The Rondo theatre in Larkhall is fast establishing itself as THE place to showcase new work. Not only does it provide a professional environment for new companies to launch ideas, it gives a safe platform for work to be tried and tested in front of a supportive local audience.The writers' group showcase is a regular at the rondo and serves to give the members a chance to see their work brought to life, an invaluable opportunity for any writer. And their work could not have been in safer hands than those of the Rondo's intern Director, Shane Morgan.
The showcase itself consisted of eight pieces of new writing that, both individually and collectively, tackled a wide variety of subjects. From phone hacking to doomsday prepping, this show had it all! And using six highly skilled actors – Tom Turner, Moira Hunt, Joe Spurgeon, Charlie Lees-Massey, Alison Farina and Zach Corrigan – a precedent for the evening was set the moment the curtain rose.
All of the pieces had been deftly crafted to compliment the piece that followed, the set being as simple as two moveable flats and a curtain that were cleverly used to transport us seamlessly from one piece to the next. With the help of some well chosen music this looked effortless.
Each of the eight pieces have potential for future development and it was lovely to see such talent on show. Credit must go to all of the writers (Di King, Clare Reddaway, Elaine Miles, Kathryn Riley, Fran Landsman, Hannah Teasdale, Phoebe Kemp and Marc Cox) for allowing us into their world for the evening.
"What Kind Of Day Has It Been?" is the kind of show that you leave the theatre thinking about, and can't stop thinking about for a long time afterwards. As an audience we were drawn into a world that was altogether touching, hilarious and – at times – surreal. It's a show that sums up what a community should be about, how the theatre is there to help support and nurture the talent of new writers. If you missed the opening night, I suggest you catch it before the run finishes – you won't be disappointed!