Review: Home Ground, The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic – ‘A vibrant and energising hour of pure theatre’

Bristol Old Vic Young Company is one of the largest youth theatres in the UK, with over three hundred young people involved in weekly sessions, theatre masterclasses, community projects and full-scale performances.

The latest show, Home Ground, devised by the company, is about a woman’s football team which discovers that nasty property developers are to buy up their pitch and build luxury flats on it.

The 13 performers not only have to navigate the stage inventively but crucially give each other space to shine when their moment arrives. Director Krista Matthews and their team have masterfully created a vibrant and energising one hour of pure theatre.

Home Ground, Bristol Old Vic Young Company

Performed to three sides and a gallery above, the set comprises a swirl of astroturf with pitch markings, covering half the stage and up the back flat. Using few props, the performers’ movement and teamwork shines through. Much credit must go to movement director, David Gilbert, but the strength in the ensemble elevates the play, as well as the realistic dialogue.

As you would expect with a bunch of teenagers, each with their own interests and agendas, there is plenty of conflict and friction on display. A team comprises individuals and groups within groups, and these elements are the most successful. The girls bicker, take the mickey and confide in each other, but always remain united.

There is the drama queen, bemoaning the stud mark down her leg that might prevent her wearing a dress that weekend, only for her ego to deflated by the girls singing the Eastenders theme tune.

Jeopardy escalates when the team challenges the property developer, and here the piece shifts approach, adopting a more humorous tack. We meet a variety of employees before the girls are ushered into see the legendary ‘Terry’ occupying the top floor.

Betsy May Wright does well at several characterisations, especially portraying the beat-loving, sauna-dipping megalomaniac Terry, complete with thigh-high boots and glittery hard hat with bags of insouciance.

Despite some naivety around the script, it is the team’s strength that pervades every scene. Ever present is the striking group dynamic allowing the narrative to flow before ratcheting up for a satisfying conclusion.

It is churlish to single out individual cast members in an ensemble piece, but Laurentine Kamga’s passionate and vulnerable performance was eye-catching.

Well done to everyone involved including Associate Director Ella Wilks and the rest of the cast: Seb Stevens, Lila Howe, Mia Morgan, Abigail Morgan, Esme Leis, Flo Kane, Faye Benians, Byron Newton-Friedman, Evie Coope, Rusharn Clemmings, and Meridith Rumney.

They not only kick balls, they kick ass!

Home Ground is at The Weston Studio, Bristol Old Vic on January 15-18 at 7pm, with an additional 2pm matinee show on Saturday. Tickets are available at www.bristololdvic.org.uk.

All photos: James E Davies

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