Review: Thirsty by The Paper Birds at Washington Arts Centre

Why do we drink?

Thirsty by The Paper Birds

Washington Arts Centre

5^th Jun 2014

If three or more drinks makes it a binge session then how many of us binge drink? How often do we do it? And why do we binge drink? These and many other questions are discussed in Thirsty, the latest production from the Leeds theatre group Paper Birds.

Jemma McDonnell and Kylie Walsh met at university. They became great friends and moved in to a house together. When one of them moved to London their drinking sessions became far and few. Their story is intertwined with the stories of the many people who contacted them online and through a drunken hotline. One story in particular resonates through. An 18 year old girl from a small place who is new to the big city in which she attends university. She is keen to make friends and the alcohol helps. Jemma and Kylie try to stick to the positive stories at first. Their engaging manner is only second to their ability to consume bladder busting quantities of water whilst enacting the stories. The level of engagement with the audience includes the annoying antics of hen nights and the menace of the camera phone.

The set consists of 3 toilet cubicles – the third of which contains composer and pianist Shane Durrant who sets the mood for each twist of the tale. The intimate tales suited the cabaret seating format of the Washington Arts Centre. Jemma and Kylie are a well-oiled machine as they narrate their anecdotes working in unison with perfect timing. The have devised a cautionary tale which will appeal to a wide audience, especially the lady who apologises to Slimming World for her once a week binge. The human condition reveals a social animal that wants to be accepted.

The time flies by on this emotional rollercoaster about enjoying a tipple.

Directed by : Jemma Mc Donnell and Kirsty Housley
Performed by: Kylie Walsh, Jemma Mc Donnell, Shane Durrant
Creative Producer: Elle Moreton
Collaborating Artist: Wendy Houstoun
Design: Fiammetta Horvat
Lighting: Vince Fields
Sound: Benji Fox
Music: Shane Durrant
Photographer: Nigel Bewley  

Coming soon to the Arts Centre in Washington is Lydia's House [19th June] - see http://nomorepanicbutton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/preview-lydias-house-play-by-janet.html for details. 

This review was written by Stephen Oliverfor Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo  

Preview: Paper Birds Present Thirsty at the Washington Arts Centre

PAPER BIRDS PRESENT

THIRSTY

Washington Arts Centre

05 June 2014 7.30pm
Tickets £8.50 / £6.00 (conc)

 

Suitable for 13+
Running time: 60mins approx. (no interval)

Multi award-winning company Paper Birds present their critically acclaimed, sellout show Thirsty. The Paper Birds strive to create and share devised work that is important; work that is culturally, socially and politically observational and conversationally urgent. Their productions will always emerge from a female perspective and often this female voice will prioritise stories of women. 

The company’s work will often shift and reinvent itself to address and evoke discussion, thought and emotion when and where it is most needed whilst retaining the company's signature visual and physical approach.

Based on our nation's love affair with alcohol, Thirsty weaves together real stories, memories and booze-based confessions, collected from a ‘drunken hotline’ and an online questionnaire.

Fusing live music, verbatim text and stunning physical theatre, The Paper Birds explore the stories and social repercussions of lost memories and gained traumas, bruised knees, uncontrollable laughter, urine stained beds and sore heads, particularly focusing on the women waving the flag for ‘Booze-Britain.’ Jemma McDonnell and Kylie Walsh will play all the characters they interviewed, from kids drinking in the park to old men in working men’s clubs.

A dynamic theatrical exploration delving beyond statistics, facts and figures ‘Thirsty’ looks to the faces and the voices of everyone who likes a drink and asks why, as a Nation, are we so thirsty?

It has gone down well in the press. It was described by the Independent on Sundays as ""Terrifically sharp, vibrantly choreographed and sensitively paced, poignant without getting preachy"

Forging relationships and initiating new partnerships and collaborations, The Paper Birds aim to utilise a dynamic performance vocabulary that speaks to its audience visually, physically, and musically. From this The Paper Birds manage to touch and engage their audiences both intellectually and emotionally and ensure that the work remains to be diverse and relevant in the theatrical climate.

 


Theatre Details: http://www.artscentrewashington.co.uk/production-details.aspx?id=524
Tickets online: http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/53968 

Directed by : Jemma Mc Donnell and Kirsty Housley
Performed by: Kylie Walsh, Jemma Mc Donnell, Shane Durrant
Creative Producer: Elle Moreton
Collaborating Artist: Wendy Houstoun
Design: Fiammetta Horvat
Lighting: Vince Fields
Sound: Benji Fox
Music: Shane Durrant
Photographer: Nigel Bewley