REVIEW: GOALS by Rigged Rascals at Bridge House Theatre 4th - 8th July 2023

‘Assured and energetic performances in need of a narrative’ ★★★

Devised theatre will always be tricky to stage; inevitably you’ll end up with quite a mixed bag in terms of content, and it can be daunting work to transition from wildly divergent scenes both for the actors themselves and the director who’s trying to keep the whole thing on rails. With GOALS, Rigged Rascals overcome these difficulties to deliver an engaging piece of theatre with assured and energetic performances, but these performances are sorely in need of a narrative to match.

This is not to say there aren’t a few highlights in the work. Some notable scenes include an ad for an anti-depressant that spirals into a long list of side-effects which include turning into a duck (which the performers promptly demonstrate), a ‘feel good’ conference that culminates in a skeptical audience member being shot and killed, and a character working through forthcoming parenthood anxieties while being chased by floating baby clothes. These are all well-executed and share a fun sense of humour, but they are isolated sketches rather than a story.

Helping them along is dynamic and effective lighting which easily draws the eye from player to player while also nailing mood shifts as events take their various turns. Set design is minimal but also quite effective, featuring a series of costumes hanging on the back wall which were all gradually taken down and used to populate the characters for each scene. Sparse yes, but creative and gratifying as you witnessed each get used and anticipated how the ones still waiting on their hooks would come to life.

All good, right? On the surface yes, but in terms of any lasting impression, no. The work is engaging in the moment but fails to come together into something cohesive, something that an audience can come out on the other side with a firm grasp of and ponder over afterwards. Rigged Rascals are skilled performers, so fingers crossed their next show will have material to match their talents.

GOALS showed at Bridge House Theatre 4th - 8th July 2023

Box office: https://thebridgehousetheatre.co.uk/shows/goals/

Directed by Ronja Siljander

Devised by Rigged Rascals

NEA CORNÉR

Ensemble

EMMA GILES

Ensemble

KATRYNA JORDAN

Ensemble

SONJA PALMU

Ensemble

Reviewed by Harry Conway