CW: This review contains mentions of gender-based violence and sexual assault.
With a very strong message at its centre, this play centres on themes of gender-based violence, sexual assault and street harassment, and therefore it goes without saying that the script displays extremely important meanings to all those in the audience. While an attempt to highlight this cause should rightly be celebrated, I felt the execution of such a message – and its display as a piece of art – could have done with a little work.
In a quaint and cosy all-female flat, three women are shaken by a woman’s recent murder. One becomes frightened walking home at night, another decides that activism is the way forward but ends up embroiled in unwanted online abuse from the incel community, while the third simply wants to power forward with her life, regardless of the chaos ensuing around her.
The writing of the play was audacious and affective, however the attempt at relatable language from the three, and the social media influencer lifestyle of Daisy became slowly cringe as the youthful language was mentioned again and again.
Despite this, the conversation around women’s safety needs to be continued and The Fringe is the perfect opportunity to highlight the ongoing battle around women feeling safe on the streets. The political critique that runs throughout this production does exhibit the reality of the plight, and how it needs to begin from the ground up in order to achieve leverage over those in power. The show is amongst an array of feminist drama, all displaying similar subliminal messaging. But this is no bad thing, as the urgent themes should be pushed at all costs.
Despite the whole performance feeling a little bit like GCSE Drama, the valiant message at the heart of the production, that women are not alone in their plight for safety, is admirable, and one that needs to be told. Similarly, as well as the serious subject matter, there is plenty of comedic light relief in the form of Love Island viewing and Taylor Swift discussion which, while a little stereotypical, attempts to affectively capture the female experience.
The Beatles Were a Boyband is on at Gilded Balloon Patter House at 7:30pm until 27 August. Tickets: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/beatles-were-a-boyband
Image provided to The Student as press material.