Spine tingling, engaging and bold: On the Edge of Nothing had us on the edge of our seats. The intimate space of Alex Clegg theatre in stage@leeds confronted the intrigued audience with a bunker containing six soldiers who had been tucked away in hiding with only each other for company for no less than five years. With supplies low and tensions high (and a bit of delusion and drunkenness thrown in), writer and director David Ley set the scene for what would be a tantalising display of just how good student theatre can be.
‘David Ley set the scene for what would be a tantalising display of just how good student theatre can be’
Following these six characters, worn and bruised from war and seclusion, the play was an exploration of the vast spectrum of human emotion, moving from moments of hysterical comedy to acts of robotic violence with astounding ease. The set was like a forgotten attic: broken chairs, empty bottles and a radio whose silence proclaimed the reality of their isolation. This scene, however, was all underlined ominously with the sign hanging quietly in the background like a bad omen: ‘All Good Men Fall’. The play was tinged with tension and a sense of waiting, echoing the waiting of these forgotten soldiers as they squabbled over whether they should stay in hiding or venture out to see if the world had anything left to offer them.
‘The play was tinged with tension and a sense of waiting, echoing the waiting of these forgotten soldiers’
It was the dreariness of the characters’ situation, however, that created the perfect opportunity for some dry British comedy. From naming a soldier with a leg injury ‘Speedy’ to punctuating the play with the witty chaos of Wires, Ley was able showcase his talent for writing comedy as well as the darker elements of the play; the audience didn’t know whether to laugh or squirm.
On the Edge of Nothing was the first production by the newly founded theatre company Screw Loose and if this impressive display of dynamic new writing and mature performance is anything to go by, they’re one to watch.
Jessica Newgas
(Image courtesy of Screw Loose Theatre)