REVIEW: Next Minute Productions Presents THE HOLE at Etcetera Theatre 10-17 March 2026
‘There are flashes of insight and moments of genuine emotional truth, but …’ ★★☆☆☆
Part of the Women Writers Festival at the Etcetera Theatre, THE HOLE opens with an arresting visual: a white circle on the floor, a dog lead and collar, and a young woman writhing. Written and performed by Polly Winter, this 90-minute solo piece plunges us into the mind of a woman in the midst of an existential crisis. Is she a prophet, unstable, or experiencing post-partum depression? The ambiguity is intriguing and initially compelling.
The unnamed woman launches into a stream-of-consciousness monologue filled with abstract and nihilistic musings. The script is dense with esoteric ideas that, while hinting at larger intentions, dilute the play’s strongest arguments. Winter touches on powerful themes - anger at elites who exploit ordinary people, and a call for solidarity, self-respect and care for one another and the planet - but these themes become submerged beneath philosophical digressions. At times the script attempts to carry too many ideas at once, weakening its most compelling threads.
The play finds firmer footing in its middle section, which proves to be the strongest segment. Here we follow a young woman who loses her father at an early age and must navigate a strained relationship with an emotionally distant mother. The writing becomes grounded and recognisable, offering a relatable portrayal of grief, family tension, and inherited emotional patterns. When the character becomes a mother herself, she begins to spiral - uncertain what is real and what is imagined. Has she harmed her child, herself, or is none of it real? This psychological uncertainty provides the clearest dramatic thread.
The final section veers into more convoluted territory as Winter transforms into a symbolic embodiment of Mother Earth. Lists of mothers throughout the animal kingdom, reflections on the primal act of birth, and warnings about modernity and capitalism overtaking nature arrive in rapid succession. Themes of ecological destruction, spiritual rebirth, and humanity’s disconnection from nature become entangled with imagery of God, light, and eternal souls returning in new forms. The ideas are conceptually bold, but the result is ultimately confusing.
At times the tone slips into sermon. Extended passages about light, reincarnation and divine purpose feel didactic, as though the audience has been assumed to share the same spiritual framework. Similarly, the piece occasionally chastises the audience for indifference toward climate change or social responsibility - a somewhat naïve approach given that fringe theatre audiences are often socially and politically engaged.
Winter’s performance is energetic and committed. She demonstrates strong stage presence and fully inhabits the emotional and physical demands of the piece. The direction, however, could benefit from a firmer guiding hand. Greater variations in vocal tone and pacing would help distinguish the play’s shifting moods and themes. Much of the performance sits at a similar intensity, which can make the piece feel one-note, particularly across a 90-minute runtime.
With tighter editing and a clearer focus on a smaller number of themes, THE HOLE could develop into a far stronger piece. There are flashes of insight and moments of genuine emotional truth, but they are often obscured by an overabundance of competing ideas. What remains is a passionate performance and a script rich with possibilities, still searching for cohesion.
Next Minute Productions Presents
THE HOLE
Etcetera Theatre
10-17 March
Box Office: https://www.citizenticket.com/events/etcetera-theatre/the-hole/
Created by Poppy Winter
Produced: Imogen Finlayson
Sound Design: Joe Browning
Dramaturg: Caroline Leslie
Assistant Director: Sally Wood
