The Off Cut Festival – Riverside Studios, Hammersmith

09 October 2011

The Off Cut festival returns for its third year now in a brand new residence, the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. Off Cut was launched in 2009 by ‘In Company’. The artistic directors are Daniel Brenan and Trudi Boatwright, with Nick Kneller as Executive Director. ‘In Company’ believes ‘that the finest theatre comes when writers, directors and actors truly understand the notion of open collaboration: when each inspires and is inspired by every other member of the company’.

This is a short play festival that offers a fantastic chance for the work of 28 writers, 28 directors and 75 actors to be showcased. The most popular plays of the festival will be performed again in the final where a panel of industry professionals will be invited to see the final performance. They will select the recipients of the Panel Awards for Writing, Directing and Acting. This year’s panel will be chaired by playwright Moira Buffini and includes actress Patricia Hodge.

Tonight the Riverside Studios was buzzing and Off Cut was packed out as it has already established itself in its previous years as a great evening’s entertainment. THe format is that we see 8 different short plays this evening, each lasting 15 minutes and the best bit is that as an audience member, we get to cast our vote on our top 3 favourites. An X Factor for new writing!

Unfortunately one of the plays this evening ‘Skunk’ by Erasmus Murikami was pulled at short notice as one of the actors broke their foot in the technical rehearsal, this means more votes however for the remaining scenes. Which are – Low Prices You Can Taste, By Michael Rose, Click, by Mike Carter, Quid Pro Quo, by Sandra Hale, The Craft, by Andrew Bliss, Basement Flat, by Steven Rostance, and Let There Be, by Kate Bannister.

The plays are definitely a mixed bag. The standard of writing, acting and direction varying between the different scenes. This made it very interesting and I really relished using my vote. Sometimes the 15 minutes flew by when I was truly engrossed. 15 minutes can also feel like an eternity when sitting through one of the less entertaining pieces.

My favourite play tonight was ‘Basement Flat’, a two hander with Lainey Shaw and Richard Jackson. Lainy Shaws fantastic acting really brought this piece to life. In just 15 minutes we really got to know this couple on the brink of a break up. Lainey Shaw is definitely an actress we will be seeing more of. This got my number one vote. My second choice was the marvellous ‘The Craft’. Another 2 hander with actors Tracey Ann Woods and Dan March. A hilarious insight into the inner dialogue these characters are having on stage as they are acting in a play. My third and final vote went to the play ‘Let There Be’ purley for Hannah Woods excellent characterisation of 14 year old Lizzy and her fabulous rapping!.

The 15 minutes allocated to each play included the actors get in and get out and I loved how Basement Flat utilised this and made it part of the scene. Techical Manager Jon Bradshaw saw to it that this evening was seamless, which must be a huge task with 8 different plays each evening. Also special mention must go to the reading panel who have given their time to making sure that only the very best plays get to be showcased. I really hope the Off Cut Festival goes from strength to strength. I think it’s such a great opportunity for all involved and it deserves all the success that come it’s way.