Review: Fatal Light & Dancing Bears – Latitude Festival

Amid the sunshine of the Latitude Festival there’s something darker lurking in the theatre tent, a double bill from Clean Break Theatre Company.

Chloe Moss’ Fatal Light takes a chilling look at the death of a young woman in prison. Played in chronological reverse, we start with a young policewoman struggling to inform the mother that her daughter has died and, as the play progresses, the trail of events that led to this moment slowly unfold.

Lucy Morrison’s production works well in the venue, though there is a feeling that in the short running time we never fully get to deal with all the topics raised.

There are strong performances from Ashley McGuire as Maggie – desperate to find some common ground with daughter Jay. Rebecca Scroggs’ performance as Jay impresses, a believable portrait of a woman who loses control.

In the second half of the double bill, Sam Holcroft’s Dancing Bears we get to meet a group of teenagers who one can’t help feel are also on the slippery slope towards prison. Aarron dreams of becoming a footballer, for him it’s more than just a game, more of a religion. In the materialistic world, however, the appeal of a new football shirt seems a more appealing prospect than the thought of a steady income.

His friends face equally troubled outlooks, this is a world where love is mistaken for lust, where violence is confused with power and envy and fear are never far from the surface.

Teresa Walker’s direction keeps the pace fast and frantic and there are strong performances from Emmanuella Cole as Aaron and Demi Oyediran as a chilling Razor Kay.

Together the double bill shows that alongside all the fun of the festival there is the opportunity for theatre to examine contemporary issues in an accessible and thought provoking manner.