UK Theatre Network

Having opted to see a new show INVISIBLE STORMS with the premise of it being based around the topical theme of 'climate change', I must admit didn't fill me with too much exitement, but this surprising production at Kilburn's Cock Tavern is a real gem...

Devised and conceived by award winning director Jamie Harden & playwright Dan Muirden, the show is improvised on a nightly basis around the central scenes, thereby resulting in a fresh nightly production.
This is a team to look out for.

Essentially a revenge story, the production is a wonderful surprise, with tight, naturalistic acting from a strong cast. Short, sharp scenes, miminal set, effective yet simple lighting; even using the natural light from the onstage window, takes us into the world of Kat (Sarah-Louise Young) and her brother Richard (Richard Atwill) who, still reeling after the suicide of their beloved father, who campaigned for years to get a seawall built to protect the farm he loved and worked on for many years are forced to act yet again on his behalf. The pain of his death and their subsequent loss, as well as the reminder of his years of appeals and letters he sent to the local authority to hear his petition, add weight to their grief and loss.

Kat decides to avenge his death by pretending to be a Polish cleaner and apply to be the live- in cleaner at one of the leading members of the local authority who ignored her father's appeals, and who, ultimately she believes is responsible for his death. Her point being: she wants this man to open his heart and get him to a point where he is emotionally as vulnerable she & her brother are, then she can turn it on him & twist the knife in. How she does this is by creating a totally believable alter ego of the Polish cleaner, endearing herself to Conor (Benjamin Peters) and through his consequent attachment to herself and her two year old son, Misha, (who we never see) but who is obviously a loveable and adorable little boy, we see Conor wanting more and more to involve them both in his life and his emotional attachment to them both grow and develop.

In hindsight the scene with Kat telling Conor that to feel feelings is a good things and how opening himself to them is a right thing to do, reeks of so many tragedies with a protagonist leading another to their ultimate downfall & is a cruel twist of fate. How justified she is in doing what she does is another matter, of which Max, her boyfriend later on responds to with disdain; not even understanding the extent of her plan.

The reveal is well timed and heart felt and Peters responds with a horror and heartbrokeness that is moving. Kat leads him to this point and as she calmly and coldly reveals the truth, we see his hopes of them becoming 'a family' cruelly dashed.

At the centre of the play is a truly radiant performance by Sarah Louise Young. Here is a performer who has a very special quality that absorbs and mesmorises the audience. She is so completely in the moment in each scene and her clear emotional responses add great depth. Her portrayal of the alter ego as the Polish cleaner is totally believeable and adds intrigue and interest in how this story will run out.

Strong support from Richard Atwill as the brother, with a hearty, bear like quality, the edgy urban boyfriend Max (Hywel John) and Carrie Jones as sharp edged Mrs Barnham, who cannily feels Kat, the Polish cleaner is not all she's cracked up to be from the start, add up to a very special show.

Nicola Hollinshead

Listing Details

Venue

Dates & Times

Box Office

^{www.cocktaverntheatre.com}

Tickets

Previews 5th, 6th & 7th May all tickets £10

Running Time

Transport