A Thought-Provoking and Emotionally Charged Exploration of Trauma
Little Scratch, adapted from Rebecca Watson’s novel by Miriam Battye and directed by Katie Mitchell, is a powerful and unconventional portrayal of a day in the life of a rape victim. The performance is narrated by four voices in her head, played with great coordination and nuance by Eleanor Henderson, Rebekah Murrell, Eve Ponsonby, and Ragevan Vasan.
Their narrations are accompanied by foley sounds that enhance the play’s visceral effect with occasional moments of poetic rhythm that feel like music to the ear. The sound and score by Melanie Wilson are also remarkable, as they accurately compose the protagonist’s life experiences and trigger the audience’s memories of daily sounds we usually ignore. Through this rapid internal monologue of narrations and foley sound effects, the play takes the audience on a journey into the protagonist’s mind, allowing them to experience the impact of trauma on her psyche.
The play portrays how the protagonist’s actions are intended to harm herself and emerge from the culture of the society where degradation of the self is celebrated. The play underscores how societal expectations and norms can perpetuate and exacerbate the psychological damage caused by sexual assault. Little Scratch successfully highlights the need to speak up against oppression and raise one’s voice against the oppressor.
Although there are some unclear relationships in the story, particularly with the protagonist’s boyfriend who feels like a shallow image of a friend rather than a meaningful source of support. Overall, Little Scratch deserves high praise for its unconventional form and the craft of storytelling. The immersive experience and the powerful performances make it a must-watch. Running at the New Diorama Theatre until May 13th, this play is a poignant and important exploration of trauma and its aftermath. https://newdiorama.com/whats-on/little-scratch
Reviewer: Akshay Raheja
Reviewed: 18th April 2022
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★