Arts

Angel Theatre Company presents ‘Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down’

Angel Theatre Company presents;

Can’t Stand Up for Falling Down

Anna Bonnett as Jodie

The Angel Theatre Company is a newly formed organisation, dedicated to providing recent graduates with the opportunity to perform professionally within their first year of leaving drama school.  They aim to produce challenging, character driven plays, selected specifically to showcase actors’ individual talents.  Cast members work under the guidance of experienced industry professionals and are given a unique, rewarding first taste of a career in the theatre.

The company includes Lara Bell, Samantha Loxley and Anna Bonnett and is directed by co founder John Patterson.  Their debut production of Richard Cameron’s critically acclaimed Can’t stand Up For Falling Down opened this week at the New Wimbledon Studio Theatre and I attended the opening night.

Can’t Stand up for Falling Down consists of three apparently separate but ultimately intertwined monologues. Lynette (Lara Bell), Jodie (Anna Bonnett) and Ruby (Samantha Loxley) are young women in a small Yorkshire town whose lives cross paths through encounters with a brutal bully named Royce. The play brings to life the suffocating fear of domestic violence in a small town.

Samantha Loxley as Ruby

The Angel Theatre Company perform purely out of passion for their craft and it shines through. The play is intense and less skilled actresses could have struggled to maintain the intensity of the piece during the lengthy monologues. However Patterson’s signature style of simple stripped back staging allowed each actress the opportunity to truly showcase her talent.  Expert direction and attention to the smallest of details meant that the audience was totally transported into the scenes and credit must go to the outstanding skill of each actress who took us through a roller coaster of emotions.  This was nail-biting stuff!

A particularly powerful scene that stood out for me involved Lynette (Lara Bell) performing a rape scene totally alone, with no props and left the audience gasping in horror and close to tears.  With acting skill way beyond their years I have no doubt that cast members will go far.

Although the majority of the play sees the female characters struggling for survival, the final twist puts the power very much back in to the hands of the ladies!

Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down will be running until 11th July at the Studio Theatre and there are still a few tickets available, however if you miss it this time then fear not, plans to tour the production are in the pipe line and we will be keeping you up to date with their progress.

One thing is for sure, if you like theatre, strong female leads and supporting new, independent talent…you must not miss this production!

For more information and tickets go to: www.angeltheatrecompany.co.uk / @Angel-Theatre

 

Reviewed by

Carolyn Owlett

@carolynowlett