Review: Tender Napalm at the Spielman Theatre Bristol
This wonderful production of Ridley’s play is a beautiful and gripping piece of theatre
Shipwrecks and Dreams’ production of Tender Napalm, is on in the Spielman Theatre of Tobacco Factory Theatres this weekend. It is an exhilarating ride through a fantastical world conjured up by two people. They have done so to protect themselves from dealing with a traumatic incident which has shattered their lives.
Phillip Ridley’s play is beautifully poetic, weaving between reality and fantasy. It hooks the audience. It makes them guess where it is going. The layers are peeled back until it comes full circle to a bitter-sweet ending.

Photograph: JGD Photography
Jack Bannell is Man and Nina Bright is Woman. Their engaging performances pull you right in from the start. There is no set, everything hinges on the strength of the actors to conjure the action, and you really feel it. Believe it.
Between them and director Ben Jenkins, Shipwrecks and Dreams hits all the comedic, tender and tragic notes of the piece. It takes you from the humour of the island monkeys, alien abduction, giant sea monsters to the one place they don’t want to go. On that journey, Bannell and Bright take you through their every emotion along the way.
Sound and light by Billie – Jo Rainbird is subtle, providing a depth to the action without detracting from the play’s emotional heart.
This truly is a wonderful production of Tender Napalm. To say more would be spoilers. It’s a piece of theatre best seen for the first time with no idea where the journey is taking you. Seeing it again, especially this Bristol production, is a theatrical treat.
Tender Napalm is at the Spielman Theatre of Tobacco Factory Theatres until 02 June 2024
For more information or to book: https://tobaccofactorytheatres.com/shows/tender-napalm/
All images: JGD Photography
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