Reviews

Hightide’s intention is to "bring together a fifty-strong company of talented and impassioned young theatre artists, give them free reign to create and collaborate, mentored by the very best in the industry, and see what happens."

What happened was that the place buzzed with drama students, actors and writers, most of whom had probably never ventured so far into deepest Suffolk, and there was a positive surge of verve.

Assembly

Assembly, a comedy by Tom Basden, has a cast of six. A group of young people are attempting to set up a new political party, and their topics under discussion are Muslims (“Are we for them?”) and the congestion charge. But the highlights are interventions from the newest recruit whose naivety and commonsense cause his co-members consternation and the audience to rock with laughter.

VI/VII

The rehearsed reading of Pericles Snowdon's script consists of a conversation between a couple who have just spent the night together. They do not know each other and are trying to establish what happened and what meaning it held for them. Each is often intent on antagonising the other and thus hard to empathise with.

However, as their conversation develops they become aware that attacks are disrupting the whole of London. It is July 7th 2005, and their attention begins to focus more on the events and people they know who might have been involved. This idea of unpicking a one-night stand against such a background is extremely good, but it still did not cement my interest in the characters.

Lyre

Megan Walsh’s Lyre has two main characters: a manipulative sister and an indecisive brother. Their relationship is at first disturbing and uncomfortable, but a swimming pool scene provides unexpected humour followed quickly by a minute or two of pure and very effective choreography. Finally, after the brother becomes emboldened, the pair’s connection becomes weaker. The play is slightly sinister and very successful.

Ned & Sharon

Sam Holcroft's play is set in a residential care home and has a cast of three: a needy, volatile 16 year old girl, a male care assistant and an 18 year old man who was formerly a resident. The mood is unremittingly intense and the storyline - in which the girl meets and wants to see more of the 18 year old - surprisingly compelling. We do not learn why the girl is as she is, but we care about her from the beginning. It was this play, acted by Charlie Covell, Adam Lake and Hywel John, which made my evening.

I consider the festival to have been a highly worthwhile venture in respect of enjoyment, engagement and professionalism and I am confident that every young (or old) actor or writer would have left Halesworth with an increased desire to act or write more and better.

The plan is to hold another HighTide Festival at the New Cut next year. Don't miss it. 

For an alternative review of the plays, click on the link on the right>

If you went to see the other plays at HighTide 2007, we would welcome any reviews: