Review: CELL OUTS at King’s Head Theatre until 14 May 2022

‘Hilarious, gut wrenching, and eye-opening show about the justice system’ ★★★★★ 

How refreshing to see this work from Glasshouse, a theatre for reform, focusing on prison, court and the criminal justice system. It brings genuine inside knowledge because the co-founders, actors (and real-life partners) have both been prison officers. 

Firstly, it is a very entertaining show with Ella Church & Harriet Troup showing excellent skills as performers, not least in their ability to transform themselves from rookies, to officers, to prisoners and of course (just as you wouldn’t have expected) cabaret stars. I particularly enjoyed Church’s bastardised rendition of Do-Re-Me from the Sound of Music. She captures the prim and beautiful Julie Andrews to perfection with an equally captivating voice. The show is also hilarious! Yes, this play about horrible events inside prisons is fun to watch. It is also potentially very triggering, with some of the stories being hardcore: Desperate people doing shocking things mostly to themselves.

The inside story is one of prisoners being ‘banged up’ for up to 23 hours a day (no wonder they need a telly). Good behaviour can reduce this, but bad behaviour brings loss of privileges (such as visits or time in the gym). Suicide watch means officers needing to check in on the prisoner up to 5 times an hour. 

The through line of the story shows two graduates (Church and Troup) choosing to work as rehabilitation officers (one in a female prison, the other a male prison – Church’s degree was in drama). Only to find that on their six-week induction course they are constantly referred to as ‘Prison Officers’. It shows them as rookie officers through to becoming used to the horrors of ligatures, code red, code blue (the glossary of terms is in the programme).  

Please don’t think the show is preachy, it’s very far from that. It’s very cleverly done to show what happens inside the justice system (and it doesn’t pull any punches). All the creatives pack a right hook in this show bringing pace (thanks to director Grace Church) a workable set (Daisy Blower) and enjoyable sound design with music composition (Jac Cooper). Everyone needs to see this show to have a better understanding of the hardships for all involved. It is in yer face with an ironic delivery which is gut wrenching.  It is also performed with bucket loads of love and profound humanity.

Go and see it if you can!

CELL OUTS

King's Head Theatre

3rd - 14th May 2022 (not 8th & 9th)

21:00 | 15:00 (7th & 14th matinees)

80 minutes

Box Office https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/cell-outs

Creative Team

Written and performed by Ella Church & Harriet Troup

Directed by Grace Church

Dramaturgy by Laura Asare

Design by Daisy Blower

Music Composition & Sound Design by Jac Cooper

Produced by Molly McGeachin

Marketing by Cup of Ambition

Photography by Ella Kemp

Produced by Glasshouse Theatre

http://www.glasshousetheatre.co.uk/

Reviewer

Heather Jeffery is Editor of London Pub Theatres Magazine