Theatre Experience

Between 13 April 2009 and 13 April 2009, in Kent

Under the Arts Council free ticket scheme, 6 young volunteers from Margate will be going to see Spoonface Steinberg at Margate's Theatre Royal and then writing a review of their experience.

After the play, I ran a small workshop with the volunteers to help them write their reviews which I hope will be published in the local press. Below is one of the reviews produced:

On Tuesday 14^th April 09, I was taken to see Spoonface Steinberg at the Theatre Royal, Margate.  Although not an avid or regular ‘theatre-goer', I eagerly anticipated the performance, of which I knew nothing about, with an open mind.

The theatre itself was smaller than I'd expected and the audience attending the showing was also fairly sparse, but the production, written by Billy Elliot's Lee Hall and directed by Michael Fentiman, was by no means affected by this.

 Spoonface Steinberg is a compelling insight into the world of a young autistic girl whom faces many challenges in her life made all the more complicated by the sudden diagnosis of terminal cancer.  Using all the typical paraphernalia of a small girl, teddies, books, crayons, cassettes, playing cards, blankets and wellies, the bedroom of ‘Spoonface' creates the perfect setting enabling the audience to share the story portrayed so accurately and at times comically by actress Zoe Thorne.  The 24 year old is remarkably convincing as an eight year old and uses the space and childhood props in such a way that it was often hard to believe Thorne is in fact the same age as myself.  The child-like mannerisms, expressions and use of language contributed to the impression of being in the presence of an eight-year-old child and indeed the pace of the performance reflected the fast and erratic pace of the child's mind.

The occasional appearance of another actor, one of Spoonface's carers, reminds us that, although brilliantly executed in this instance, the autistic little girl would in fact have struggled to portray her life experiences so clearly.  These parts brought to life the reality of the story and the admirable accuracy of both writer and actor.

The overall design, direction and performance of Spoonface Steinberg is extremely effective throughout the production.  Every detail of the set, from the girl's butterfly patterned pyjamas and pink spotty wellington boots to the night-time sky fairy lights used to illuminate the backdrop, all contribute to creating the character and exact mood of the subject.

I definitely enjoyed this performance by Zoe Thorne, Particularly the expressions and child-like language used to lighten often sombre mood, which I was very much drawn into and impacted by, due to the very serious issues raised.  The way in which the play is written and executed is very clever. Rather than feeling entirely sorry about the situation of the character, as you would imagine, you are left feeling uplifted and that one should perhaps draw from the experiences related in the story and appreciate simple aspects in our own lives that are taken for granted.

I think it is safe to say; I was thoroughly impressed.

Abigail Turner, 24.

Posted on 08 April 2009 13:35:47 by Stefanie Foreman