Review: TRIPLE by ANTS Theatre / The Space Theatre online 17 – 31 October 2021

‘A joyful evening of electric contemporary theatre-making from genre-defining collaborators.’ ★★★★

ANTS Theatre in a short space of time, have entrenched themselves as a company on the fringe theatre scene as an ensemble to watch and keep watching. Over and over again. Their collaborative style shines on stage in pieces and ideas that are thoughtfully brought to life through a unique blend of technology, physical theatre and audience interaction. Here applied to ‘Triple’ by Lee Lauren, a collage of characters that strikes the heart with a bull’s eye. New writer Lee Lauren’s anthological play ‘Triple’ is made up of nine short pieces, all unique. ANT Lu Curtis directs, incorporating the company’s vision to produce an ecstatic physical performance of a confident voice. The writing is just as physical as the performance. 

Lee Lauren’s nine shorts are refreshing, muscular and ensemble driven LBGTQIA+ stories 

Honest, intimate, delicate. Absurdism is encouraged. And we really get into ANTS Theatre with their ‘pointed pointlessness’ from their mission statement and website and this reviewer was not disappointed with the organised chaos, and a fresh approach it was for an anthological play. Some new writing can become lethargic in structure and format, but not this one! ANTS Theatre and their collaborators really have breathed new life into the episodic play format from this season on. Everyone else, take note. This is a company pushing, pulling, and everything in between. Shadow puppetry, imaginative staging and creative direction from director Lu Curtis, has harnessed the talents of Griffiths and Quist with elastic effect. 

Magic realism, absurdism, dadaism, all play a part in the centre stage of Lu Curtis and Lee Lauren’s collaboration, and its chemistry is magnetising. A wickedly funny evening for all. 

‘Triple’ is part of a season called ‘ANTS presents’, a series of collaborations between individual ANTS and other artists. But still, every detail of production feels like an ANTS Theatre show, and there is a strong sense of company identity present; it’s a very exciting voice to see emerge from the pandemic. A must-see! A joyful evening of electric contemporary theatre-making from genre-defining collaborators.  

17th - 31st October

Available on demand https://space.org.uk/event/triple-watch-party/

Written by Lee Lauren

Directed by Lu Curtis

Performed by

Ayesha Griffiths

and Katja Quist

Set design by Amy Mitchell

Lighting and video design by 

Rachel Sampley

Review: Emma Zadow is a professional actor and writer having trained at Rose Bruford and Norton Centre of the Arts, Kentucky. She has worked internationally in the USA, Greece, Spain and UK as an actor & theatre maker. She is also a playwright from the Soho Theatre Writers Lab.

@EmmaZadow