Theatre Review: ‘Nightmare’ by the Western Players- Swindon Art’s Centre- 19th June 2014

‘Nightmare’- A suspense play by Norman Robbins.
Performed by: The Western Players.
Cast: Karen Evans, Sarah Cousens, Tony Manders, Matt King, David Cousens, Annie Harvey, Helen Pain and Mark O’Donnel.
Produced by: Stuart Jackson.
Performance Date: Thursday 19th June 2014
Location: The Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town, Swindon.
Website: http://www.westernplayers.co.uk/comingsoon.htm


It’s the undetermined, unpredictable nature of professional sports that is supposedly the lure for those watching it, but when it comes to the England football team usual rules do not apply. You know exactly what is going to happen, every single time. The fans are going to get their hopes up, the players are going to sound upbeat and positive, stating that this time it’s going to be different, and then the actual match happens and they do what they always do. They slip on a banana skin, fall spectacularly on their face and then spend the next few weeks moaning about how unlucky they were.

So when there was a choice between watching a new play, ‘Nightmare’ by the Western Players, and the latest England team world cup debacle, there was no choice at all. The play won hands down. I would laugh at the prank falls performed by the England comedy football team later on, learning that they had once again shot themselves in the foot, just like they always do. Some things never change, but on to the play.

I went into this play completely cold, as I always do. That’s how I get the most out of both theatre and film. To go in there with only the broadest of outlines on what I am going to watch, then sit down and let the experience take me where it may. All I knew was that it was a ‘suspense play,’ and that it was to be performed by a group called ‘The Western Players.’ I had no prior knowledge about the plot, themes or setting, so when things happened before me I could enjoy them as something completely brand new, and enjoy them as such.

The performance opened with a simple staging of a comfortable, yet slightly dated living room, and the set did not change throughout the entire duration of the play. There were some sound effects, but that was all. All of the drama unfolds within that one setting, and without spoilers, that seemingly inconsequential factor will play a huge role in later events.

There were seven performers in the play, with some better than the others, but all performers were clear and precise in the delivery of their lines. There was no mumbling, and no confusion about what was being said. As an audience member I always knew what was going on, and how the plot was progressing. It’s difficult to pinpoint my favourite performer, but special mention must be made to Sarah Cousens and her portrayal of a kind-hearted character who is both devastated and confused by unfolding events, and Karen Evans in her audience favourite portrayal of the local town gossip.

This however is an ensemble piece where all performers are needed to service the plot of misdirection, false leads and surprises. It’s one of those plays where you think you know what is about to unfold, but are then delighted to find out that you have been just as confused about events as some of the characters themselves.

The key to a play such as this is clarity. You have to know exactly what is happening to fully enjoy events as they unfold. ‘Nightmare’ is performed with perfect clarity, and the plot has an easy, enjoyable simplicity about its execution. There is no sense of ‘missing the clue’, and there is a delightful moment at the conclusion of the play when the audience realises exactly what has happened, and all of the consequences that this now entails.

‘Nightmare’ by the Western Players is a wonderful play that I have no hesitation in recommending. It’s a play of misdirection with a delightfully shocking denouement that will have you leaving the theatre very much satisfied with what you have just experienced.  I’ll conclude this review by stating the obvious, that my decision to miss the all-too predictable football match and watch a far less predictable, and far more enjoyable play in the Swindon Art’s Centre was a very good decision indeed. Rating: 8/10