Review: Seven and a half Years by Mark Glentworth Alma Tavern Theatre
Seven and a half Years, is an autobiographical piece of work written and performed by Mark Glentworth. Delivered as a monologue with songs, it explores mental health difficulties, particularly experienced from a male perspective.
Following an overwhelming build up of professional work causing a meltdown, the narrative follows the depths to which anxiety and depression can make you sink.
It starkly shows the crushing and debilitating process of having to battle your way to the shops when you have no food left to eat. The sucker punch of birthday cards.
Through smart sound design, the incessant and irritating ring of phones from well meaning family becomes an intrusion and violation into that personal despair.
But yet that ringing forms a lifeline back to reality. With small steps there is hope. That alongside some tough love from a former partner.
The set is minimal, immediately portraying a sense of loneliness and isolation. It starts off draped with white cloths. Dust sheets placed over abandoned moments of life like shrouds of mourning.
It’s the first piece of theatre I’ve seen showing the impact that severe tinnitus can have on your well-being. The persistent buzzing, whistling and ringing from which there is rarely an escape.
The Seven and a half Years title is part of this true story. The amount of time anxiety and agoraphobia has kept the world away.
Sometimes it felt a bit voyeuristic. Like silently watching someone whose life is spiraling and then logging on for updates. The show is not the same as watching an actor perform the show and this makes it an interesting and different piece of work. It’s about lived experience and bringing that voice to the stage.
Glentworth is a composer and musician who is known for his significant composition Blues for Gilbert. He has travelled the world with his work, performed in the Hallé Orchestra and collaborated with Steven Berkoff. A pressurised world full of extremely high standards to maintain and many balls to juggle. No one is immune to the number and the weight of those balls. This shows the fragility behind the juggler when the balls come crashing down.
With just himself and a Yamaha keyboard, Glentworth creates an impressive drama through the music. The lyrics and the melodies being where the heart of the piece lies, which makes total sense with Glentworth’s background.
It doesn’t quite feel like a musical although the songs would tick that box. It’s more of a performance piece. The type of quirky show you find jostling in the rich tapestry of Bristol’s fringe theatre programming.
It does feel like the show is struggling to find its home. In many respects, with tweaking and percussion, it would be worthy of night at St Georges in Bristol. But then this is the flip side of that life. The struggle behind the beauty of the music we hear, making this an intriguing piece of work.
Seven and a half Years is at the Alma Tavern Theatre until Thursday 29 June 2023
To book for Bristol: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/almatheatrecompany/878175?
Cast and Creatives
Written and performed by Mark Glentworth
Direction by Julia Stubbs
Lighting Designer Jonny Danciger
Photography Tim Stubbs Hughes
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