Review: SHEILA’S ISLAND, Crescent Theatre Birmingham

The studio space at the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham provides an intimate stage for this interesting exploration of a situation in which four middle aged ladies on a team bonding exercise for Pennine Mineral Water Company get stranded on an island in the Lake District forcing them to spend the November night in the fog without tents, food or lighters.

Tim Firth’s play is a tragi-comedy as the isolation and sounds of the night play on the relationships between the business colleagues revealing hidden feelings and secrets. Originally written for four men as Neville’s island in 1994, the situation was rewritten for four women in 2022.

Sheila, played by Zena Forrest, is the well organised Marketing manager, self elected as leader who is so good at cryptic clues that she has managed to discern a hidden guide in a straightforward directional clue that sends them in the wrong direction to the other teams. She constantly seeks to lift morale and take control but is consistently thwarted by Denise. 

Denise, the production manager, played by Michaela Redican, is the reluctant camper, full of sarcasm and frustration, neither prepared nor willing to be a team player for the night. Her constant niggling remarks antagonise the others and undermine Shelia’s leadership. 

Julie, played by Deronie Pettifer, is the insecure and nervous HR manager, uncomfortable in their situation and the butt of Denise’s jokes but has a rucksack full of brand new climbing equipment. When she phones home to her husband Angus, her insecurity is exposed as she imagines he is off having an affair rather than organising a rescue.  Fay, played by Jenny Thurston, is the company accountant, a devout Christian and bird watcher with a hidden secret that caused her to have thirteen months off work. She seems the most vulnerable although she at least takes the initiative of being the lookout. 

We meet them as the boat sinks on the rocks and they stumble ashore soaked through and follow their survival attempts as their working relationships breakdown and the tensions rise. Simply set with small piles of stones marking the shoreline and trees and shrubs defining their camping area with just enough smoke and sound effects to suggest their stranded position. 

The four performers do a good job portraying the developing tensions in the group but overall Tim Firth’s script lacks the sharpness and emotional engagement of his other works like Calendar Girls, Our House and Kinky Boots. The situation lacks real jeopardy and at times, the pace seems slow. While the exploration of how work relationships are tested under stress has potential, we never doubt a rescue is imminent or care about the women or their predicament. 

The Crescent Theatre has a long history stretching back to 1923 and is a member organisation of actors, technicians, designers and venue staff who produce up to 15 productions a year for their two spaces. It deserves the support of its local community. This production should be viewed in this context, as a comedy, as part of a season of plays and a chance for its members to show off their acting skills.

*** Three stars 

Reviewed by: Nick Wayne

Sheila’s Island plays at the Crescent Theatre until 2 November, with further info via the link below…

https://www.crescent-theatre.co.uk/event-details/245931ALLKLVTSRSLPDSJDLLPJCDRQCLJ/sheilas-island

Photo credit: Graeme Braidwood