The B*easts by Monica Dolan, Bush Theatre, 17 February 2018

This was a very interesting piece about sexual exploitation of children, written and performed by Monica Dolan, who was excellent on the stage.

Click here for the Bush resource on this play/production.

Janie got more out of the piece than I did – I found the ending a little contrived and felt the piece lacked drama. It is difficult to make monologues truly gripping – we’ve seen some corking good ones lately. This one is redeemed for me, though, because the piece is so interesting and Monica Dolan is such a strong stage presence.

Below is the trailer…

…and below is a “meet the writer” vid:

The reviews are, deservedly, pretty darn good – click here for a search term that finds them.

Another winner at The Bush as far as we are concerned.

The Holyland by Daragh Carville, Lyric Studio, 15 September 2001

In truth I remember little about this one. It was comedy. It was set in Belfast. It was performed by young people (National Youth Theatre). I vaguely remember a joke about the students running sweepstakes on when Elisabeth The Queen Mother was going to die. I remember it being more a series of sketches than a play.

This link to Artbeat provides a paragraph on’t, amongst others.

This snippet from The Herald suggests that we saw this fresh from an Edinburgh Fringe run.

Janie helpfully noted in her diary that this was only an hour long show.