Review of Charlotte Josephine’s Blush at Soho Theatre

Blush by Charlotte Josephine is an electrifying piece of theatre. Angry, passionate, political and full of energy. These interconnected monologues, performed by a cast of two (Charlotte Josephine & Daniel Foxsmith) tell the stories of three women and two men confronted by the power of sex, the internet, and social media.

Josephine and Foxsmith are both exceptional in their roles. This is a face paced, wordy and rhythmic piece of theatre, and keeping the intensity up for the full seventy minutes is no small challenge. By the end of the performance, both actors are dripping sweat – and the audience feels a little hauled over coals (in a good way). This is a play that should leave you feeling wrung out – characters fly from anger to confusion to helplessness and bewilderment in the face of the cruelty of the on-line world. The danger of seeking meaningful connections with strangers is not a new topic for drama but Josephine has a point of view and a rage in her writing that makes these stories sizzle.

This is a writer with a point of view and a determination to be heard and this is a powerful physical production that rages without preaching. This is the new world, and these characters are simply catching up with it.

There’s some fantastic, inventive direction too from Edward Stambollouian – I particularly loved the use of the bells and the mini scenes within the scenes. The movement is pitched just right for this piece; frenetic, chaotic at times and breaking up the dialogue at just the right moments.

Snuff Box Theatre have already won all kinds of awards and plaudits for their shows, including the brilliant Bitch Boxer. Blush suggests they are going to be making urgent, compelling theatre that continues to challenge and provoke.

Review by Roz Wyllie

Five candid stories about revenge porn and all its many victims.
BLUSH is a slap in the face and a call to arms.

Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Charlotte Josephine, co-founder of Snuff Box Theatre presents her third play following the success of her award-winning Bitch Boxer which received five stars from Guardian and Times.

Directed by Ed Stambollouian, (Awkward Conversations with Animals I’ve Fucked and Old Vic 12).
Performed by Snuff Box Theatre’s co-founder Daniel Foxsmith.

Presented in association with Sphinx Theatre and supported by the Peggy Ramsay Foundation and Unity Theatre.

Running Time: 60 mins
Age Recommendation: 16+

NUFF BOX THEATRE IN ASSOCIATION WITH SPHINX THEATRE PRESENTS
BLUSH
BY CHARLOTTE JOSEPHINE
Tue 16 May – Sat 3 Jun 2017
Soho Upstairs