Notes From Row H

Off West End theatre review -The Royal Court Theatre – PR/GIFTED

The Shitheads, Jack Nicholls’ debut play, which is directed by Aneesha Srinivasan and David Byrne, takes us back to prehistoric times – when giant elk roamed the land and people lived in caves, afraid to go out into the world. In this psychological horror-drama, stories and memories are used as a method of survival – and the play itself is a story of survival, strength, and ultimately, how love and violence are often two sides of the same coin. A bizarrely weird and strange emotional rollercoaster, this prehistoric play takes us back to the root of what humans are, through a parody of a family comedy. Imagine The Royale Family, but with a dash of cannibalism. 

Centred around a cave-dwelling family – the wild but capable Clare (Jacoba Williams), her eagerly innocent younger sister Lisa (Annabel Smith), and her menacing, indoctrinating father Adrian (Peter Clements), The Shitheads tells the story of when Clare meets Greg, a spirited young man who lives above ground with his family, when she is hunting elk. He is what her father calls a ‘Shithead’ – a lesser species, so Clare is surprised when Greg can understand her and talk. They click immediately, but that stops when she kills Greg and eats his brain in order to absorb his stories. Clare invites Greg’s partner, Danielle (Ami Tredrea) and child (a wonderful puppet controlled by Scarlet Winderink) into their cave, and then the plot turns into a slight comedic family drama – helped by Anna Reid’s set design, which mixes ‘cave’ with ‘modern living room’. There are bone light fixtures hanging from the ceiling and numerous cave paintings, along with a modern standard lamp and armchair, so this sets the anachronistic tone. There are even more dramatic and strange twists and turns, and of course more blood spilt – there is even a scene which involves hallucinogenic mushrooms.

The incredible use of puppets (particularly the elk) and Alex Fernandes’ creative lighting design (and Anna Reid’s set design), make this show visually impressive. When the elk first came onto the Jerwood stage, the audience audibly gasped – it was magical. Anna Reid also designed the costumes, and amongst the fur and leopard print of the caveman, there are modern twists that make sure the modern world is not far away. 

Jack Nicholls’ imagination has run wild, and he has created a play that is bloody and gripping, but one that has elements of comedy that help to alleviate the dark material. This was my first time visiting the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre – and it was such a great introduction. I cannot wait to return in the future to see what other plays are put on here. 

Written by Helena Featherstone