What The F*ck Happened to Love and Hope? – theSpace on the Mile

Nina (Olivia McGeachy) is trying to play it cool. She’s on the school bus, finding the courage to ask out a boy she fancies. Finally, she blurts it out, laughing off her nerves with her quirky persona.

Nina and Faye (Heidi Steel) are in the classroom, giggling at explicit pictures sent by a boy they know. They’re both sixteen. Faye, a young carer, comes across as self-assured, but she is hiding a world inside.

The friends go out clubbing, and the atmosphere is lively as they drink and dance together. Then Nina starts to feel woozy. Her drink has been spiked. Meanwhile, Faye has sex with a boy who removes his condom without her consent.

Both girls describe their rapes and the aftermath, still in shock but determined to tell their stories.

This is an astonishing debut from eighteen-year-old playwright Olivia McGeachy, who also plays Nina. The characters are beautifully drawn: young and full of life. The writing is compelling, and both performances are superb. Under the guidance of director Staci Shaw, the play tackles a hugely important topic, through the eyes of two young women who should be able to enjoy their lives in safety.

The show’s information sheet provides links to the following organisations:

www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk
www.everyonesinvited.uk
www.strutsafe.org
www.oneinfour.org.uk
www.womensaid.org.uk

Reviewer: Wendy McEwan

Reviewed: 20^th August 2024

North West End UK Rating: