Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Graduate Director's Cuts: Treats

"Dave returns home to find the locks changed and his girlfriend living with another man. In an attempt to win her back, he begins to insinuate himself into their lives. Under the surface of this witty, urban love triangle is an unsettling examination of the cycles of power and abuse."

That was the story of the theatre show I went yesterday at the Brewery Theatre, right across the road from the Tobacco Factory. It was the press night for "Treats", a dramatic story of the love-triangle between Dave, Ann and Patrick set in a 1974 single room flat in London. A violent tempered Dave refuses to accept that her ex-girlfriend is living with her lover Patrick, demanding an explanation and bullying her and being overly friendly with Patrick. He finally succeeds, making both of them miserable. After watching these three young actors interpret three completely different characters, my mind keeps going round in circles. Why do we, women, always prefer the bad-boy to the nice and gentle man? Why do we like to suffer? I don't have the answer but what I thought it would be a comedy theatre play ended up being a very dramatic situation. After all, I guess they both deserve each other.

It was the second performance of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School Graduate Director's Cuts season. It started last week with Laura McLean directing "Little One" by Hannah Moscovitch and last night, it was Christopher Hampton's "Treats", directed by Josey O'Neal. The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School is one of the most successful and well-respected conservatoire drama schools in the UK. It attracts the very best talent in students and staff, and it’s courses are recognised nationally and internationally as a benchmark of quality in professional drama training. It has been a centre of excellence for world-class vocational training in the arts and entertainment industry since its launch in 1946. 

Would you like to go see what Bristol's artists offer? It's not too late! Book your ticket for the next performances (ticket's between £7-£12):

• "Woman and Scarecrow" by Marina Carr (directed by Siobhan Cannon-Brownlie and designed by Elina Pieridou). 12-16 May 2015

Woman lies dying of spite, attempting to avoid a confrontation with death, who waits in the wardrobe. Accompanied by Scarecrow, Woman is visited by her heartless husband, and her overbearing auntie. Moving and funny, Woman and Scarecrow is a eulogy for a wasted life, from a woman unprepared for death.

• "The boy on the swing" by Joe Harbot (directed by Laura Jasper and designed by Elizabeth Harper). 19-23 May 2015

"What if, for a small fee, you had the opportunity to meet with God. Believer or non-believer, would you be tempted? Earl Hunt is. Join him on a bizarre and unpredictable journey that challenges personal beliefs in the pursuit of happiness and the desire to believe in something more."

INTERESTING LINKS

TOBACCO FACTORY THEATRE: http://www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com/

BRISTOL OLD VIC THEATRE SCHOOL: http://www.oldvic.ac.uk/
"Treats" by Christopher Hampton: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treats