PRESSURE 4: 'Hiding in Plain Sight'

‘Pressure’, the brainchild of Gregor Roach and Arthur Campbell from Second Quarter Productions, is a refreshing concept for modern theatre. A theme is sent to writers for submissions of a fifteen-minute play. Four scripts are selected, and teams of actors are given just 12 hours to rehearse.

The audience judges the plays, casting votes using their A5 programmes at the end. Gregor, who introduces the concept at the start, aptly describes it as “competitive gladiator theatre.” It’s not entirely clear what the winners receive, but the room buzzes with positivity, filled with supportive friends and family of the creatives involved.

For the fourth instalment of ‘Pressure’, the theme is “Hiding in Plain Sight”. Each writer interprets it differently, with some plays leaning into comedy while others tackle more serious subjects. This variety is what makes Pressure such a memorable theatre experience.

The first play, ‘Sex Scenes’, by Clara Wade, follows four female friends discussing their sex lives on a night out with a level of honesty that feels normal among Gen Z women but would shock the grandparents sat in the front row. It’s funny and relatable but also cleverly explores issues around consent in heteronormative relationships.

Fred Pearce’s ‘Sardines’ feels the most fitting interpretation of the theme. Set at an upper-class birthday party, the childhood game is already underway when a masked man enters through a window, removes his balaclava, and is quickly swept into the game. As rumours spread about a ‘party robber’, the situation becomes increasingly tense and hilarious as ‘Rob’ the ‘robber’ is stuck behind the sofa with a party hat on.

The most serious play, ‘Locker’, by Caoimhe Blair, explores misogyny and racism within the police force through a male-only locker room conversation. It asks how we confront a colleague who takes the joke too far and whether staying silent makes us complicit.

In contrast, ‘Nutter’, by Grace Devereux, is sweet and playful, following a man and woman on a blind date. They bond over poetry and dating app profiles, complimenting each other beautifully.

Although ‘Pressure’ is technically a competition, it gives emerging creatives the chance to collaborate on a fully produced piece of theatre. In that sense, everyone seems to be winning in this heartwarming grassroots theatre community.

Keep an eye out for Pressure 5: the gladiator arena awaits and you’re invited to take part…