A Nought for a Cross

A Nought for a Cross just might do for Tic-Tac-Toe what The Queen’s Gambit has done for Chess - so if you see a sudden increase in Noughts and Crosses activity in Perth, you will know who to blame.

Presented by The Perthian Chronicles as part of Subilicious for Fringe World, A Nought for a Cross is playground politics meets epic adventure story. Set in Sandy Park playground, the loveable Donald’s new friend Trev reignites a long-standing rivalry between Noughts and Crosses champions, Lucy Lulu and Damo. Winner gets control of the playground and nobody wants it to fall into the wrong hands.

Occasional touches of martial arts films, gangster movies and epic theatre - this four-hander with adults playing kids doesn’t take itself terribly seriously, but is great story-telling with a beautiful heart.

Ryan Marano is oddly charming as awkward protagonist and unwitting hero Donald. Newcomer Trev is given bucket loads of charm by Christopher Moro. Tamara Creasey lends Lucy LuLu an almost god-like air and charts a beautiful journey as this young girl, while Jordan Valentini pulls double duty as brooding “bad boy” Damo as well as the very sage, almost yoda-like Blake.

Lovely use of physical theatre, and some very interesting ways of staging a noughts and crosses match, this is well staged and nicely performed.

Simply a really nice little piece of theatre, that would have broad audience appeal.

Kimberley Shaw

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