REVIEW: The Brink by Brad Birch at The White Bear 2 - 6 May 2023

‘The Brink is aptly named to give a hint as to what is going on in this rather Kafka-esque play’ ★★★★

We all have moments when we don’t love our work, but Nick’s situation goes over and above. He is a young teacher who is having nightmares about the aftereffects of a bomb explosion at his school. The Brink is aptly named to give a hint as to what is going on in this rather Kafka-esque play, and by that I mean Nick (Nicholas Thomas) reminds me of Gregor (the one who turned into a large insect) in Metamorphosis, trying to communicate his concerns to unhearing people around him.

Those people, in his case, are an excellent multi-role ensemble. Nick’s bright-eyed teaching colleague, Jo (Claire Durrant) wants to support him, but she finds this impossible. Chloe, Nick’s girlfriend (Emily Carmichael) is a self-confident though supportive partner who eventually lets him down. Carmichael switches convincingly to the role of a keen student who believes in her teacher and eggs him on with her beseeching “If you don’t tell us the truth, who will?” Ms Boyd, Nick’s supervisor, is quite a slippery character, one you never fully know what to make of (played by a chameleon-like Joanna Nevin). Nevin goes on to play Chloe’s self-assured boss. And all three quickly transform into students at Nick’s comprehensive to pinpoint.

Despite such a supporting cast of characters in Nick’s life, he is losing the plot and the confusion spreads to the audience. Not unlike Florian Zellar’s The Father, in which the scenes change according to how the character perceives the world, watching The Brink can make it hard to ascertain what is reality and who speaks the truth. Nick says, “Maybe I’m paying attention to the world for the first time in my life” as he is questioned about his thinking. Yet, in his authoritative role at the school, he starts out concerned about student welfare and eventually becomes the source of possible danger to a student in his care.

The choreography on a mostly blank slate of a stage gets to the heart of theatrical innovation, opening with two characters sleeping as if on a bed, but standing up against a wall. The cast sips from invisible cups and slide from classroom to home to outdoor fields in moments, making full and vivid use of the small, sparse space thanks to creative guidance from movement director Chris Evans and director Ben Grafton.

Particularly moving were the existential questions from 28-year-old Chloe, as she imagines the years flying by. However, after an intended-to-be-funny scene that didn’t fully land and a little lull in the flow, the dinner scene in the kitchen of Chloe’s boss, Martin, is what kicked up the energy. Performed by Joanna Nevin with such observational clarity - and hilarity, she transformed into one of those men whom we all know, the one who wants you to think he has it all and knows it all. A terrific scene for us; disheartening for our protagonist. Nick’s dilemma is not all shadow and gloom as this play has lovely funny moments which remind us even in the darkness all is not lost. Unless we give up all hope.

Photography: Michael Maltby

The Brink by Brad Birch at The White Bear 2 - 6 May 2023

Box office: https://www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk/whatson/The-Brink

Written by Brad Birch

Performed by Emily Carmichael, Claire Durrant, Joanna Nevin, Nicholas Thomas

Directed by Ben Grafton

Producer: James Michael Maltby

Movement director: Chris Evans

Reviewed by Mariam Mathew