Review: Troubled Waters at The Wardrobe Theatre
A gentle hour of storytelling reconnecting us to our world of water
Troubled Waters is a rich hour of water myths and legends from captivating storyteller Corinne Harragin.
She brings us four mythical stories, performed through spoken word, each linked by gentle song.
Every one of the stories feels like a river winding towards an estuary. Finally they all come together in one final story-sea.
We hear about Fishtale Woman – The Mermaid of Marden – and her anger with a church bell. The boy with 9 red beads. A harpist who goes on a wild adventure in a forest. And finally, a woman formed of the land and returning to the land after freeing a trapped – yet wise – salmon.
When you read it, the stories sound utterly bizarre. And yet, they are wonderful fables and folklore that entertain and make us consider the world of water.
Each story, though fantastical, has contemporary moments that align with our own lives.
Troubled Waters is at times genuinely very funny. Thinking of a Jazz singing cow leaning casually on the end of a bar and badgers in a designated smoking area are some of the delightful images conjured up.
One of the aims of the performance is to prompt us to explore our relationship and connection with water through stories.
Early in the performance, we were asked to turn to the person next to us find out about their local body of water.
The whole audience began animatedly discussing local Bristol rivers with complete strangers. It was a really lovely moment. Who knew the Feeder, the Danny or the murky depths of Bristol Harbour could break down barriers between total strangers.
The word ‘connection’ seems to crop up a lot whilst thinking of Troubled Waters. How can we look after our water, care about pollution when we have become so far removed from it?
This is exactly what Troubled Waters does. It makes us care again. All it took was a masterful storyteller with folktales and the cooling embrace of streams, rivers and lakes.
Corinne said right at the start we might never look at a tap in the same way again. She was totally right.
Troubled Waters is at The Wardrobe Theatre in Bristol until 18 September 2025
For more information or to book, visit: https://thewardrobetheatre.com/shows/troubled-waters/
It will also be at The Theatre Shop Clevedon on 15 October 2025
And, the Ustinov in Bath 16-17 October 2025
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