a seriously refreshing show on queer love, whirring memory and finding the truth in it all
Spin Cycle written by Zophia Zerphy and directed by Bethan Rose delightfully explores a queer relationship, complicated, loving and broken between two people who reconnect in a launderette. This absurdist piece of theatre profoundly found the in between, answering the unanswered questions between our two characters, Kitt and Noel.
The stage was neatly covered head to toe in white clean laundry and in the centre of the room, two washing machines. The stage was charmingly clean, sorted and welcoming, without feeling chaotic or overwhelming.
As Kitt met Noel again, I instantly felt I was in. My eyes were glued to them both for the whole fifty-five minutes they performed on stage.
I couldn’t help but feel like I was getting the full insight into their relationship, not only their past but their language towards each other helped me gain knowledge on what it was like when they first met.
In fifty-five minutes, the performance managed to fit so much in, without it feeling overwhelming or dry. Bethan Rose, whose direction was clear, left room for the life to come through between these two distinct characters, finding moments of pause, tension, love and softness.
Both characters felt incredibly real, flawed and compassionate towards each other. Zerphy and Bell’s onstage connection was sensational. There were compelling reasons between both characters throughout the show, never leaning more towards one or the other. As I watched, Kitt struck me as the kind of person to say ‘Why?’ and Noel with a perfect response, ‘Why not?’.
Zerphy’s writing is elegantly real, I felt myself valuing every single word, and with such little time, the time it took to get the washing done, I didn’t want to miss a thing. Zerphy’s performance was a standout, distinctively reflecting what she wrote now on stage. I was baffled and thoroughly impressed by the structure of the show, going from remembering to forgetting again, mixed with the complexity of these two strangers to lovers then back to strangers again.
Noel, played by the charming Rhiannon Bell, managed to find a perfect balance between right and wrong, summoning a very sophisticated character whose loving presence turned sour after revealing their side of the story. A great sense of pity grew in the audience as Kitt and Noel bounced from reminiscing their lives together to configuring memories that they had lost, a truly sensitive moment for us in the audience. I thoroughly look forward to seeing where not only this show goes next, but where Zerphy and Bell go too as their talent shouldn’t be missed.
As the show came to a close, and the washing machine beeped, all noise came to a halt, which I never even processed was happening until the end. It felt as if my memory had been wiped and recollected at the same time. A brilliant way to finish the performance.
Spin Cycle, written by Zophia Zerphy and directed by Bethan Rose is a seriously refreshing show on queer love, whirring memory and finding the truth in it all, an absolute triumph to watch.