Театр Rank & File представил премьеру в новом зале Old Library в Ньюбери

Theatre makes its debut at Newbury’s Old Library Rank & File: Work in Progress showcase at The Old Library, review by AMY TRIGWELL-JONES on Thursday, July 9 Rank & File Theatre’s work-in-progress showcase at The Old Library offered far more than a preview of three new productions. As the very first performance to be staged in the Corn Exchange’s brand new community theatre space, the evening felt especially significant. It was built on courage, creativity and community, bringing together people whose stories are too often unheard and proving how theatre can connect us through shared human experience. The evening opened with Washroom, an innovative and haunting piece by Iranian theatre-maker Iman Badi, presenting his first work in the UK. Set inside a stark industrial washroom, the audience was immediately immersed in an unsettling soundscape of dripping water, distorted laughter and echoing voices. Through projection, live camera work and physical theatre, a grieving mother clings to a bag containing the memory of her missing son while another figure offers to erase her pain. When asked whether she wants the memory removed, her simple response – that these memories make her a mother – is devastating. It leaves the audience questioning whether our painful memories are a burden or the very things that shape who we are. Common Ground, created with members of Reading Refugee Support Group, was equally moving. Using multilingual testimony, movement, live music and personal stories, it explored displacement, belonging and the damaging myths surrounding refugees. The inclusion of subtle audio description for a blind performer was seamlessly woven into the performance, reflecting the company's commitment to genuine accessibility and inclusion. Rather than focusing solely on hardship, it celebrated resilience, culture and the power of listening to one another. The evening concluded with Pyramus and Thisbe, created with Eight Bells for Mental Health. This playful Beatles-inspired take on Shakespeare’s comedy was full of warmth, humour and infectious enthusiasm. Beyond the laughter, it demonstrated how drama can build confidence, support wellbeing and give people a space to tell their own stories. Together these three performances created an unforgettable evening that celebrated sadness, hope, resilience and, above all, the extraordinary power of the arts to bring communities together.