Snowflakes
Park90
12th April to 6th May 2023
“Taking Cancel Culture to an extreme, black comedy Snowflakes questions ideas of morality, revenge, and justice with gleefully violent abandon. Combining the technological nihilism of Black Mirror with the dark comedy and horror of Inside No. 9, Robert Boulton’s Offie–Nominated Snowflakes is coming to Park Theatre this spring. This critically acclaimed, award–winning (Best Production, 2021 London Pub Theatre Awards) play captures the intricacies of modern outrage and subsequent trials by social media.
Tony is standing for trial by social media, and Marcus and Sarah work for a very special start–up – they do the job people are crying out for in the comments section. In this start–up, you can outsource your rage to the professionals; justice is not blind, it’s streamed to millions. What if you could decide at the click of a button who deserves to be forgiven for their moral wrongdoings, and who deserves to die for their sins?
Snowflakes is a sci–fi black comedy that questions the potency of social media and examines how far you could go to right a wrong. This enthralling new work is presented by Dissident Theatre, a company with the goal of making theatre which confronts the base, the repressed and the ambiguous corners of the world we live in, and Chronic Insanity, an Offie Award–winning theatre company, specialising in all things digital, interactive, and immersive.”
Review by Richard Lambert, 3 Stars
A revival of this piece which was previously done at the Old Red Lion Theatre. A fascinating concept about cancel culture where a start-up company is using Social Media to stream a kangaroo court. The viewers then vote on whether or not to kill the accused.
Set in a hotel room the accused wakes alone but shows a pair of female knickers to indicate he’d had a woman stay with him. The assumption is he’s an adulturer.
Room service arrives but it’s representatives from the startup company, run by someone referenced in the script as “she” or “her”. Unfortunately the level of intrigue doesn’t quite hit home. With many long monologues and limited blocking, it requires a very patient audience. And does adultery really necessitate public execution?
It’s a nice lighting rig but the soft pink in the 2nd half doesn’t match the dramatic mood. The video works well with a live feed and organic mask. The sound scape was quite distracting with beeps and ring tones throughout and a very loud phone ring effect – sometimes less is more.
The final fight scene was well staged and performed by the strong cast.
Social Media cancel culture is all around us inflicting stress and torment. A play effectively exposing this is still waiting to be written. That would be a different play.
Photo credit: Jennifer Evans
Cast
Marcus: Robert Boulton
Sarah: Louise Hoare
Tony: Henry Davis
Creatives
Director Mike Cottrell
Assistant Director Oliver Graham
Writer Robert Boulton
Designer Alys Whitehead
Lighting Designer Jonathan Chan
Videography Dan Light
Stage Manager Maria Maracci
Fight Director Bethan Clark
Snowflakes
Dates 12th April – 6th May 2023
Monday – Saturday, 7.45pm
Thursday and Saturday matinees, 3.15pm
Relaxed Performance Thursday 27th April 3.15pm
Audio Described Saturday 29th April 7.45pm; Touch tour, 6.30pm
Location Park Theatre, 13 Clifton Terrace, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3JP
How to Get There
The nearest underground station is Finsbury Park (Victoria/Piccadilly Line)
Running Time 1 hour 40 minutes including interval
Box Office
Tickets are £12 – £20 with concessions at £9
available from https://parktheatre.co.uk/whats-on/snowflakes
Age Guidance 14+, themes of sexual violence, violence, and explicit language
Twitter #Snowflakes, @CITheatre, @ParkTheatre, @dissidenttc
Instagram @dissidenttheatre, @chronicinsanitytheatre, @parktheatrelondon, #Snowflakes