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Stepping back into the world of live theatre to watch a performance was like having a well-earned cup of tea after a long day at university. Welcoming, exciting and a well-deserved reward after not being able to visit the theatres for over 18 months.  

Typical Girl is about a group of women who are in a mental health unit in prison, set in the 21^st century.

They all attend music lessons where they are inspired to play music after listening to and playing music by the punk rock band The Slits. Throughout the performance we see each character go through their story of how they ended up in prison, and how music has affected them, *Spoiler alert* eventually leading the group to form their own band to vent their frustrations.

For me the highlight of the performance was the highly effective staging and lighting. It helped to set the mood and gave emphasis to the characters frustration adding further depth to their story.  This is something I will consider in the future when devising a production or performing myself.

For example, when the monologues were performed, spot lighting was used to create a dramatic effect, and ensured the audience were focused on the story being told. Inviting you into the characters world and state of mind. I also enjoyed the use of a chalk board being projected onto a wall. As the characters spoke, their words were projected onto the board, making their anger or sadness even more significant.

The only part of the performance I didn’t enjoy as much was the inclusion of the script above the door. Only a small detail however I found it very distracting as I found myself reading along!

Overall, the long-awaited theatre experience and Typical Girls to me was a huge success and fully enjoyable. Highly recommended!

Photo By Helen Murray.