SHIELDERS (Traverse Theatre)****

 

By Cal

Link: Shielders | Traverse Theatre  (I had trouble seeing the full video on the Traverse Theatre site, but there’s an option to watch it on youtube and that was fine)

Available until: 31^st January 2020

This play opens with a striking image. Like watching fireworks when you’re on drugs.

Or… so I would imagine.

In many ways, Shielders, by Matilda Ibini, is the play I’ve been wanting to see for most of the year. A play set during the pandemic, where the pandemic is very relevant because it’s happening, but it’s not really the central focus. People wearing masks and social distancing as they talk about something else. People who are shielding, but don’t spend the whole time thinking about the fact they’re shielding. Upsetting as it can be to be shut away from everyone for so long, shielders do have other interests. It’s very possible to be at home all the time and still have fun. Without baking even one loaf of banana bread.

MUSTARD (Traverse Theatre/Peacock Theatre/Fishamble: The New Play Company)**

 

By Cal

Link: https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event/mustard

Available until: Monday 14^th December

Content warning: Contains themes of mental health and self harm. 14+

Sometimes I watch a play that just doesn’t work for me. It’s just as likely to be a failing in me as a failing in the play. Mustard has won awards so I feel it ought to be good. But I wasn’t feeling it.

Writer and performer Eva O’Connor plays a woman in love. She’s met a guy, a cyclist, and she thinks he’s amazing. She doesn’t see him as much as she’d like because he goes away a lot, but he’s worth waiting for. He’s the one.

THE BUS STOP (Lung Ha Theatre Company/Traverse Theatre)****

 

By Arran

Link: https://www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/event/the-bus-stop

Available until: Tuesday 8^th December 11.59pm

The Bus Stop is about a man called Jack who suffers a disability hate crime. A passenger makes a horrible comment about him when he can’t get his wheelchair on the bus. Jack can’t forget about the way the passenger spoke to him and the way she saw him. People have said horrible things to me too because I can’t always talk and even a very quick comment said in a moment of frustration from someone who doesn’t know you can really hurt.