Theatre review: A Working Title

Sitting in snack bars, commuting to work, dreaming of something different but not quite knowing what it is, life sometimes feels choreographed to fit other people's expectations.

Star rating: ***

Venue: SpaceTriplex (Venue 38)

This is the idea behind young company Impact Theatre’s smartly written, sharply choreographed musical exploration of city life, told from the perspective of a group of 20-somethings trying to find their place in the world.

The familiar story of endless internships, exploitative employers and over-priced flats is injected with newfound vitality by the well-observed poetry of Megan Jenkins’ script, which finds something fresh to say in the most familiar of settings, and the energy of the exuberant cast who break into upbeat pop songs, accompanied by a busker (Ash Goosey) on guitar. A woman battles with customers in a coffee shop; another finds love in the lift at work; another swipes through Tinder profiles hoping to find… well, anyone who’s normal and nice.

Director Alexandria Anfield captures the momentum of city life through the sleek, continuous movement of the cast, and the piece builds up to become a small but touching love letter to London – a place that’s both all-consuming and all-encompassing in a way that’s simultaneously frustrating and inspiring.

Until tomorrow. Today 9:15pm.

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