Thirsty - The Paper Birds

Name of company	The Paper Birds
Name of show	Thirsty
Genre	Theatre
Venue	Pleasance 2
Date	3rd August (Preview Performance)

Review **** High quality performance – 2 actresses and 1 musician.  A play developed through information gathered by the company on reasons why people like to drink.  There were several touching anecdotes about how some people like to drink when they get together with family, some like a glass of wine after a long week at work, but the play mainly focussed on Kylie and Gemma who like more than the odd glass.  It follows them on a night out and the drunkenness that ensues.  It is not a lecture why we shouldn’t drink, it is just a truthful portrayal (sometimes a little too truthful for comfort…) of a night out when a large amount of alcohol is consumed.  It is funny and touching, but also, at times,  quite alarming. The set worked really well. It comprises of 3 toilet cubicles – 1 is occupied by the musician who also operates all the sound cues, the other 2 have toilets on casters that are moved around the set.  Probably about 8ft high – action also takes place over the sides of the cubicle walls so minimum clearance of approx. 10ft would be required. Lighting fairly basic, but several washes required, but this could be simplified for rural touring.  Although all the technical elements were of a high standard, I would say that the sound was too high at some points and you struggled to hear the text under the music, but this was a preview performance and with the person operating sound sitting on the set, it would be difficult for them to judge levels. It could be uncomfortable viewing for an older audience, but a fantastic piece of physical contemporary theatre. CA @ NEAT

Suitable / ready for rural touring?	Yes
Would you book them ?	Yes, but it would have to placed in specific venues – I don’t think it would be suitable for all of my venues because of height and subject matter.
Would it be worth pursuing this company to consider work in the future?	Yes