CONSENT by Nina Raine

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CONSENT is probably one of the least fluffy dramas you’re like to see performed by a non-professional theatre company.

Written by Nina Raine, it premiered at the National in 2017 – when it garnered glowing reviews, but has remained pretty untouched since.

Understandable really, its tricky subject matter, sexual consent, doesn’t exactly shout ‘entertaining evening ahead’.

Barristers and friends Edward (Dave Crossfield) and Tim (James McCabe) take opposing briefs in a rape case. The rapist is let off after the victim (Julie-Ann Randell) is vilified for being drunk at the time of her ordeal and for having a brief past depressive illness.

The trial seems a kind of point-scoring sport to the laddie lawyer mates Ed and Tim, whose own relationships, and those of their friendship group, are then put under the magnifying glass in the ensuing domestic drama.

When Ed’s wife Kitty (Ruth Herd) accuses Ed of marital rape, the debates of the courtroom become all too real.

It’s hard-hitting often brutal stuff, but it’s also a tragi-comedy so there are moments of levity, and the superb cast, under the direction of Tara Lacey, make it eminently watchable.

In particular, as Edward and Kitty’s marriage breaks down, Crossfield and Herd give raw and harrowing performances as the dinner party jollity gives away to #metoo-era reckoning.

A vibrant and smart take on a crucial issue.

Saw this last night in an almost packed house. It's a powerful play delivered, to perfection, by a powerful cast. 

At the end of part one there was a palpable sense of shock - a collective sharp intake of breath - in the auditorium before people applauded at the brilliance of this performance.

At the end of part two, the audience were up on their feet to show their appreciation. Be warned, this play and performance will move your mental furniture and you will never be able to put it back.

If you're a woman with daughters, family and friends, please go watch this. And if you;re a man who cares about any of these women, please go and watch this. Four more performances to go.

Once a case gets to court it’s not to do with truth and justice but how good your barrister is.​

Gayle (Julie-Ann Dean), was befuddled by the court process and left bereft at the lack of justice for the rape she suffered. This play gave an astute analysis of the legal process as Julie-Ann portrayed superbly the bewilderment of Gayle, a working class woman, before and during her cross examination. The whole play highlights the continued injustice for rape victims.

For the respective defence and prosecution barristers Eddy (Dave Crossfield) and Tim (James McCabe) this was just another case. Nina Raine’s very clever script depicted the hypocrisy of this metropolitan elite. With their wives, other barristers and their friends they sneer with disdain at the hoi polloi. They drink, smoking dope, and laugh. These privileged professionals live a world away from Gayle’s situation. Eddy and Tim’s flirting with Zara (Esther Riggs) as they explain cross examination techniques to her was a clever demonstration of manipulation of witnesses to influence a jury irrespective of the truth.

This came at a price in their personal lives as flaws came to the surface. Infidelity, the inability to forgive, the incessant need to forensically analyse issues within their relationships and rationalise behaviour causes marriages to split and reform or new relationships to form. The second act in particular brilliantly exposed acrimonious and vindictive behaviour, and a desire for revenge and justice, something which paradoxically their clients often did not get. When Gayle gatecrashed a party at Eddy’s, she gave an impassioned speech as she tried to bring home to them the effects of their actions and inactions at her trial.

All the actors played their parts magnificently. The set was as simple with minimal furniture but the script and direction of the actors made this The Loft’s best play of the year so far.

This searing production, masterfully directed by Tara L Lacey, will live with me for a long time. The acting is so good that there's no fourth wall; the cast suck you in. It's filmic, at times brutal but never less than gripping. It is the best production I've seen this year and the cast own the play.

Ms. Lacey - More please - you raised a very high bar.

"The script was sad and funny and very well written. The cast did a wonderful job. I would highly recommend this."

"Powerful. Being a fly on the wall of the relationships as they broke and injustices as they happened."

"...a superb powerful production."