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Review of Flash Festival: Duality Theatre Company - It's Starting To Grow On Us! at the NN Cafe

The ultimate in relaxed festival atmosphere was achieved leading up to the start of Duality Theatre's performance with the two performers mingling effortless with the audience in the bijou NN Cafe.

Sarah Kirk and Samantha Colden are our performers for a storytelling performance the like of which I haven't seen previously. This is a relaxed, lackadaisical show with a frequently bickering duo which belies the tough subject matter they are to tell. This is all about the unmentionable big C and its effect on not only the sufferer but the family and friends whom surround.

During the forty minute show and despite Sarah irritatingly (for Samantha) strumming her ukulele and Samantha being challenged with accents and donning false eyebrows, some real tough material is mined. There is heavy and very detailed material in this script, certainly well researched with lots of technical terms you could only guess at the meaning of.

However despite all the heavy subject, it is always kept on the right side of tone. Silly but gorgeous little things like the mirrored journey through the hospital, think an epic plane exit routine and you won't be far wrong. Then we have balloon blowing with yet another uncomfortable wait for the pop like Sidetrack's show and throw in a bit of failed hula hooping and you have a comfortable way of listening to a tough subject.

There is much to love about this show and the way that Sarah and Samantha make it all so effortless in their performance. A dream duo and and a performance straight from the heart which manages to encompass truly silly antics, singing, and ukulele playing while maintaining the true tough story it is telling. Just gorgeous.


The Flash Festival 2015 runs between 18th-23rd May, 2015 at four venues across the town. Details can be found at http://ftfevents.wix.com/flashtheatre2015, while tickets can be booked via the Royal & Derngate. Details at: http://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whatson/2015-2016/Other/FlashFestival15

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