Theatre review: The Struggling Life of an Artist, C venues - C aquilla
The Struggling Life of an Artist, C venues - C aquilla, * * *
Performed by writer Xiomara Meyer and director Tamalynne Grant, it uses an imaginative mix of theatrical styles to undermine the idea that, as a female artist, you need to “fit the mould and do what you’re told”.
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Hide AdGrant plays Jessica, an aspiring actress, who finds her measurements are more important than her monologues. Meanwhile, Olivia (Meyer) is a horror writer who is asked to take on a male pseudonym to get a publisher. Compromise or quit, they are told, in a piece ‘80% based on reality’. The drama works best when it avoids getting too angsty and the fun little songs would benefit from more projection and a richer musical accompaniment, but pacey scenes keep things moving.
While the career dilemmas of two relatively privileged millennials could be lazily dismissed as ‘first-world problems’, it’s hard to ignore the perhaps-not-entirely-acted tears of two young women trying find a way to do what they love, often while someone else gets paid for it.
SALLY STOTT
Until 26 August