A shot rings out, and we watch as a mother and her two daughters finally taste freedom. In this dark, yet witty show, we find out how these girls’ lives has been dictated and ruled by their not so nice father and husband. What follows is a journey about family and how community can rally round to support you, without a doubt a play that will keep you on the very edge of your seat.
The Bleeding Tree, which is written by Angus Cerini and directed by Sophie Drake, is possibly one of the most well written, creative pieces to grace our stages in a very long time. The writing flows seamlessly, a never-ending, intertwining monologue shared between the three of them, unlike anything being performed at the moment. A flawless script, both dark and humorous in exactly the right amounts, it has you laughing one second and sitting in quiet contemplation the next. With pure emotion left on the stage, there are moments that make you feel they are truly baring their soul, as if they are telling a story they have actually lived.
The staging is simplistic (Jasmine Swan), with only a few props being used throughout, but coupled with sounds (Asaf Zohar) that help emphasis what is happening on stage, its hard not to feel as though you are right there with the girls, as you are truly sucked into the world they create the minute they step on stage.
All three actresses (Elizabeth Dulau, Mariah Gale and Alexandra Jensen) were fantastic, showing raw talent and emotion, often making it hard to remember they were in fact acting. Being the only three on stage and the fast pace nature of the script, these ladies do not get a moments rest, and it’s evident from the start that they have truly submerged themselves into their roles. Not only do they play their own characters, they seamlessly slip into others with a change in accent or stance, easily changing their whole presence on stage, just further confirming how fantastic the three of them are.
This hour-long play is hard to talk about without giving too much away, but The Bleeding Tree is most definitely a play that will stick in your mind for a very long time, you simply must see it before it finishes. The Bleeding Tree plays at Southwark Playhouse Borough until 22nd June - for more information and tickets, you can follow the link here.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5*)
Gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Lidia Crisafulli
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