Reviewed by Joanna Woodburn
This thrilling, superb new play written by Ali Milles, directed by award-winning Director Philip Franks and produced by The Original Theatre Company is now touring the UK and playing at Derby Theatre.
Derby Theatre is a successful venue, with comfortable seating, ample leg room and friendly, helpful staff. The theatre is very easy to get to by car, train, bus or foot. Car parking is safe, secure and all under one roof. Situated within the Intu Shopping Centre, the main entrance is opposite the Eagle Market. The Intu Basement Car Park is ideal, with the theatre being only a couple of minutes walk from the top of the stairs.
Set in the Scottish Highlands, the lives of three strong and determined women from different eras become intertwined. As the past comes back to haunt the present, tales long forgotten surface and the truth begins to loom with consequences for all. From strong and spiritual Enid in the 1880s, through to Ruth in 2005 who lives in the Croft as a holiday home and where she has an affair, through to Ruth’s daughter Laura in the present day, The Croft is a play full of secrets which leads the audience on a chilling journey full of guesswork.
Suzanne and Laura are on a remote getaway in a former Crofters Hut in the eerie village of Coillie Ghille. Their weekend away takes an unexpected turn, as past events draw Suzanne and Laura into the forbidding history of the Croft and into the lives of those who have lived there previously.
The Croft will strike a chord with many, as the play explores how the homes we live in are so much more than bricks and mortar. In the play the Crofters Hut is full of memories and associations and seems to absorb and hold onto the emotions and secrets felt in its rooms. I am sure I will not be alone in saying this is a theme which has resonated with me greatly over the years. It feels so much more complex and personal than the classic question ‘Do you believe in Ghosts?’
The Croft has Derby’s own Gwen Taylor in the lead role as Enid. Ably supported by Caroline Harker as Suzanne (and Ruth), Drew Cain as David (and Alec), Lucy Doyle as Laura (and Eilene) and Simon Roberts as Tom (and Patrick). Gwen Taylor’s Enid leads the way for the other women, rising to the challenge, with a convincing and superbly acted performance. The acting throughout is outstanding with much control in the rise and fall of the storytelling, at times lulling the audience into a false sense of security only to then shock and unsettle.
As the story unfolds, the pace builds up alongside the suspense and takes the audience on a journey of thrills and emotion. The intimacy of Derby Theatre is perfect for amplifying the tension. With expert direction and a great script, Director Philip Franks uses every minute to sustain the tense atmosphere and keep the audience gripped and guessing the truth from start to finish.
The staging of the play is effective, the realistic sets both inside and outside the Crofters Hut allow the stories from the generations to cleverly layer and overlap as they unfold. The few haunting sound and lighting effects dramatically add to the tense atmosphere of the play, with a few ‘jumpy’ moments thrown in for good measure. The Croft has something for everyone, a thriller, a tragedy and a romance with some well-timed moments of comedy for light relief.
Clever, convincing and captivating, as the secrets of The Croft unfold, they will stay with you long after you have left the theatre!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £20 (booking fees may apply).
The Croft is at Derby Theatre from 27 January to 1 February 2020, for more information or book tickets visit www.derbytheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01332 593939.
Derby Theatre, 15 Theatre Walk, St Peter’s Quarter, Derby, DE1 2NF | 01332 593939
