Bristol Theatre Reviews

Review: Flytrap The Pegg Theatre in Bristol

Intimate comedy previews in Bristol ahead of a run at this year’s Edinburgh Festival

Flytrap – is a genuinely funny take on how Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE) – AKA Sex Education – impacts upon young people, as well as the generations that follow after. It’s been created by Eightball Productions, who staged a preview at The Pegg Theatre in Bristol, ahead of a summer run in Edinburgh.

Three opening monologues introduce us to Georgie, Felix and Lola. Emma Morgan’s writing as well as the three performances by the actors, are genuinely authentic. The stage is perfectly lit. It sets up the audience for an engaging and comedic show.

The three undergraduate students are performing a piece of theatre they have created for a local secondary school. The result will count towards their final year dissertation. It’s beautifully cringe performance art, complete with singing and dancing. A re-written Queen number with lyrics about STDs and safe sex cleverly highlights the rapid progress of discourse around sex education messaging. Although young at 24, the students are not connecting so well with the year 9s. Are they already in danger of becoming a Gen Z version of Legz Akimbo? Or, the first scene of Nativity! if the League of Gentleman is a bit vintage.

The rest of the action focuses around backstage preparation, personal relationships and sexual revelations. Again, Morgan’s writing is canny and bold. It easily swings from intimately sexual stories to poignancy. Particularly so in Georgie’s account of caring for her mother.

Meal Deals eaten on stage from rustled supermarket bags ground the action in reality. Theatre life often does feel sponsored by The Meal Deal.

An exchange with the lights down sits slightly uncomfortably within the pacing of the piece, though makes a swift comeback with the male and female dynamics around spanking.

Gentle vox pop recordings by students talking about early memories of intimacy work well. The actors sit amongst the audience, like voyeurs.

Towards the end, the performance really finds its stride regarding relationships and positions of power. It’s a compelling scene. Whilst most of the audience is likely aware of safeguarding issues around the subject matter, the dramatic crescendo is a cracking bit of theatre.

Flytrap finishes slightly too quickly and quietly than it deserves, particularly after such an intense scene. Overall, it’s an enjoyable piece of theatre that at times is really very funny and nails genuine discussion around the intimate issues that affect young people.

For more information, visit: https://linktr.ee/eightballproductions

Edinburgh Fringe: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/flytrap


Written by
Produced by Oshi Hopson
Directed by Lily Sutcliffe

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