Review: LANDS, Bush Theatre

Bush Associate Artist company Antler arrive with their Edinburgh hit Lands, a high-spirited, tender investigation into a relationship that's on its way to its end.

Sophie bounces on a trampoline. She can't stop. Leah completes a 1000 piece puzzle. They are best friends - maybe more - but that's not explicably clear. Their relationship lies in ambiguous territory; there is a connection, however, through their tasks they've built up barriers to protect themselves from any intimacy.

Despite being so close, the two are extraordinarily far apart, in terms of their ability to communicate. It's incredibly lonely. And both women are suffering. As an audience we have no idea where they are, and Jaz Woodcock-Stewart's direction does not offer much answers - which is good - it is for us to decide.

What is abundantly clear is the sense of desperation from the pair. Each wishes to help the other, but they are both unable to accept their partner's offerings of support. There's a desolate hopelessness, a deep sense of struggle, and an air of frustration as they repress what it is they really want to say.

This piece is a tad too long and could do with being 10 minutes shorter, however your attention is retained because of Leah Brotherhead and Sophie Steer's brilliant performances. Both work so hard - especially Steer - who must have quads of steel after all that bouncing.

When faced with problems, sometimes it's easier to run away, rather than take the time to understand each other. It's too painful to stick around and wait for the person to sort themselves out. As the play draws to a close we're faced with the reminder that everyone hurts, humans are broken, and not everybody can be fixed.

Lands at the Bush Theatre until 1 December

Photo Credit: Helen Murray

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