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★★★★
Kent-based theatre company Smoking Apples Theatre are presenting new show ‘Three’ in their hometown of Folkestone this week, with a handful of performances at the Quarterhouse venue. Centring on familial relationships and the importance of making intergenerational connections, this play has been in development since the end of the pandemic and earlier this year I had the opportunity to ask co-director and writer Molly Freeman some questions about both the concept and the creative process. Following on from this sneak peek, I was thrilled to finally have the opportunity to see the work in person and the material reminded me of the importance of the little things in life, like sharing a cup of tea with a loved one or going for a walk by the sea.
About the play
‘Three’ is about neighbours Ida, Jaanvi and Ralph, who occupy flats in the same building in the UK. Whilst they don’t necessarily know each other on a personal level, they frequent the same places and their lives are separated by a few walls. The audience is introduced to the characters in the 2010s when their grandchildren are young and through a clever time jump to the present day, we learn how their lives have changed now that the children are grown. The bonds between grandparents and grandchildren are explored in parallel in this 70-minute piece of theatre, which highlights the importance of connecting with your older relatives.
Storytelling and visual design
The characters’ stories are told through masks, physical theatre, audio recordings, puppetry, shadow play and some really dynamic set design. Smoking Apples are known for their visual theatre making and ‘Three’ is actually the first time that the company has experimented with the art of mask. It is a welcome addition to this piece, allowing the performers to sensitively portray the elderly characters.
It is a highly symbolic piece of theatre, with various kitchen items and details influencing the storytelling. Without the addition of dialogue, it is very much a piece that relies on body language and visual cues in the props and set design. On the whole this is easy to follow, but in places I did struggle to pick up on some of the details in Jaanvi’s story. Out of the relationships highlighted, I would have liked to have learnt more about the bond between Jaanvi and Anika, as their present day relationship is only briefly touched upon.
Inviting set design
Co-director Matt Lloyd’s set consists of three separate kitchens, which are part of a rotating structure that pivots throughout the performance. The rooms reflect the personality and identity of each character and provide plenty of opportunity to get to know the people featured and their previous livelihoods. The design is a masterclass in how to create sets that beautifully represent the personalities at the centre of the material. The open kitchen layout also gives the impression that audiences have been welcomed into the heart of each of the homes, bringing such warmth to the theatrical experience.
Thoughtful and considerate theatre
One thing is for certain, I came away from the performance feeling like I should hug my grandparents even tighter. There is something really beautiful about creating a piece of art that centres on the little joys in life. The creative team and company also treat the topic of ageing and any potential solitude with so much care. You can really appreciate the amount of attention that has gone into creating this piece of theatre. ‘Three’ has its final performance at the Quarterhouse on Friday night. I look forward to hearing what comes next for this wonderful piece of theatre.
* My ticket for ‘Three’ was gifted in exchange for an unbiased review.
An excellent review of this special show. The comments reflect what the audience feels expecially older people. I loved three as I do all of smoking apples productions. Truly amazing.