REVIEW: KILL DRILL by Luke Ofield, Unmasked Theatre at Barons Court Theatre 15 – 19 July 2025

Seb Gardiner • 16 July 2025


‘We’ve got no other option but to protest.’ ★★★

 

On the news, without a doubt, we have seen climate protestors making their mark across the world in increasingly inventive ways, and have also witnessed what the push-back and hesitance against their cause can look like. Luke Ofield uses the revival of his short play to ask what good activism is supposed to look like, in a world where activists are running out of ways to make themselves heard.

Ofield manages to capture both ideas – for and against - within the play. His protestors are often disorganised and misguided, and their counterweight, the Captain, is ignorant to their cause, unable to understand why they are protesting the right to be heard over anything specific. Within a small control room, on an isolated oil rig with no means of escape, Ofield pushes these ideas together and demands their conflict to be resolved.

Kit and the Captain are well-cast, and acted, but Christine Kempell as Dawn performs particularly well, standing out as a character who is unsure where to place such strong feelings, and who’s kind-hearted nature works as a striking contrast to the situation they are in. The effect of feeling unheard – a central idea to this play - is particularly noticeable with Dawn, who comes across as a character who is simply out of place, and has turned to this kind of extreme activism out of desperation. As a result, the difficult scenario they have gotten themselves into is constantly contrasted by her friendly dialogue, which is well-suited to her character.

The use of the walkie-talkie and repeated references to the authority of Nicola work well to open up the theatre and encourage the audience to remember the confined space they are in. The Baron’s Court in particular is a great space for this production; the intimacy of the theatre is a reminder that the world is watching, and there’s nowhere to hide.

Following a brief climax of action, the chance is taken to develop the personal nature of the characters, especially the Captain. The dialogue can be a little slow at times, with each of the characters weighing in on the serious themes of politics and economics, often taking a while to reach a meaningful conclusion. The ending, however, is able to resolve some conflicts and make a statement on the nature of the protest.

The revival of Luke Ofield’s Kill Drill is an exciting and dramatic take on the nature of the protest – a short yet effective play that forces three different personalities to find common ground, asking the question ‘why is no-one listening?’

 

Kill Drill by Luke Ofield

15th- 19th July 2025, Baron’s Court Theatre, London

https://www.baronscourttheatre.com/killdrill

 

Reviewer Seb Gardiner

Seb is a playwright currently based in Reading.