REVIEW: SCAVENGERS by Bryan Oliver at Etcetera Theatre / Camden Fringe 16 – 20 August 2023

‘dystopian drama, compelling and entertaining’ ★★★★★

Bryan Oliver’s dystopian drama has echoes of Cormac McCarthy’s 2006 post-apocalyptic novel The Road. Many of the events in McCarthy’s novel have become tropes in subsequent dramas of the same genre. However, unlike McCarthy’s novel, Oliver specifies what has happened to bring humanity to the depths of depravity featured in the play: a pandemic and global warming. Suddenly, it doesn’t seem so distant or impossible, and it is particularly pertinent in one small exchange between rival factions, Wikki and Finn. They ask each other what they did to prevent the ecological disaster, and both were simply too busy working.

In the basement of a London Tower block Zeb and her much older lover, Wikki, are in hiding from the Warlord’s hunters. Whilst Wikki is out foraging, another survivor, Finn, breaks in looking for food and water.  He is terrified to be held at gun point by Zeb. He quickly persuades her that he means her no harm and begins to seduce her into thinking she’d be better off with him, the younger man.    When Wikki returns, a power play ensues in which all of their lives are put at risk with the threat of dire consequences.

The Etcetera theatre turns out to be the perfect space for the play, set in a black box with sticks of furniture and a stash of food and water. There is a clever use of lights, with power failures, flickering lights, candles and torches. It adds to the tension which is a coiled spring throughout the play.  Sound is used sparingly but effectively adding menace to the play, particularly whenever we hear the industrial sounding lift engaging and coming down to the basement. 

The direction is taut with excellent pacing (the pauses are delicious) and there is interesting use of the confined space. Never a dull moment. Above all, the actors are excellent. The playwright is himself an actor and this certainly shows, as the play is a wonderful showcase for the actor’s skills. All three players look good, with honed physiques … maybe a little too fresh and unmarred considering they are living rough … nevertheless they are eminently believable in their roles. Matteo Piombino as Finn plays terror with a ghastly gaping mouth and a tear rolling down his face. Then as his fortunes change, he is equally ghastly as his arrogance is exposed.  Grace Richardson as Zeb is charmingly and heartbreakingly youthful, carrying all the hope of a better life, and reacting with gut wrenching horror at her own act of violence. Neil Hobbs as Wikki is all man of the people, practical and brave.

Finally, it’s reasonable to say that my plus one that night, thought the show was the best thing he’d ever seen at Camden Fringe. It certainly reminds us that black box theatre can be compelling as well as entertaining. There’s no preaching here, it’s clearly a show, but the themes remind us of the world outside and the choices we are making right now. 

Photography:  Salvatore Scarpa

Scavengers

Presented by Urban Wolves Theatre Co

At Etcetera Theatre

16 – 20 August 7pm

Box Office https://camdenfringe.com/events/scavengers/

Writer/Director Bryan Oliver

Cast

Matteo Piombino

Grace Richardson

Neil Hobbs

Creatives

Light and sound design: Bryan Oliver

Technician: Etcetera Theatre’s Rebecca Lyon.

Reviewed by Heather Jeffery, Editor of London Pub Theatres Magazine