'No Further Action' is an original play, written and performed by Action Theatre at The Squad House, Stockport, as part of this year's Greater Manchester Fringe Festival.
The Squad House is a purpose-built fringe theatre black-box venue in a converted unit in Pear Mill in the Bredbury area of Stockport. This was my first visit to this bijou venue, and was very impressed by both the friendliness of the staff, and the venue itself.
'No Further Action' tells the tale of Lottie, now in her twenties, who was sexually abused by her granddad from the age of four. It does not put the care system, the police, and the social workers in a very good light, as indeed, the title of the play already states, that despite all the evidence, and the heartache and soul-searching that Lottie had been put through in order to come forward and speak up about her abuse, the decision that no further action would be taken.
The play was performed by four women who between them played the roles of Lottie as an adult, Lottie as a child, and the support workers etc from whom she was passed vagariously as she went through 'the process'. One was very much aware that this subject matter was perhaps a little too close for comfort for these four, as much of the material in the play was taken from their own personal experiences. In this regard, this was a very brave and laudable production, and therefore deserving of approbation.
This play could have been dynamic, heartwrenching, and punchy, but sadly, perhaps due to the fact that the four actresses were too close to their subject matter, it became rather static and monodimensional. The play desperately needed a change of pace and energy, if only for us to be able to breathe and sympathise with the narrative more clearly. If the company wish to continue with this play, I would advise asking the help of a dramaturge in order to try and find a more theatrical path through this important narrative.
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 30.7.23
on - 30.7.23
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