Squidge – Pleasance Courtyard

‘Squidge’ is an absorbing one woman show about Daisy, a teaching assistant. It’s a heart-warming play about a young woman who makes life better for the children with ‘special educational needs’ she teaches. But it’s not just about life in the classroom. Daisy tells us about her love life, her relationship with her mother, and the recent bereavement that is gnawing at her soul.

‘Squidge’ is written and performed by Tiggy Bayley. She wrote it last year when she was still teaching, and this is her theatrical debut. It’s a beautiful script which crackles with energy, emotion and wit. This is a rollercoaster of a show which has plenty of laughs, but some heartbreaking moments, too. It reveals its secrets slowly and leaves us with hope.

‘Squidge’ is simply staged but it’s amazing what good acting and sensitive directing can achieve with a small red chair and a jacket.

At first Daisy does not seem the most enthusiastic teaching assistant. But gradually she warms to her role and derives huge satisfaction from her interactions with the children. She starts to enjoy her work, particularly with Paddy, an Irish traveler. They develop a close bond. And Paddy, who has more-or-less been written off by others, sees his reading age rise by one year in just two months. Good teachers really do make a difference.

Outside school, Daisy starts a relationship with a sexy plumber. The sex is good, she has a lot of fun and the affair helps her forget her problems. But the plumber is not the person he seemed. Although Daisy tells us ’It was just about the sex’, it’s clear she’s kidding herself. She’s become emotionally attached to him, and he’s let her down badly. We feel for Daisy as she expresses her anger and hurt in a heartrending and totally convincing scene.

She’s constantly speaking to her Mum on the phone. Someone close to both of them has died. Later we find out who it is – her brother, Arthur, who died of a drug overdose. There’s an intensely emotional scene in which Daisy reenacts the moment she found him dead in the bath. It’s brilliantly acted and wonderfully staged.

Daisy has a good rapport with most of her colleagues. One of them advises her to ‘fight off the sadness’ and another, finding her distraught, gives her a comforting hug. But Daisy is furious when Miss Grimsby makes disparaging comments about Paddy. She calls her colleague a ‘bitch’ and a bad teacher, and children hear what she says. Miss Grimsby makes a formal complaint, and Daisy could be dismissed. A few months ago, Daisy would perhaps have stormed off and looked for another job. But things have changed. She loves her job now and will fight to keep it even if that means apologising to Miss Grimsby. She waits outside the Headteacher’s office for a meeting that will determine if she can retain the job she has come to love.

Tiggy Bayley is a really good actor, and this is an impressive acting debut. She has the ability to make us laugh, but also to move us deeply. She’s totally believable throughout. Her movement is good, too. Bayley is a versatile actor who should have a bright future.

I have a couple of constructive criticisms. Firstly, sometimes Bayley speaks a little too quietly. She just needs to raise her voice slightly in the quieter moments to ensure that everything she says can be heard clearly.

Secondly, it took me a while to warm to Daisy. She seemed very stroppy and miserable.  Obviously, there are reasons for that which become clear. But Bayley is playing Daisy who is telling us about events after they have happened when emotions are not so raw. So there can be a distinction between her mood when narrating to the audience and when reenacting episodes in her story. So, particularly in the first half of the show, she could sometimes be a bit brighter when speaking directly to the audience, and then find the appropriate mood for the scenes she reenacts so brilliantly.

‘Squidge’ is sensitively directed by Selwin Hulme-Teague. Plaudits to Linda-Ray Ndlovu for producing this excellent show.

‘Squidge runs until 26th August.  Tickets from https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/squidge

Reviewer: Tom Scott

Reviewed: 17th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: