REVIEW: Sheila’s Island delights audiences - tickets are still available!

KATS are putting on Sheila's Island, by Calendar Girls and Kinky Boots creator Tim Firth, and there are still tickets for tonight and tomorrow if you hurry! 

This week at Malborough Villlage Hall Kingsbridge Amateur Theatrical Society (KATS) are  presenting the play, Sheila’s Island by Tim Firth (Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots, Our House).

KATS always put on such a professional show, and this is no exception. If you haven’t already bought your tickets, then I recommend you go online to kats-kingsbridge.co.uk or turn up at the door. I can guarantee you’ll have a fabulous evening full of laughter and some thought-provoking moments. 

L-R: The cast Sarah Montague, Jules McColl, Jo Ellis and Jackie Hodges - must cleaner than you'll see them on stage in Shelia's Island

Four middle-aged women from Pennine Mineral Water Ltd set off as Team C in their company’s outward-bound team building exercise with Sheila as their elected leader. Unfortunately, due to Sheila’s misreading of the clues, they become probably the first ever people to end up shipwrecked on an island in the middle of Derwent Water in the Lake District.

The play follows the four women  trying to survive and navigate the totally unexpected teamwork challenge of trying to get off the island. 

The first time we meet the ladies they are crawling ono the stage, soaking wet and looking as though they are prepared for a Duke of Edinburgh hike. 

Seasoned director Mike Davies has done an excellent job of bringing the script to life. The action  cracked along at a tremendous pace gathering up the audience and taking them along with it. The continuous action was due in part to the slick scene changes overseen by Stage Manager, Sarah Davies.  

The set, simple but effective, with cut-out trees, one dominant tree and various stumps dressed with leaves, sticks and stones brought to mind the old adage, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me” which presumably was the intention. The sound and lighting team of Ben Sinnott and Luke Adams conveyed so much context to the static set. 

The four ladies in the cast established their characters from the start. Jo Ellis gains the audience’s sympathy vote immediately as the gentle, vague, religious Fay who seems to be slightly apart from the group whilst the “Captain” of Team C, Sheila played by Sarah Montague puts all her energy into the challenging task of keeping everyone’s spirits up.

Jules McColl as Denise immediately establishes herself as the joker of the pack. She appears to be distinctly unimpressed with everything and no-one escapes her biting sarcasm especially the slightly ditsy “middle of the road” Julie played by Jackie Hodges who has a rucksack packed to the brim with everything but the kitchen sink.

This was a real ensemble piece each of the characters complementing the others. All four actresses displayed excellent comedic timing as they exchanged increasingly desperate banter. What starts out as light-hearted comedy becomes quite dark at times.

After being stranded for days, all four women are despairing and start to become the worst versions of themselves: Secrets are shared; Home truths are told; and dark pasts are exposed. This play is a very persuasive argument against team building! 

No spoilers but let’s just say, the ending is unexpected. 

KATS would not be able to produce such professional productions without a huge support team overseen by the hardworking KATS committee. I would love to be able to mention everyone by name. 

This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Congratulations KATS – you’ve done it again! 

Sheila’s Island runs for another two nights 28-29 September, 7.30pm, at Malborough Village Hall. Tickets are available at kats-kingsbridge.co.uk or at the door.

Review by Christine Bonner.