• 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
  • Ed Fringe

This Is Not A Safe Space at Camden People’s Theatre

April 19, 2018 by Jessica Murray Leave a Comment

Review of: This Is Not A Safe Space

Reviewed by: Jessica Murray
Rating:
4
On April 19, 2018
Last modified:April 20, 2018

Summary:

A forceful wakeup call about the need for more humanity in British society

More Details

One thing I particularly like about Camden People’s Theatre is the short introduction to each show given by Artistic Director Brian Logan. Before tonight’s performance, he addressed the subject of working class representation in the Arts, a topic currently in the media spotlight following an industry report into the issue.

 “Where are all the working class people? Here”, he said.

As a people’s theatre, the venue is committed to producing shows that represent and attract a cross section of society. In fact, this was the opening night of the theatre’s two-week Common People Festival, a series of shows dedicated to exploring the experiences of, and showcasing the talent of, the working class.

Jackie Hagan’s This is Not a Safe Space is the headline act – and it’s clear why. It’s smart and feisty, an authentic portrayal of life for disabled working class people, and how they are forced to fight against a system which continually fails and undermines them.

The piece seamlessly merges poetry, monologue and comedy to not only depict the hard reality of working class life, but to evoke the less tangible emotions and feelings that come with it.

The show is punctuated by audio recordings from interviews with disabled working class people. They tell various stories about their lives, often funny but tinged with sadness. A man laughs candidly about one of the multiple illnesses he has; ‘I can’t even pronounce it but I’ve got it’. These clips are both heart warming and eye opening, but could be better incorporated into the broader structure of the piece.

However, they are a useful way of incorporating multiple voices, creating a patchwork portrait of the diversity of working class lives. Katharine Heath’s genius set complements this – it is a jumble of homely clutter, featuring a dolls house, TV set, soft toys and other paraphernalia of ordinary life. Towards the end these displays are rotated to reveal tall tower blocks flickering with lights, a poignant moment to reflect on the vastness of these issues.

One of the show’s main strengths is Jackie’s warmth as a performer, and the fact that she’s just really bloody funny. Whether she’s talking about disability or class, her comedy is witty and down-to-earth. She doesn’t sugar coat or glamorise working class life, but her piece is a welcome antidote to the likes of Benefits Street – all humans have flaws and vices, no matter which class bracket they fall into.

She takes devices used by authorities to denigrate working class people and flips them on their head, exposing just how harmful they can be. At one point she reads questions from her own version of a PIP form (used to determine what benefits disabled citizens receive). When asked ‘How would you like to be contacted?’ one of the options is ‘With respect’.

As benefits continue to be slashed, the NHS struggles under funding cuts and the media perpetuates hateful rhetoric, This is Not a Safe Space is a forceful wakeup call about the need for more humanity in British society.

Avatar

Author: Jessica Murray

Filed Under: Featured, Review Tagged With: Camden People's Theatre, This Is Not A Safe Space

Join the discussion Cancel reply

NEWS / Living Record Festival of digital arts announces programme

Living Record Festival is a month-long Digital Arts Festival curating and presenting over 40 original pieces from a range of [Read More]

INTERVIEW / Open Bar on A ChristMESS CAROL

Tell us about Open Bar Theatre and also how you came about and how the name came about. OBT: Open Bar [Read More]

NEWS / Ayomide Adegun awarded The Luke Westlake Scholarship 2020

22 year old South Londoner Ayomide Adegun is currently in his 2nd year of the BA Acting course at Royal [Read More]

NEWS / Late Night Staring at High Res Pixels announced

A new play repurposed for online viewing from the creative team behind Scrounger, and the first of the Finborough Theatre’s [Read More]

NEWS / Crimes Against Christmas becomes an audio advent calendar

Typically at this time of year theatre company New Old Friends would have just finished an Autumn tour and be [Read More]

Top Posts & Pages

  • 5 Stage Elements to Consider for a Rousing Theatrical Production
  • 10 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Reality TV Auditions
  • Katy Owen: Auditioning for Oxford School of Drama
  • Alice's Adventures in Wonderland soon to be live online.
  • Is this the real location of Ambridge?
  • Katy Owen: LAMDA Audition (First Round)
  • Living Record Festival of digital arts announces programme
  • Katy Owen: How to Apply to Drama Schools*
  • Interview with Alan Flanagan, writer-performer of Bingo
  • Birthday by Crystal Skillman
  • Avatar

    Jessica Murray
    Author

  • April 19th, 2018
  • comment iconNo Comments
  • Facebook1TweetLinkedInEmail

    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 © 2021 · Blue Pie Media

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

    Email sent!