Exploring the themes of binge drinking, consent and sexual assault, Wasted, by award-winning playwright Kat Woods could easily be written off as far too heavy for a night at the theatre, but with some fantastically simple staging by Louise Dunne, and a dynamism of movement more akin to dance than acting, this production by Bruiser Theatre Company is both entertaining and sobering.
We join Oli and Emma on-stage as they try to make sense of the aftermath of a night on the town – there was drinking, dancing, flirting and more – it’s all good fun until the sun comes up, the curtains are thrown open and the hangovers begin to set in. As the characters (played skilfully by Sharon Duffy and Warren McCook) try to decipher exactly what happened, and at what point consent was or was not given, we are confronted with a legal grey area not often talked about in polite conversation.
For 60 minutes the actors play multiple parts throughout the show, swapping characters, genders and making quick changes to the set as they go along. Two chairs, a table and a long rectangular screen are the only props, allowing just the words and actions to tell the story. The screen is a really nice touch and it adds a bit of modernity to a tale that could be set at any point over the past 20 or 30 years.
The last production of Wasted we saw was 5 years ago with Nuala Donelly directing for Pintsized Productions. This time around Nuala is in the assistant director’s chair with Lisa May directing, and the story is as impactful, emotive and provocative as ever with that signature Bruiser energy shining through.
You can catch Wasted on its tour at the following locations, and for those heading off to University, or who have teenagers of drinking age I would seriously urge you to consider it as it might just change your perspective on these highly emotive themes and encourage some important conversations:
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