Mother's Runaway Daughter
Looking back over an eventful life.
Bessie, now at the end of her life, remembers children's voices, rhymes, skipping... She also brings to mind recollections of two world wars, as experienced from the houses and factories of Leytonstone. Local life blends with imaginative staging in this nostalgic verse-play from a local author.
Awards
Liz Braithwaite, Best Actress, Waltham Forest Drama Festival
Review
Phyl Romeril: This was based on real life experiences in Jean Metcalf’s mother’s life. Spread over some 80 years it had a local flavour bringing back many memories of the past to the older generation. The many cameos of events moved rapidly in time. It was a personal triumph for Elizabeth Braithwaite who cleverly changed from 40 to 80 years of age both visually and vocally.
A formidible cast was in support and each characterised distinctly who and what they represented. This play is entered in Waltham Forest Theatre Festival at Chingford Assembly Hall on April 16.
Jenson Or Hyde?
Would you like to be someone else?
Professor Jenson yearns to be interesting, popular, not so much of a geek. It seems that scientist Maxwell Norman could have the solution... but will a transformed personality give Jenson/Hyde what he needs? The consequences of personality engineering are explored in this darkly comic one-act play.
Review
Phyl Romeril: Stephen Balchin who in the past has written some excellent plays as well as given some award winning performances. Jenson and Hyde was an intricate piece which put Phil Braithwaite on a long lead, one on which he pulled us back and forth with laughter, an interesting personality problem. The scientific content was somewhat mesmerising and perhaps the piece needed shortening or maybe if only two plays in one session would give more time to digest more thoroughly all the contents and intentions.
Waiting
Looking forward to grown up life.
Teenaged playwright Jackie Braithwaite has written a controversial insight into love and sex from the point of view of 15-year old Louise, a girl who is desperate to make a new life with 27-year old Mark. A tense power relationship between them is explored in this gritty two-hander.
Awards
Best Original Play, Havering Drama Festival
James Conlon, Best Actor, Havering Drama Festival
Second Place Overall, Havering Drama Festival