Night three of the Gateway New Writing Festival welcomed a buzzy, jam-packed audience of young faces. The festival and skills development program was set up three years ago, and, as its name suggests, has been providing Scottish theatre-makers with an entry onto the stage since its creation.
Both plays I saw examined power relationships. ULTRAVIOLENCE! by Will Osbon is a dark, at times absurd, exploration of the relationship between artist and muse, where the archetype of the selfish male visionary is taken to the point of extremity. All appears commonplace when we are introduced to the domineering middle-aged artist and his sheepish student. The artist seems as clichéd as it gets: he brandishes cigarettes, pacing around the sparingly furnished studio set. The drama really begins when we meet his model — a sulky French woman in a flowing white dress, played endearingly by Eva De Luca. In a dark turn of events, we come to learn that the model (who is not in fact French) is being held hostage by the artist, who leaves her for days without food and frightens her into submission. For me, the absurd elements of the piece did not always land. In a bizarre moment, the artist proclaims himself the “pig king.” Whether this was supposed to be frightening, or meant to render him ridiculous, the audience reaction was uncertain. Still, if Will Osbon’s intention was to unsettle or disturb, he certainly achieved his goal; his script is fresh and imaginative, notwithstanding some slightly meandering dialogue.
Steam, written by James Stedman, is impressive in its scope. It is set on a train heading into space, in a dystopian reality where society is divided into two classes: passengers on the train, and those who have to work to keep it moving. We follow the tragic unfolding of a sado-masochistic relationship between Frank and Teddy. Frank is imprisoned in a cage, shovelling coal into a furnace, whilst Teddy is a member of the elite class of passengers, living in luxury at the front end of the train. The set design is effective; painfully bright red lights indicate the furnace, and floor tape cornered by vertical LED lights forms Frank’s cell. The sound design lends the play an unsettling ambience. Devin Mcwhirter, who plays Frank, performs with impressive physical energy, and Gabriel Bird is fittingly sinister as Teddy. Paired, they have a compelling chemistry.
Steam’s examination of repressed desire boasts greater dramatic tension, whilst ULTRAVIOLENCE!’s peculiar tone is promising and unique. Gateway Festival provides the necessary stage for these exciting and ambitious new scripts and talents to be seen.
Image of Steam provided to the Student by Gateway New Writing Festival
