1 Tent 4 Girls

Loitering Within Tent

1 Tent  4 Girls

by Amber Charlie Conroy and Rosalie Roger-Lacan

Talkers and Doers at the New Wimbledon Theatre Studio until 13^th April

Review by Heather Moulson

As we took our seats at the black box space in Wimbledon’s studio theatre, we couldn’t help but admire the four actor’s cramp-defying discipline, as they froze as a tableau there in front of us.  One of them was actually horizontal.   They created more impact than if they’d actually walked on.   I willed the time away in empathy so they could at least move again.  In the 1 Tent 4 Girls plot, their character were to freeze in a different sense, as they camp out in a tent with no guys, in several senses.

Four twenty-something girls come vibrantly to life, right up-front from the start.   Laden with walking boots and punishing rucksacks, they had laboriously arrived in Wales to camp at the presciently named Worm Field in the eponymous one tent for girls.   We can clearly see from the beginning that this is actually going to be a journey to Hell.   With appalling weather, and a long hike to the very basic site, things could only go one way.   And there is a limit to how much anyone can whistle to keep the spirits up.  

Monumental Sam from Hackney, determined to enjoy the experience, has issues with the overloud Lily from the start.   Ciara Hughes has a bold stage presence as Sam as she uncovers an intriguing underlying subtext.  Lily is aggressive and brittle.   She is convincingly played by Evie Cooper, who also has a terrific singing voice. 

Arty Rosa, sleep deprived, delicate (or was she?) … and a poet, is played beautifully by Alice Bebber.   Ruby, the organiser of this trip, and Lily’s lover, has the unenviable role of being diplomatic, whilst being deeply infatuated with her new girlfriend.   Bethan Owen’s performance in the role of Lily is highly watchable.

There are terrific performances all round, if loud ones, an attribute that includes the rain soundtrack, part of Ella Hakin’s well-studied stormy lighting and sound design.

As they all teeter on hysteria and nervous energy, skilful direction by the writers, Amber Charlie Conroy and Rosalie Roger-Lacan, moves the plot relentlessly on towards the inevitable climax.    

1 Tent 4 Girls was a justifiable sell out when the Bristol-based Talkers and Doers company opened it in Edinburgh last year.  It is really worth a look under the canvas.  

No guys to trip over, so get yer walking boots on!

Heather Moulson, April 2024

Photography courtesy of Movers and Shakers