Stop The World We’re Getting Off – The Space, Venue 45

Stop The World We’re Getting Off takes a different approach to the concept of “the apocalypse”, no zombies, no nuke war, just the results of the damage that we the human race are currently doing to the world.

The play takes place in a not-so-distant future when the world is no longer inhabitable due to a thick smog that has taken over as a result of the human races’ lack of care for the planet. 5 Survivors find themselves living their day to day lives hiding away in a bunker, however 5 is soon to become 6 when Ava (Georgie Cunningham) falls pregnant and dark secrets are revealed. With oxygen running low and so little time before the baby can arrive, it’s up to the team to work together to find an improbable solution.

Tenderfoot Theatre Company are a global activist group specializing in sustainability and educating audiences in the impacts of environmental damage and greed. All costumes are second hand or made using sustainable materials and natural dyes and props have also been made with reused materials.

The script itself is very well written, all conversations are sadly realistic and all the more compelling. The relationships between character’s are developed but unfortunately, it’s the execution that falls a little on the flat side.

The chemistry between Ava and Cayden (Adam Gannon) is fantastic and the two set the show off to a good start with their compelling romance. Kate Elizabeth Carey makes a sweet narrator to start and finish the piece, but her character of Kimmy is given little motivation and personal journey through the show and is more treat as a side character solely there to support others.

One of the biggest issues that arises in this show is simply the ages of the cast, all of the actors are rather young with no effort put in to display them as being of different generations. You spend alot of the show trying to piece together the character’s ages as confusing hints are dropped throughout. No-one tries to play their roles as younger or older than another stripping characters like the scientist of character depth.

The script has real potential and there are some brilliant moments for each actor but unfortunately there’s a lot of character underdevelopment on the actor’s parts resulting in some wooden acting from time to time. This is a shame as there are some fantastic moments in the show especially in the director’s blocking that are overshadowed.

Stop The World We’re Getting off plays at Venue 45 of The Space until the 27th (excluding 21st) at 12:40pm, https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stop-the-world-we-re-getting-off

Reviewer: Beth Eltringham

Reviewed: 19th August 2022

North West End UK Rating: ★★★