Review: LITE, Old Rep Theatre - Hysteria Festival 2023

Identifying self-image through the eyes of a Black woman, Lite combines drama, humour and vulnerability whilst exploring issues of identity and conformity.

Exploring the issues of skin lightening products and the negative impact upon psychological and physical wellbeing on people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, this show documents the journey of trying to fit in to today’s society and the influences of media pressure to look ‘normal’.

How can she be an individual, comfortable in her own skin, with these everyday pressures?

The piece begins from within the audience, and although we’re in a small venue, it would have benefitted from being lit, so the whole auditorium could see what was happening more clearly. The use of video screens work well to tell the story, but the clips and images used could have been more clearly edited and the sound was cluttered, so it was a struggle to know where to focus.

Marlene McKenzie is our storyteller, with the content of the dialogue well delivered and relatable. It’s a hard hitting, punchy vision of the struggle to conform when pressures to do so are incorrect. The irony of the subject matter makes for some amusing moments, but the overall message is clear.

It’s a relevant piece with a subject that’s not talked about enough, most possibly because it makes people uncomfortable, but feeling uncomfortable is part of the point. We need to make people uncomfortable to instigate change and an understanding of something that needs to be talked about more and more.

A shameful realisation of the pressures of the ‘norm’.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Rachel 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.