The Game

The Game, presented by The Robyn Company and State of Play as part of FringeWorld, is a production which deserved a longer run. A genre-fluid show about women’s soccer, and more broadly about women’s sport, it blended dance, documentary, drama and audio-visual presentation to make a stunning little show that is a personal favourite.

Rehearsal Room 1 was converted into a soccer pitch with the audience on three sides (packed to the brim at the final show). The fourth side of the auditorium features a large video screen, on which we see excellent audiovisuals and green screen footage of our game commentator Lucy Leftback (a dynamic Lucy Wong). 

The game is created with dancers Briannah Davis, Keanah Mislang, Zakayyah Maclean and Bridget Davies, who act and dance out the action. Later in the show, Stage Manager Delaney Burke joins the team as a substitute. Excellent dancers, their teamwork is first-rate and facial expression beautiful.

The blend of genres is superb, with outstanding direction from Leah Robyn, excellent shaping from Dramaturg Tay Conway - and well-chosen images and video from AV designers Tay Conway and William Gammel - who also designed sound, set and lighting.

A fabulous examination of women in sport the celebrates how far we have come and laments how far we still need to go. This made compelling viewing.

Kimberley Shaw

Image credit: Lost and Photo