Writer and Director: Ethan Simm
VOICE is a play about drama school performed by drama students and newly graduated drama students. And so, of course, we see acting exercises, and although fortunately no one has to pretend they are a tree, we observe familiar drills such as the Trust Game, where someone falls in certain hope that they will be caught. Sandwiched between these routines, each of the five students must perform an autobiographical monologue. It’s a long night.
Currently advertised on the website as running for 60 minutes, and then by theatre staff at 75 minutes, VOICE actually lasts 90 minutes. Writer/director Ethan Simm would do well to cut at least one of the monologues and some of the antics in between, which do little to move things along.
The acting is strong throughout, and the five actors nail their characters completely, but the stories that they deliver are simply not compelling enough. Nina Amos is great as the spirited Arlo, but the story of her relationship with her salt-of-the-earth father is pretty ordinary, and despite Milly Thorpe’s best efforts, Jax’s story of paying homage to her queer ancestors is not detailed enough and goes on for far too long.
Better is Aoife’s story about growing up in Northern Ireland, and Lauren Maguire is refreshingly thoughtful in comparison to the girlish excitement of the other characters. It comes as a relief that Ariya (a convincing Niamh Spillane) refuses to give her monologue. The only narrative that is fully successful is the one given by Charlie (Lucy Gant). Her story of assault is acted out by the whole cast. We see what happens, unlike the others, in which we are told what happens.
The five actors are joined on stage by Annie Porter, who not only plays the voice coach but also operates the footlight at the front of the stage, illuminating quite strikingly each speaker as they deliver their monologue. The only other lights come from the small handheld torches that the characters use when disclosing their inner thoughts. It’s a simple but highly effective lighting design.
Runs until 18 July 2025
