Burnout – Vault Festival

Burnout starts with tackling the impact of flooding in a northern town, the effects of climate change, on the local people, the environment and the activists vying for solutions.  The characters Bridgette (Bridge) an activist and Amara a 16yr old girl who pops out to get milk quickly finds she is enthralled and curious about the activist (Bridge). Amara is keen to share her thoughts and feelings of the impact of activism on the cause and herself. The play focuses on the call to action from audience participation which is encouraged and the carefully provoking dialogue.

Written by Nicole Acquah and directed by Caitlin Evans, this short play is about activism, and the reality of climate justice, the show exposes the burnout of the planet and burnout of the activists which is a ‘real thing’. There are expressions of northernisms with comparisons to southerners adding comedy and a true conviction of expression and emotion portrayed by both women in communicating the issues facing activists. Scenes in the pub demonstrate the changing evolving mood of the women and time. The dialogue was projected onto the wall unsure why however it did not detract from the performance. 

There were moments of silence and slow pace, and this may have been deliberate…. However, did at times interrupt the flow of the story.  A rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine with words of the activists was fun and included the audience which generated a feeling of ‘being in this together’ and the feeling that climate justice is everyone’s’ business.      

Reviewer: Michelle Knight

Reviewed: 18th March 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★