Review: Alma Mater, Almeida Theatre - gripping and thought provoking
14/07/2024
It's been a bit of a build-up to seeing Alma Mater at the Almeida Theatre. Twice performances we booked were cancelled, and tickets had to be rearranged.
So it was a relief to finally sit in the theatre watching it on a third attempt.
There has been a cast change; Justine Mitchell has taken over the role of Jo from Lia Williams, who had to pull out due to ill health.
With so little rehearsal time, Justine Mitchell still had her script in hand when I saw it, but her performance was such that I barely noticed. She plays an ex-journalist, feminist campaigner and now master of an esteemed college steeped in tradition and history.
When fresher Paige (Liv Hill) confides in student Nikki (Phoebe Campbell) that she was sexually assaulted, Nikki decides to take up the cause and turns to Jo.
But when Jo doesn't give Nikki the answers she wants, battle lines are drawn.
Kendall Feaver's play is knotty; there are no simple answers or straightforward characters.
Instead, it exposes the complexity and challenges of addressing sexual assault and the culture, behaviour and attitudes that lead to harmful incidents.
There are different players on the chess board: students, faculty, parents, victim and accused. Every exchange is charged, and every argument set out has a 'but'.
Should you follow the imperfect process for dealing with such an incident? Is exposure of the issue on the internet any more or less effective—or fair?
At what point does an innocent and fun culture become regarded as toxic? How do you address that, and where does the responsibility for changing culture and attitudes lie?
Staged simply and effectively with a 'pen' of low benches around the outside of the thrust stage, the performance space has the feel of a sort of bear pit. Characters literally and figuratively sit on the benches, casting their own judgment or standing outside a particular line of discussion.
The sharp, tightly written script is expertly handled by the cast, and this is a gripping watch. I'm Alma Mater ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Alma Mater, Almeida Theatre
Written by Kendall Feaver
Directed by Polly Findlay
Cast includes Justine Mitchell, Phoebe Campbell, Liv Hill, Nathaniel Parker and Nathalie Armin.
Running time: 2 hours and 25 minutes, including an interval.
Booking until 20 July, for more information and to buy tickets visit the Almeida website.
Current plays I've reviewed:
The Constituent, Old Vic Theatre ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ booking until 10 August.
Visit From An Unknown Woman, Hampstead Theatre ⭐️⭐️⭐️ booking until 27 July
Fuckboy, Riverside Studios ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ booking until 14 July
George, Omnibus Theatre ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Booking until 14 July
Romeo & Juliet, Duke of York's Theatre ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ booking until 3 August.
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