Review: THE DIRTY THIRTY by Degenerate Fox Ensemble at Rosemary Branch Theatre, Fridays & Saturdays every other weekend
Heather Jeffery • Mar 07, 2020
'hilarious show packed with personality and a good dose of attitude'★★★★
The Dirty Thirty resident company at Rosemary Branch Theatre attempt to perform thirty original plays within one hour. Each show is unique and on this occasion it’s a special edition for International Womxn’s Day.
The show started with an explanation of what the audience should expect. The material is created by the company members, and whilst some plays might not be perfect, they will always be true to them. Not all of them are comedy, there’s a range of genres, so anything goes.
The troupe’s high energy and sense of fun kicks off straight away. The audience decides the order of the plays which keeps us all engaged as we listen out for the prompt word so that we can shout out our choice.
This element of improvisation gives the performers an extra edge of seat of the pants vulnerability. Along with the honesty of the vignettes, it’s challenging theatre with its pants down. So, what are the ensemble revealing on this occasion?
It’s in the more serious moments that they begin to shine, with a broad selection of rather perfect two-minute plays. With themes ranging form personal experience to human rights issues a panoply of women’s experiences is built up.
Their own personal take on each of these is highly entertaining and informative. It should be hard to come away without thinking that women’s achievements, which historically have been usurped by men, are still sometimes ignored. Never mind their personal experiences.
The scene is which two women publicly raise the topic of their periods, and go off to the toilet with a tampon clearly on display, was a brilliant piece of satire all on its own.
All right, so nobody wants to see that! But that’s the point. Fortunately, Dirty Thirty wrap it all up in an hilarious show packed with personality and a good dose of attitude.
Degenerate Fox website https://degeneratefox.co.uk/
Reviewer Heather Jeffery is founder and editor of London Pub Theatres Magazine
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