Review: PATRICIA GETS READY (FOR A DATE…), The Lowry - UK tour
Photo credit: Korey J Ryan
After winning multiple awards at various theatre events including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Patricia Gets Ready (for a date…) comes to The Lowry to share its heart-rending story with Salford audiences.
Written whilst still in the midst of drama school training, Martha Watson Allpress’ script is excellently constructed to express the seriousness of the subject of domestic abuse, whilst also injecting some light humour to the performance without it distracting from the sincerity of the story behind it. Watson Allpress is proof that newer generations of creatives have got what it takes to take on the veterans of the world of theatre and is sure to be an inspiration to other up and coming budding playwrights.
The overall technical elements of the production are good, but not quite perfect. Ella Clarke’s set design really transforms the studio space into Patricia’s bedroom, with clothes strewn across the room, the typical sign of a girl getting ready to go out, but the set is perhaps a little too busy and cluttered with various small objects. Having so many items surrounding the dressing table mirror – a focal point of the set – is quite distracting. The fairly stripped back lighting design from Jessica Brigham, which includes strings of fairy lights creating the border of Patricia’s room really works for the piece, but there are times when the way the lights hit the mirror frame casts a shadow right across the actress’ face which loses the audience focus.
Under the brilliant direction of Kaleya Baxe, West Midlands born performer Yasmin Dawes puts on a wonderful performance in the role of Patricia. It can be quite daunting to be the only performer onstage for the entirety of a play, but this doesn’t seem to affect Dawes as she lets the audience in to give them an honest and emotional portrayal of what it’s like to be a victim of domestic abuse and the reality of life beyond such a relationship. Dawes makes the character of Patricia relatable for audiences and demonstrates great comedic timing for the funnier moments of Watson Allpress’ script, but also educates those in the audience lucky enough to have not experienced domestic abuse first hand as to what it can be like, and how is best to support others going through a similar situation.
A poignant piece of theatre, Patricia Gets Ready (for a date…) is a difficult but necessary show to watch as it gives an insight into the harsh realities of abusive relationships and the effect it can have on an individual. Despite technical elements being a small distraction at times, it doesn’t take away from an outstanding performance by Yasmin Dawes, wonderfully creative direction from Kaleya Baxe and a simply brilliant book by Martha Watson Allpress.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Jess Dalloway