The Stage

Peeling

Published Monday 28 March 2011 at 10:24 by Mike Martin

The fact that all three performers in this play are physically disabled is essential to the subject. Although this is not immediately apparent, as the piece progresses so does our understanding of the complex issues facing women who deal with bias in their daily lives.

Kiruna Stamell, Nicola Miles-Wildin and Ali Briggs in Peeling at Appleshaw Village Hall

Encumbered by their voluminous costumes, they are actors with small roles in a production of Trojan Women and we follow their progress throughout a performance as they await their cues. To pass the time, they indulge in small talk, they bicker, and eventually bare their souls to reveal personal stories of tragedy and trauma.

The three take to the stage with equal force, engaging the audience with empathy, but Kiruna Stamell stands out as being notably watchable, employing subtle skills in her role. That said, Nicola Miles-Wildin is convincing as she runs the gamut of numerous emotions. Ali Briggs, as perhaps the toughest of the trio, matches them both in her own way.

Illuminating the lines of the script on the back of David Haworth’s atmospheric set is a distracting ploy which ultimately appears to work, and there are regular sparks of humour within the dark and disturbing material. The exploration of patronising attitudes within modern political correctness is dealt with intelligently, provoking necessary thought.

Powerful stuff, striking and unique in many ways, and yet the audience ultimately reacted with a muted response. Outside of their comfort zone, perhaps?