Simon Ward reviews £1 Thursdays at the Finborough Theatre

A word about the venue. The Peg spends much of its time celebrating the glory that is London’s thriving fringe theatre scene, much of which revolves around tiny stages in rooms above pubs. The symbiotic relationship between drinking and theatre-going is well known, as testified by the well-stocked bars in all theatrical establishments. It is therefore a remarkable achievement to run a room-above-the-pub theatre when the pub itself is closed and dark, as is currently the case with The Finborough Arms. Fingers crossed that will change soon, but in the meantime, under the inspired artistic directorship of Neil McPherson, the Finborough Theatre still more than justifies the trip to southwest London.

This is the world premiere of a new play by Kat Rose-Martin, whose Pick’n’Mix I loved back in January (★★★★ A Sweet Treat) so my expectations were high for her latest offering, and I was not disappointed. If anything, this is still more enjoyable. It is an examination of indestructible friendship forged in school and cemented learning dance steps in scantily-clad freezing cold queues for £1 Thursdays at the Ocean nightclub. We also witness the complications to the friendship brought by boys, the inevitable accompanying STDs, and the looming prospect of leaving school, maybe even leaving Bradford.

Ethan Cheek’s set is simple but well used. Consisting of the ubiquitous barrier tapes they have everywhere, including outside nightclubs, the act of opening and closing the tapes effortlessly creates different spaces. Under Vicky Moran’s assured direction, Yasmin Taheri, as Jen, and Monique Ashe-Palmer, as Stacey, both give astonishingly detailed performances as the late-teen best friends who look, and act, much older. It is a privilege to witness acting of this quality in such an intimate venue.

Brilliant support is provided by Sian Breckin and Joseph Ayre as all the other ‘grown-up’ characters. Sian Breckin. in particular. is pitch-perfect as Jen’s mum who is a fiercely protective proxy mum to Stacey as well, whatever the status of the two girls’ relationship. Men and boys don’t generally come out of this show with much credit, but Joseph Ayre does at least get a chance to show a more sympathetic side as the admissions officer who persuades Jen that uni might be for her, after all.

This play is nothing if not Northern, rooted in Rose-Martin’s authentic Bradfordian idiom. But the themes that it explores are universal and it does so with charm, wit, wisdom and great warmth. It’s funny, honest, painful at times. In the end, though, there is no greater bond of love between girlfriends than learning how to pee up against a wall at three in the morning. And if that’s not a hopeful message for the future, I don’t know what is.

£1 Thursdays runs until 22nd December at the Finborough Theatre, 118 Finborough Rd, London SW10 9ED