Wreckage ★★★★
Turbine Theatre
Twenty-five-year-old Sam (Tom Ratcliff) and his older boyfriend Noel (Michael Walters) live a comfortable, domesticated life together with their cat. Then one morning, whilst doing a favour for Sam, Noel crashes his car into a river and dies. So begins Wreckage, a clever new play written by Tom Ratcliff.
We follow Sam through the rest of his life as he deals with guilt and grief. He slowly rebuilds his life, constantly referencing back to Noel. We see Sam’s flashbacks of the couple’s life together, including very sweet scenes of when they first met, their first kiss, and repeated scenes of their last conversation. Noel never leaves Sam’s side and is there for him through all the big events in his life post Noel’s passing – graduation, a new relationship, moving house, parenthood, the death of his mother, to the onset of Sam’s own dementia. The full range of their past relationship is examined; love, lust, friendship, fights, loss and grief. The couple are perfectly cast for this with both Ratcliff and Walters maintaining the right level of chemistry, emotion and character throughout the performance. Despite the undercurrent of loss, the play manages to be a celebration of life and love. A touching story about enduring bonds and a love that never dies.
Accomplished director and designer Rikki Beadle-Blair brings Ratcliff’s intelligent writing to life in London’s cosy new Turbine Theatre which is part of the Battersea Power Station redevelopment. The set and visuals could have been better but this doesn’t detract from the fine script and performances. I loved their matching outfits too and that both actors were barefoot. Produced by Harlow Playhouse, Wreckage premiered at last year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival and won the Lustrum award. Innovative, modern theatre.
On for a few more days until Sunday 22nd January, so make sure you catch it this week.
P.S. It plays at Harlow Playhouse 3rd and 4th February
