Audrey’s Art Club, from Lita Doolan Productions, is a multi-media collection of snippets from the life of Audrey (Lita Doolan) and her relationship with Violet. Written and performed by Doolan, this original piece of theatre is a love story and also explores themes of isolation, loss and the often desperate need to be wanted.
The piece opens with a close up of a black and white Tarot Moon card, followed by several images of urban decay. Poetry is recited by Doolan as a voiceover and the poignant verse with themes of longing alludes to the sadness at the core of Audrey’s romance with Violet.
We see the city streets from Audrey’s point of view, as she walks about town. We then hear her side of a phone call about a job she is applying for. Doolan makes Audrey’s eagerness to get the job very clear even though this is done in subtle ways with clever use of language and tone.
The drama moves to Audrey’s current job, as a facilitator of a Zoom art club. Use of an animated filter gives Doolan an otherworldly quality, reminiscent of the iconic music video featuring a-ha. This creates a sense of the filtered life we often present to the world in our time of social media and adds to the fragmented nature of the piece. Doolan’s portrayal of stress during her classes is tangible, and her interactions with the invisible Mrs B truly create a sense of Audrey being at the end of her tether, reinforcing her desperation to find alternative employment.
Glimpses into Audrey’s diary adds context to the changes her life undertakes and the flashes of different events on a non-linear timeline is representative of how memory after an upsetting event works, creating a sense of realness, as if a friend was describing the events to you.
Peering into Violet’s point of view adds depth to this intricately layered piece. Elements of optimism and success nicely contrast with Audrey’s difficulties and a sense of the intermingling of their lives adds depth to the feelings being explored.
This is a great piece of theatre which is both identifiable and, at times, desperately sad. Complex levels of meaning and symbolism are enhanced by several blink and you’ll miss them touches. At it’s core, Audrey’s Art Club is about communication and the lengths we go to to maintain communication when it becomes unavailable in the usual ways, and also how easy it is to let communication slip when it’s easily at hand. The loops of the narrative and repetition are a clever way of creating a sense of déjà vu and give the piece a sense of completeness. Audrey’s Art Club is, at its heart, a love story, but maybe not the one you’re expecting it to be.
Audrey’s Art Club is being streamed as part of Brighton Fringe until 4th June 2023. Tickets are available here https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/audreys-art-club/
Reviewer: Donna M Day
Reviewed: 8th May 2023
North West End UK Rating: