• Advertise
  • Request Review
  • Write for Us
  • Privacy
  • Login

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Tickets

Might Never Happen at The King’s Head Theatre

May 7, 2016 by Olivia Coxhead Leave a Comment

Review of: Might Never Happen at the King's Head Theatre
Produced by:
Doll's Eye Theatre
Price:
£18 (£15 conc)

Reviewed by: Olivia Coxhead
Rating:
4
On May 7, 2016
Last modified:May 7, 2016

Summary:

Might Never Happen stands testament to Doll's Eye's special ability to bring comedy and universal appeal to difficult and marginalised subjects.

More Details

A piece of new writing about street harassment is (unfortunately) not going to strike everyone as must-see Monday night theatre, and yet the house was full for Doll’s Eye Theatre’s latest show at The King’s Head. Whether seeking fresh perspectives on gender in public space or wanting to hear Sophie Walker, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, in the debate afterwards, I was refreshingly surprised by the gender and age balance in the room. Having seen the show, this popularity stands testament to Doll’s Eye’s special ability to bring comedy and universal appeal to difficult and marginalised subjects.

Structured in a set of short, unrelated sketches, Doll’s Eye Theatre managed to present the whole range of street harassment in just over one hour – as they promise, we get the full experience from ‘the ridiculous to the terrifying’. It is both ridiculous and terrifying that street harassment is still an every day feature of our modern society – a recent survey found that 85% of young women in London have experienced it. The magic of Might Never Happen is that it plays out familiar scenes, like the uncomfortable one-sided conversation with a persistent stranger on a bus, and yet allows us to observe from all angles in a way that is impossible in subjective every day life.

Cast member Ashley Sean Cooke, as the principle aggressor,  does a masterful job of being casually and sometimes unconsciously menacing. It can’t be easy having to play seven different shades of misogynist, but each of his characters are subtly nuanced and play out distinct types of street harasser; the persistent drunk, the misguided guy on the pull, the person who just doesn’t know how to help. These layers of detail are emblematic of Doll’s Eye’s wider approach to this infinitely faceted topic. Even just writing this review I feel the difficulty and pressure to balance as many opinions as possible without offending someone, so I doff my cap to Doll’s Eye who manage to negotiate their narratives with a stunning ability to allow each voice it’s turn, without blandifying or losing the overall message of the play.

Probably the most widely relatable scene showed a couple (Danielle Nott and Paul Matania) discussing the subtleties of approaching strangers with compliments, and how this is perceived by both sides. We follow the woman’s reaction to learning that her boyfriend is a type of street harasser, who excuses his own behaviour, and we are forced to ask ourselves if he is really part of the problem at all. This self-questioning is a constant element of our reaction to the play, but far from being exhausting, it flows naturally around lighter moments of genuine (and un-gendered) comedy.

Humour unexpectedly abounds in Might Never Happen – Doll’s Eye find the cracks in cringing, anger-inducing moments to dial back the serious tone, and you end up feeling rather oxymoronic at both laughing and despairing in equal measures. I wish that some central story line was present to tie the stand alone scenes together; the message would have been more powerful with some sort of overall narrative structure. Yet, I do understand why these choices were made; in reflection of the material, there is often no neat and concise ending to street harassment. Victims are often lost for words, or the situation robs them of the opportunity to conclude. The ramifications of street harassment are also never-ending, you don’t just ‘get over’ things, they stick around, and in a considerate parallel, Dolls Eye allow you to continue processing and thinking without a sense of resolution. As an observer, in its small part, this puts you into the shoes of a victim.

CAST AND CREW

Cast – Ashley Sean Cook, Catherine Deevy, Paul Matania, Danielle Nott, Kirsty Osmon and Vicki Welles

Director – Amy Ewbank
Producer – Caley Powell
Lighting Designer – Rajiv Pattani
Set and Costume Designer – Cindy Lin
Sound Designer – Ruth Sullivan
Stage Manager – Erin Whiley
Collaborators – Dr Fiona Vera-Gray and Dr Maria Garner

Might Never Happen continues its run at The Kings Head Theatre until 16th May, with performances on the 8th, 9th, 15th and 16th May. On Sunday 8th May there will be a post performance workshop from anti street harassment organisation Hollaback London. To buy tickets for these performance, you can ring the box office on 0207 226 8561 or visit the website.

Author: Olivia CoxheadOlivia has worked as a production manager in open air touring theatre, and currently loves being an audience member who doesn't have to bring an umbrella and a plastic poncho to every show

Filed Under: Review Tagged With: Doll's Eye Theatre, equality, king's head theatre, new writing, street harassment, women

Join the discussion Cancel reply

Review / The Journey To Venice at the Finborough Theatre

Bjorg Vik’s play The Journey To Venice is a delightful production, entertaining yet full of pathos. A play with a [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Tzarini Meyler talks KITES at VAULT Festival

We spoke to Artistic Director of LipZinc Theatre, writer and performer Tzarini Meyler about her upcoming show at VAULT Festival [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Naomi Westerman talks BATMAN (aka Naomi’s Death Show)

We spoke to writer and performer Naomi Westerman from Little But Fierce about her upcoming show at VAULT Festival Can [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Angharad Jones on The Swearing Jar 

From New Perspectives, The Swearing Jar is a comedy about love, heartbreak, living with the past and accepting the future. We spoke to director Angharad [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Unleash The Llama talks Five Years With The White Man

We spoke to the creators of Five Years With The White Man about the upcoming show coming to VAULT Festival [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • Tim Edge talks Under the Black Rock
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • Complicité's A Minute Too Late at the National Theatre
  • Is this the real location of Ambridge?
  • Jane Eyre at the National Theatre
  • Crowdfunding In Theatre - An Overview
  • The Pros and Cons of Crowdfunding
  • Angharad Jones on The Swearing Jar 
  • Olivia Coxhead
    Editor

  • May 7th, 2016
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook52TweetLinkedInEmail

    Newsletter

    Enjoyed what you've read? Get even more great content directly to your inbox - Completely Free

    About Theatre Bubble

    Theatre Bubble is the news, review and blogging site created by Blue Pie Media and run by a dedicated team of outstanding editors and writers: we're always looking for new contributors - to find out more click here.

    Contact Us

    News: news@theatrebubble.com
    Reviews: reviews@theatrebubble.com
    Website: webmaster@theatrebubble.com

    Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2023 · Blue Pie Media

     

    Loading Comments...
     

      Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

      Email sent!