Review: BLACKOUT, Old Rep Theatre - Hysteria Festival

Everyone approaches turning 30 differently and Tilly and JJ are no different. They have diverse approaches to finding themselves single and reaching the heavy milestone. Tilly feels left behind, while JJ is enjoying the freedom of being alone. The one thing they have in common though is drinking.

Exploring how to deal with dating as a millennial, the realities and pressures of starting a family and their ability to both get completely blackout drunk! A coping mechanism or an escape from reality? So, what do they do when something terrible happens during a blackout and neither of them can remember what they did?

Written by Poppy Abbott, who also plays Tilly (with Emma Hodgkinson as JJ), Blackout is a witty and frighteningly relatable script. Their irrational fears are portrayed with just the right amount of dread and absurdity. There is a good relationship between them and it’s obvious from the beginning that they are there for each other, no matter what.

Both Abbott and Hodgkinson (who resembles a young Jennifer Saunders) are superb in their roles; confident, funny and a delight to watch throughout.

This is a wholly entertaining piece with plenty of laughs in a performance that does have some serious underlying subject matter. A great night’s entertainment for anyone, whether you share the fears of turning 30 or have been there, done that and got the t-shirt!

Wonderfully witty and delightfully honest.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Hysteria is a women-led theatre and arts festival taking place at The Old Rep Theatre in Birmingham until 30 July. Celebrating the power and diversity of female-identifying playwrights, directors, actors, comedians, creatives and designers.