Review: APHIEMI by Vicki Berwick at Golden Goose Theatre 24 – 28 May 2022

‘family tragedy which easily holds the attention’ ★★★ ½

Aphiemi is a re-imagining of Aeschylus' 'The Libation Bearers' with the action moved to Northern Ireland. It involves murder, and the idea that death can also be a ‘setting free’. 

Setting the story in Northern Ireland allows the play to feel routed in senseless revenge killings but it doesn’t quite convince. There is a certain lack of ‘Honour thy father and thy mother’ and ‘thy shalt not kill’. Rather the father is honoured but not the mother. The female sibling is the one who didn’t get away and is left to look after the mother. Nothing new there! 

The show does have a depth of tragedy, particularly notable the idea that without any prospect of a husband the sister has taken to pretending she has a baby. It would be unfair to write any more about the events of the play as the beauty is in the drip feed of the family history and the back story. It easily holds the attention.

Favourite character of the night was Elaine (the sister), beautifully played in an understated performance by Kelly Long. Director David Frias-Robles provided an enormous playing space, part of it was raised and part was at the feet of the audience, so movement around the stage felt particularly unencumbered.  The play certainly doesn’t need a fancy set but lighting and sound could be further developed in this piece to heighten the tragedy.

I’m not convinced that it really works as an ‘Irish play’. It still feels very ‘Greek tragedy’ but perhaps if there is any lesson to learn from the drama, it is in the relationship between mother and daughter. It speaks of allowing people to be free to live their own lives.

The Golden Goose theatre has a wonderful vibe and I urge everyone to see a show in this new venue to experience what it has to offer.

Pathway Theatre presents

APHIEMI by Vicki Berwick

Golden Goose Theatre 24 – 28 May 2022

Box Office: https://www.goldengoosetheatre.co.uk/aphiemi

Cast

Oliver: Simon Grujich

Elaine: Kelly Long

Mother: Claire Lacey

Creative Team

Writer: Vicki Berwick

Director: David Frias-Robles

Producer: Pathway Theatre

Lighting Designer: Joe Underwood

Sound Designer: Ben Paveley

Reviewer:

Heather Jeffery is Editor of London Pub Theatres Magazine