13.53°C Act V are a group of people aged over 50 who come together at the Headgate Theatre on Monday mornings to create theatre. It’s a tremendously sociable initiative that fights loneliness and brings together like-minded people to explore a variety of genres and styles. For Colchester Fringe, they created a series of original monologues written and performed by group members, and it’s exactly why a Fringe festival should exist. People with limited stage experience coming together to take that huge step of performing in front of an audience – and it was wonderful to watch.
Kicking off the show, Old and Fabulous was performed by Miriam Clarke, recounting a recent trip to Ireland and demonstrating that age is no barrier to fun. Shirley Horne’s The Jacket showed how tastes have changed since the age of the fox fur, and how much fashion continues to define women in many people’s eyes. War and Treats was a deeply moving tribute by Lesley Corner, while Pam Garland had us all with her in the perceptive monologue, It’s A Man’s World. Humour abounded in Little Horrors by Sally Groom, and we were all held by Jenny Lithgow’s Foggy Night, beautifully performed by Maria Eastaugh. Tim Strugnell delivered wonderful comedy in Don’t Forget the Freddos Dad, and Janet Young provided much to think about in Who Am I? Shirley Horne returned to the stage in Dressing Appropriately, reminding us that these women were the first wave of feminism – the original Riot Women!
The most moving piece was Jenny Lithgow’s My Daddy, with Christine Smith honouring her story with total love and emotion. The Interview took us back once again to the fight for equality, written and performed by Lesley Corner, and Tim Strugnell rounded off the show with A Proverb, written by Carrie Ransom.
All in all, it was a triumph. The audience, full of proud family members, shared in a real sense of excitement and achievement. This is what theatre should do: offer experiences and opportunities to all, regardless of age. A joy to have seen.
Review by Paul T. Davies, Theatre Editor, Keep Colchester Cool
