Last summer, the female-led Turning Point Theatre Company’s Witches was my favourite show of the Fringe. I thought it was funny, poignant, remarkably acted and directed — basically, well, the best. I knew the adoration I felt for Witches would be a tough act to follow.
Luckily for me, Turing Point’s sophomore Fringe show didn’t disappoint. Covenant takes place in a (near)-future UK, where abortion is a criminal offence. One could call it a dystopia, if it weren’t a reality many women are living in worldwide. The play follows three young friends – Bonnie, Gen, and Rachel – in the aftermath of a night out. Bonnie (played by the ever-charismatic Nell Lang) can’t remember what happened. Gen (Margot Pue) and Rachel (Cat Tashjian) tell her everything is fine. So why are they acting so weird? As the truth emerges, Covenant explores the difficult choices faced by young women living under authoritarianism. The stage design of Covenant is relatively minimalistic. The characters wear identical white outfits, perhaps signifying their loss of individual choice. The simplicity of the set invites the audience to focus primarily on the play’s dialogue, to great effect. Laura Walker’s script is tight, visceral, and bold. All three actresses handle the subject matter with confidence and care.
The general atmosphere of the play is heavy, almost claustrophobic. As the show ended, I realised I’d been holding my breath. This claustrophobia is made all the more devastating when considering how the fictional story of Covenant reflects the reality of our current politics. The play does not shy away from difficult questions. How do patriarchal regimes pit women against one another? What does it mean to show compassion in a world where choice is criminalised? What counts as an act of love in a political climate based on hatred?
All of this is to say that Covenant is not only a fantastic piece of art but a vital political statement. It testifies to the power of theatre as activism and has earned its place as a must-see show at the Fringe.
Covenant runs from August 12-24 (not 18) at 12:50pm at Greenside @ George Street. Tickets
are available for purchase here.
Press images courtesy of Turning Point Theatre Company.