Masterclass

The stage of the Purcell Room resembles a 70’s TV chat show studio, two comfortable armchairs positioned centre stage, a low table between them with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses the only adornments as though waiting for Michael Parkinson to interview Oliver Reed once more. Instead of Parky and Reed, an ‘acclaimed’ writer/director (Adrienne Truscott) and a nervous interviewer (Feidlim Cannon) take their seats and the interview begins.

This two-hander explores the role of gender in the performing arts with Adrienne dressed in a hyper-masculine outfit – a cross between classic Hemingway and Che Guevara – a busy moustache completing the look whilst aside from a large curly wig, Feidlim’s character is more conventionally dressed in a tweed jacket and corduroy trousers.

Interspersed with humour, the ‘interview’ discusses and challenges the role and treatment of women in the artist’s work – are they only ever minor two-dimensional characters whose only role is to allow their male colleagues to shine? How does the writer perceive women and react to the criticism directed towards him? There are some important and challenging ideas being confronted which, whilst perhaps more relevant historically, nonetheless remain pertinent (indeed the #metoo movement is referenced, albeit as a slightly awkward joke).