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Smock Alley Scene and Heard Festival (SASH) 2018 – Dublin
Written & Performed by Karen Killen
Directed by Romana Testasecca
Associate Producer Vincent Brightling
Sarah is 19. She has a camera, a laptop and a ukulele. She wants to take on the world, via YouTube. But is she ready for #CyberSpace?!
Karen Killen wrote and stars in this one woman show. Performed in the Boys School Stage at Dublin’s Smock Alley the architecture makes the perfect backdrop to the play. Orange lights shaped like flowers hang above our protagonist, casting a soft glow. A large TV sits in an empty window, the screen facing the rows of seats. Underneath this sits Sarah. Armed with fresh makeup, a ukulele and a camera she is all set to take on cyberspace.
She is the perfect vlogger. Sharing details of her life freely and singing to her hidden audience. The play opens with Sarah answering fan questions. She is loud, bright and friendly. Her favourite things are YouTube her followers. A slight slip of the tongue however gives a hint of the loneliness that lies beneath. “Do you have a boyfriend? No, I mean yes!”
It is from here that we start to see deeper than the artfully staged videos. When she is not on camera her life is very different. Takeaway food, internet trolls, comfy pyjamas and no real human interaction. The sound of Skype calls and phones ringing interrupt her work. These are always one way conversations as Sarah refuses to let loved ones reach her. By keeping love at arm’s length, she can keep up the pretence of a perfect life for her subscribers.
Click 2 Subscribe is funny from the start to the finish thanks to Testasecca’s capable direction. Props and clothing are used throughout to further the narrative and create opportunities for humour in this witty, insightful fast paced play.
SASH is a unique theatre event that gives writers, actors and directors the opportunity to present plays in development. This is a vitally important for theatre makers. It is also great for theatre goers who are given the opportunity to see a wide variety of performances in different stages of development. One moment you can be watching a deeply moving family drama, the next a laugh a minute collection of sketches. Last year’s entry from Rosebud Theatre was the poignant and politically timely SYRIUS, which blended movement and powerful imagery to tell the story of a woman forced to flee the horror engulfing Syria. Following last years festival the production has toured Europe to critical acclaim. Hopefully Rosebud Theatre will be able to use the experience and feedback from SASH 2018 to follow and improve on last years success with Click 2 Subscribe.
lauramarriottwriting 