JUST GO!

By Emma Carney | Bunny Pudding · Digital Coven · @bunnyscopes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

People, Places & Things is truly one of the best things I have seen staged and I think everyone should see it.

Written  by Duncan Macmillan (Lungs, 1984) PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS is directed by Jeremy Herrin (Best of Enemies, Wolf Hall, This House) and is truly worth the hype. I had heard very good things and was excited to finally get to see it performed again at the London Trafalgar Theatre.

The set designed by Tony Award-winner Bunny Christie, was truly inspiring and allowed the action to move quickly. The audience ‘mirror’ effect was an inspired touch which also gained impact as the narrative progressed adding further dimension to the audience experience. Nice. I see what you did there, literally.

CAN WE EVER GET AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE, PLACES OR THINGS THAT ARE OUR TRIGGERS

Denise Gough reprises her well earned Olivier Award-winning role as Emma, a struggling actress whose life is spinning recklessly out of control. Everything was going so well for Emma until she found herself in rehab. Gough’s performance is breath-taking as she presents us Emma’s rehabilitation journey that jumps from the hilarious to the heartbreakingly tragic. Gough’s physical performance also needs to be celebrated as she played intoxicated  as if she’d just rolled into the stage from an all nighter in the purest form of method acting (worry not, to my knowledge she hadn’t) as well as truly made the audience feel the physical ache of a come down and ‘coming off’ various intoxicants. Hailed by critics as ‘one of the greatest of her generation’ (Independent) I’m inclined to agree.

As we learn more about Emma and her very vague and unreliable backstory as she fights her carers, therapy group, her demons and well, herself,  the audience is presented with the questions, can we ever get away from the people, places or things that are our triggers – or are we doomed to repeat personal destructive patterns.

The supporting cast also shined as they created characters with heart-breaking and believable back stories of addition and its collateral damage.  Sinead Cusack’s addict and therapist plays snappily against Gough’s cynical Emma and her second half performance as Emma’s mother adds a jot to the emotions as we are left to question who is the abuser and who is the abused. Being a family dealing with addiction the lines are never drawn too clearly.

The play does cover some very dark and deeply emotive subjects, so make sure to read up on some of the trigger warnings before you commit but it comes highly recommended. People, Places & Things runs until 10 August.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A must see

Photo Credit: Marc Brenner

CREATIVES

Director: Jeremy Herrin
Set Designer: Bunny Christie
Costume Designer: Christina Cunningham

CAST

Denise Gough – Emma
Sinéad Cusack – Doctor/Therapist/Mum
Malachi Kirby – Mark

Danny Kirrane – Foster
Kevin McMonagle – Dad/Paul
Holly Atkins – Charlotte

Paksie Vernon – Jodi
Ryan Hutton – Shaun
Ayo ̣̀Owóyẹmi-Peters – Laura

Dillon Scott-Lewis – T
Russell Anthony – Company
Louise Templeton – Company