Writers: Tim Whitnall
Director: Christa Harris
A lone twitcher searching for the elusive sociable plover on a stormy day. What could possibly go wrong?
Originally staged in 2005, The Sociable Plover is written by Tim Whitnall, who is well-known as the Narrator of the Teletubbies and his recent stage adaptation of Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson. Directed in a new production by Christa Harris at the same venue of its origin, the Old Red Lion Theatre in Angel, this cosy thriller is unassuming and packs in its own surprises.
Upon entering the upstairs theatre, we enter the interior of a birdwatching hide, overlooking marshlands and sea. With camouflage material coating the ceiling and walls, a wooden counter, denoting the area where the peepholes would be situated, separates the audience from the actors. We are made the birds, an audience to the absurdity of humanity’s actions.
We first meet Roy, played by Old Red Lion artistic director Jack Robertson, a bumbling, middle-aged twitcher, obsessed with cleanliness in his search for the elusive sociable plover: his last spot to complete the list of every British bird in the country. Binoculars at the ready, Robertson embodies Roy with a haughty authenticity, pitiable but believable – we are very quickly made to assume the worst for this poor man who finds more enjoyment out of spotting birds than he does in living life.
Soon, Roy is joined by Dave (Calum Lill), a rough and ready type in a sodden suit, keeping out of sight from someone or other. Lill’s performance is endlessly enjoyable to watch. He fits in as the perfect foil to Robertson’s stuffy Roy, an inquisitive nature hidden under the guise of ambivalence. Roy finds joy in teaching Dave about the intricacies of birdlife, emitting accurate bird calls and spewing facts left, right and centre. Some of this humour alone would delight even the most casual of birdwatchers in the audience.
Whitnall’s writing is cosy and kitsch, properly suiting the stereotypes that we imagine for those who bird spot. But the plot flips towards the end with a number of surprising reveals that genuinely leave jaws hanging open. A number of elements are left unresolved, but the delight in facing the twist makes the play deserving of the moniker of a dark comic thriller.
As director, Harris helps fashion the piece to hold a great sense of pace, weaving through the duller moments to highlight the comedic highs and shocking lows. She makes great use of the space, enriching it with a claustrophobia that ensconces our leads.
The Sociable Plover is a tight play that takes you on a rollercoaster ride. The plovers may be hard to find, but an enthralling night at the theatre is not.
Runs until 24 May 2025
