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

Theatre Bubble

The UK Theatre Network





  • Reviews
  • News
  • Features
  • Spotlight
  • Opinions
  • Interviews
  • Guides
  • Ed Fringe

Mission: Abort at the VAULT Festival

February 10, 2018 by Maggie Kelly Leave a Comment

Review of: Mission: Abort

Reviewed by: Maggie Kelly
Rating:
3
On February 10, 2018
Last modified:February 11, 2018

Summary:

A wonderful show about a subject that needs to shed its taboo, but in a form that creates some problems.

More Details

Abortion affects 1 in 3 women. It seems a topic that most sectors of society are aware of, and yet also one that is very rarely discussed in any sort of intimate detail. Therese Ramstedt tackles this rather uncomfortable subject head-on in Mission Abort, sharing her personal experiences in a one-woman show that takes us from the three potential conceptions of the baby-but-not-a-baby, through the actual abortion itself and then out the other side.

Ramstedt guides us through the piece with an abrupt clarity, and an unforgiving eye for detail. The frankness of the discussion is commendable, and surrounded by clinical white chairs and a hospital bed she feels ostracized onstage in a similar way to the feelings of isolation in real life. However, emotionally, Ramstedt takes a little while to connect with us. She’s a striking and powerful presence onstage, but not necessarily an instantly likeable one. Her pragmatism is nigh brutish at times – that and the abrupt nature of the sound effects have a tendency to make the piece feel rather disjointed.

The most emotionally successful and touching moment comes when she faces out, blinded slightly by the lights, asking for two volunteers to hold her hand while the actual abortion itself happens. Two complete strangers silently stand up, walk up onto the stage and hold her hand while what seems like a vacuum cleaner sucks out the inside of her womb. It’s awfully, horrifically clinical, with Ramstedt’s legs spread-eagled in the air, the indignity of the situation only made bearable by the kindness and stoicness of the two spectators, personally volunteering to support someone through this potentially traumatic event. With most audience participation sections there’s a feeling of imposition, where people are dragged into the spotlight. The fact that two people got up of their own free will created a sense of empathy that finally allowed us to properly bond with Ramstedt’s story.

I want to have really liked Mission Abort. Anyone choosing to theatrically document the story of their abortion automatically rises to the top of the list of women-I-want-to-grow-up-to-be. However, the mosaic of sound effects, music, chairs and words are all rather crowbarred in, creating a piecemeal form instead of something that organically flows from line to line, breath to breath. A wonderful show about a subject that needs to shed its taboo, but in a form that creates some problems.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Featured, Review Tagged With: Mission: Abort, Vault Festival

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *




MOST RECENT

Tartuffe

Tartuffe

Director’s Cut at the Vaults

Director’s Cut at the Vaults

Father (Vader) at Barbican Theatre

Father (Vader) at Barbican Theatre

Cuzco at Theatre503

Cuzco at Theatre503

Welcome to the UK at the Bunker Theatre

Welcome to the UK at the Bunker Theatre

Top Posts & Pages

  • Katy Owen: LAMDA Audition (First Round)
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Tartuffe
  • Thebes Land at the Arcola Theatre
  • Writing the Perfect Press Release
  • Katy Owen: How to Apply to Drama Schools*
  • Bridge Theatre announces 2019 Season
  • The Role of Stage Manager in a Devising Company
  • Calling all Writers: Contributors wanted for Theatre Bubble
  • Maggie Kelly
    Editor

  • February 10th, 2018
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • 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 © 2019 · Blue Pie Media

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.