Theatre Group’s ‘Nothing’: A Hilariously Gritty Insight into the Ins and Outs of Human Existence

Harry Daisley, Year 1

All images by Abby Swain.

Amongst the business of our daily lives, the chaos, the pressure, the hilarity and all that comes between, it may seem difficult to stop, find a moment and ask yourself the simple question, why? Lulu Racska’s ‘Nothing’, gives audiences that time to pause and ask that very question through a series of gritty monologues that directors Sophie Apthorp and Jess Payne have seamlessly overlayed. The product was a striking production, that showcased the exceptional talents of Leeds’s student theatre community.

It is difficult to summarise the plot of Rascka’s ‘Nothing’ into a brief paragraph. The play has no clear narrative, and rather takes the form a series of monologues delivered by disparate characters that occasionally touch on similar themes, including nihilism, existentialism and trauma. However, what they do have in common is poignancy. While the monologues are written in a witty, colloquial style that appears subjectively conversational, they all contain this intrinsic darkness buried under the surface that grabs attention and asks all the right questions. Racska’s fearless writing amounts to a production that is both raw and intimate and hugely stimulating for audiences. 

Such intimacy was underpinned by the talents of the cast. Each delivered highly captivating and compelling performances that elevated Racska’s writing. Take Charlotte McKenna’s portrayal of ‘Porn Girl’, a woman torn apart by her filthy obsession with pornography. McKenna’s performance is hilarious, using all the right physicality to accompany her punchlines, all of which landed with oomph. What is more is that McKenna took audiences on a journey—a skill that is not easy when it comes to lengthy monologues. While the monologue was superficially about one woman’s odd obsession with pornography, McKenna tapped into the nuanced areas of Racska’s script, adding depth to her character. The monologue tells of this woman feeling disconnected from the world and those around her and McKenna elevated such theme through her sullen delivery towards the end of her speech. While audiences laughed along, McKenna successfully drove home touching messages about the importance of in person relationships and the extent to which they make us who we are. 

Exemplar performances continued with Lucy Lawrence and Alice Waller’s depiction of ‘Stalker’ and ‘Vandal’ respectively. Like ‘Porn Girls’ narrative, the monologues were humorous in nature with alluring dark undertones. Lawrence’s portrayal of ‘Stalker’ tells audiences of a young girl’s first-hand reaction to a violent attack on a bus who was thrilled at the idea of something significant happening in her life. The characterisation here was fantastic. Lawrence captured and transmitted all elements of the monologue with ease, amounting to an enjoyable performance. Similarly, Waller kept the laughs going with her monologue describing her characters tendency to vandalise the doorsteps of her enemies with her own faeces. Waller successfully turned this insane narrative into something with substance through her impressive use of comedic timing and pacing. In essence, the cast successfully brought to life Apthorp and Payne’s bold visions in a way that was hard-hitting, captivating and most of all, impressive. 

Though, a special mention has to be given to Jacob Greaves’ heart breaking performance of ‘Patient’. Their nonchalant telling of a man’s childhood sexual assault left audience stunned into silence. With monologues with difficult content such as this, there is a tendency for actors to overplay emotions, leading to artificial performances. However, Greave’s avoided this with their beautifully subtle characterisation and wry delivery. Greaves’ let audiences in with their raw performance, perhaps making it the most memorable of the evening. 

From the set to the acting, ‘Nothing’ was slick and well-done. The production team (Apthorp, Payne, Lexi Prosser, Grace Elcock and Arthur Bell) demonstrated that there really is no limit to where student theatre can go. Their bold directorial and production elements coupled with the compelling acting brought a refreshing, whirlwind of a play to Banham Theatre and I wish I could witness it all over again.