Director: Kathryn Edwards

Lighting Design: David Billen

Sound Design: Jonathan Blacknell

Stage management: Jae Marriott

“You don’t have to do much to be an actor; just to be able speak and remember lines. Two very basic things” Phoebe Frances Brown.

A skilled performer can make a one person show look effortless and this one covers seventy five minutes worth of acting and chat; subjects ranging from the mundane made cripplingly funny – to the tragic unexpected turns of a young life lost to brain cancer. It is a sobering reminder of making the best of your time on Earth. To be clear, performing a one person show is not effortless even for the most experienced. It requires discipline, being script sharp, having charm, energy and humour to share and spare and, key to doing a lengthy monologue, knowing exactly where your body and mind should be at any given moment and not wavering one jot from the choreography of the agreed direction and muscle memories – yet still come across like you are making it all up as you go along. And being brave with the silences.

The Glad Game is written by the late Phoebe Frances Brown from Nottingham. Pheeb to her self, her family and to her friends. It is a challenge and needs to have a very special actor to play Phoebe. The Lace Market Theatre and director Kathryn Edwards have found that super special person in Jen White. She makes her character’s amusing, often raw and moving monologues look and sound perfectly natural and yes – effortless.

In the show’s promotional text it describes The Glad Game as Phoebe’s story; the story of finding yourself in the darkest moments, about leaning on those who love you and finding reasons everywhere to be glad. Just like Polyanna. And, at the unintentional risk of sounding glib, as a reviewer tonight I am awfully glad I came out into town to witness this extraordinary verbal and visual discourse on the Lace Market stage. The whole production is pure professionalism wearing an amateur hat as a cunning disguise.

Jen White’s stellar performance concludes with a standing ovation not only for the actor but for all the tightly timed voices that thread through the narrative of The Glad Game building up into an impressive storytelling feat and for Kathryn Edwards’ adroitly excellent directorial debut. I am not going to enthuse about all of the stories that are unfolding on the stage tonight, beautifully and emotionally portrayed as they are, but would urge you to book and immerse yourself thoroughly in Phoebe Frances Brown’s heartfelt revelations warts and all. You won’t regret it.

The Glad Game runs at The Lace Market Theatre until 21st February.

Production photos Kathryn Edwards.