Ella Hickson, Plays: One

by Ella Hickson

Eight (Edinburgh Fringe, 2008), that astonishing first success, is included a state-of-the-nation group portrait in monologues, "an interactive Talking Heads for 21st-century teens and twentysomethings" ( Independent ). Also included is Hot Mess (Edinburgh Fringe, 2010), a dark and lyrical tale about twins born with just a single heart between them, and Precious Little Talent (Edinburgh Fringe, 2009; West End, 2011), about two young adults graduating into a world that’s sold them down the river. In Boys (HighTide Festival, Nuffield Theatre Southampton and Soho Theatre, 2012), the Class of 2011 faces a tricky transition to adulthood in a play that "powerfully captures the mood of a generation" ( Independent ). The volume also contains an introduction by the author and two short the previously unpublished PMQ , part of the Coalition season at Theatre503, London, in 2010; and Gift , first seen as part of Headlong’s immersive theatre production Decade in 2011.

Genres: Plays

368 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2019

Reviews

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, rounded down.

See individual titles for reviews on each play contained in this omnibus edition.

[Andy Dávila · Rating 3 out of 5]

(placeholder for Oedipus, at the Old Vic)

I’m writing on this production for my dissertation, and I was so happy to find that the script was already published.

However, as I said when I first saw this version live, the writing was by far not the strongest aspect of the production, jt was the dance. Honestly I found the writing to be very weak, and though the actors did their best, the writing and the acting are the least remarkable parts of the production.

I thought that I could find some conceptualisation of the dance scenes in the text, but it seems Hickson and Shechter did not collaborate at all in this aspect.

The rating is for the text only, I would have given a lower rating if I had considered my disappointment in the lack of descriptions for Shechter’s choreography in the production.

[Charlie Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4 star review is for Boys. Definitely the best play in the collection. When it started I thought it would be yet another boys will be boys play, but as it progressed I noticed Hickson not only had an ear for humour but also tenderness and compassion for her characters and a good relationship between her theatrical environment and the journey of her characters.

Precious Little Talent is also worth a read. The others are a bit monologuey. Good monologues, showing an understanding of her characters and their voices, but just a little dense for a fan of real back and forth theatre. It was interesting to see some real progression of the writer's voice though. Looking forward to reading Oil.