REVIEW: SCAFFOLDING by Lucy Bell at Drayton Arms Theatre 23 – 27 September 2025

‘original, necessary theatre’ ★★★ ½   

It is so refreshing to have an original story on rarely shared themes.  It is shown from the point of view of a carer of a non-verbal person. In this case,  a mother who has sole care of her daughter (the father having recently passed away). A pity that this ‘parent carer’ relationship wasn’t flagged up in the synopsis for the show, as this is very different to a ‘carer’, someone employed to do the job.

SCAFFOLDING tells Sheridan’s story, who is involved with the church, raising funds for the restoration, she’s having a bad day, as there’s a suspicion that social services might take her daughter away from her. She’s having a chat with God high up on the scaffolding around the church steeple, trying to make sense of it all. She’s also worrying about making the right ingredients for a bomb. 

It is an explosive show using these excellent symbols to show how the character is feeling and the high stakes involved.  The performer is Kerry Norton; she is charming and her singing voice is gorgeous but I really wanted more depth of feeling to match the script.  If the scaffolding is there to do this job, then more sense of risk would help to enable the audience to feel more for the character.   

Having said that, it surely is a show which would have much more impact on those who are living with learning disabled people and also the disabled themselves. How powerful, to see themselves and the people in their lives on stage, reflecting some of their own experiences. So, in a way, this show, isn’t for me, but I learned more about relationships and their importance.

I learnt more about non-verbal people and how they can be allowed more agency in their own lives. It is a simple technique but one which takes a recalibration in ongoing relationships. We can all benefit from being more aware of such ideas.

The themes and story have real weight, and this surely is necessary theatre, but on the night (I was there) the show didn’t reach the dramatic heights of which it is capable. Nevertheless, this is a show which should have a long life, it has much to offer.

SCAFFOLDING by Lucy Bell at Drayton Arms Theatre 23 – 27 September 2025

Box Office https://www.thedraytonarmstheatre.co.uk/scaffolding

Presented by Documental Productions

CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

Writer - Lucy Bell

Director - Natalie Simone

Performed by - Kerry Norton

Senior Producer - Naomi Turner

Engagement Producer - Susannah Bramwell

Sound Design - Joseff Harris

Sound Associate - Jack Orozco Morrison

Set & Costume - Ella Barraclough

Lighting Design - Rachael Duthie

Movement Director - Karla Shacklock

Technical Stage Manager - Josh Lucas

Photo Credit - Craig Fuller