Review: Freak at Nottingham New Theatre

4 STARS

Nottingham New Theatre kicked off their in-house performance season (consisting of seven plays between now and Christmas) with Anna Jordan’s show ‘Freak’. Niamh Caines was director and Lydia Smith was producer. In the feminist stance that the play took, the cast and crew were all female (including all behind the scenes). The play was emotional and extremely intense, I’d recommend to all (as long as you’re old enough to deal with rude humour and some very dirty references!)

‘Freak’ is the story of fifteen year old Leah (played by first year student Kate O’Gorman) and thirty year old Georgina (played by third year student Lara Cowler). There’s a strong focus on the female body and sexuality, with Leah exploring her sexuality at such a young age while the older and more experienced Georgina initially exudes confidence in her sexuality but lets things get to the extreme when she struggles emotionally and financially. 

The play’s set was realistic, showing two different but almost similar female rooms. Perhaps even more effective was the shows lighting that created a dramatic strobe effect during any songs. Again, even the songs were appropriate, of course including ‘Freak’ by Estelle but also ‘Teenage Dream’ by Kate Perry, all songs reflecting the very female focus of the play. 

The play began with two consistent separate monologues, with the girls not acknowledging each other: the lights helped the two girls feel very separate in their performances despite their close proximity. This all changed later on when it was revealed to the audience that the two girls were blood related and the two scenes becoming one!

Lara as Georgina used consistent rude language and gestures, something she did extremely successfully. The same can be said of new member to the New Theatre, Kate O’Gorman, who, despite being almost nineteen, easily convinced audiences of her innocence as a fifteen year old finding her way in the daunting and scary world of female sexuality. The performance was littered with dirty jokes and excellent humour that made the play a bit more light-hearted for shocked audiences.

Overall, this performance was an excellent drama presentation of modern teenage expectations of sex compared almost too closely to the consequences of adult desire.

Edited by: Jess Greaney

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/thenottinghamnewtheatre/photos/gm.1982646239478…

http://newtheatre.org.uk/about-us/

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