A thought provoking insight into female friendships
Female friendships are important – they become our “tribe”, but what happens when you know that the friendship has become so toxic that it is doing more harm than good?
Set in a pub one evening, we are taken on a journey of self-discovery and ultimately facing a few harsh truths. The focus is on two friends who have known each other since school and Bea’s own path to healing, influenced by Sam, who initiates a “divorce” from Alana, so she can take her spiritual journey further, which unleashes a revelation.
Clever use of sound effects transported us into the scene, be it the pub, garden, toilets or at the end of the night as they wait for separate taxi’s home. The costume was well thought out, the put togetherness of Alana who believes in conformity and how things won’t change with Bea’s being more mismatched, not doubt reflecting her inner turmoil as she tries to find out who she is.
The characters have been developed well and equally performed well. The banter between the two really set the tone for their friendship and indicated that they had been friends for a long time, which makes this breakup no doubt harder especially as Bea forces Alana to do some self-reflection which isn’t taken too kindly, all the while as each of them proves who is the better friend.
@shotby_rachel
Dumping is an insightful look to not only female friendships but social structures and
behaviours like conformity, setting boundaries and self-discovery. Even more insightful is how the two sides of the coin clash – on the one side, believing that you should conform and accept that the way things are not going to change and the other of wanting a fulfilling life. It also brings up the potential bitterness and resentment of people trying to breakaway, which is perfectly exhibited by Alana. This piece also looks to how women often lose their identity when they become mothers and the impact that changing priorities can have on friendships, which the writer and director Alex Summer Milne explores in a heartfelt way.
This exclusive show at Cockpit theatre highlighted many issues that I don’t think we really acknowledge as much as perhaps we should and evaluating friendships is probably something we all could do with doing. A rather funny, light-hearted and all too relatable piece of theatre which made me even self-reflect how I am in a friendship. Very thought provoking.