nervous people living in a confined space and even more confined relationship.
But ultimately they loved each other despite the intensity and even
hopelessness of their relationship. Without a doubt, they were two well-formed
and decidedly well-written characters. And director Matt Strachan draws the
dark, worrying and even bizarre from the dynamic of this confused, yet tightly
observed, relationship.
Starved is by no means suffering from hunger pangs but is a
smart snack-sized repast that satisfies on multi-levels long after the main
course has been served.
Photographs by lhphotoshots
Starved run at The Hope Theatre from 16 July - 3 August 2019
Produced by FADED ink and Knuckledown
For tickets click here https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/thehopetheatre/e-dayppl
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