The Upcoming
  • Cinema & Tv
    • Movie reviews
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Show reviews
  • Music
    • Live music
  • Food & Drinks
    • News & Features
    • Restaurant & bar reviews
    • Interviews & Recipes
  • Theatre
  • Art
  • Travel & Lifestyle
  • Literature
  • Fashion & Beauty
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureTheatre

The Merthyr Stigmatist at the Sherman Theatre

The Merthyr Stigmatist at the Sherman Theatre | Theatre review
1 June 2021
Sylvia Unerman
Avatar
Sylvia Unerman
1 June 2021

Opening online this week with the Sherman Theatre, Lisa Parry’s two-woman performance shines light on the intersection of the political and the religious in everyday life, exploring what it means to create hope when it appears that there’s none left to hold on to. 

The Merthyr Stigmatist is Bethan McLean’s professional debut, and her interpretation of complicated, troubled, but ever-charming school girl Carys – held back in detention to be supervised by form teacher Siân, played brilliantly by Bethan Mary-James – is equal parts moving and enchanting from the outset. The play draws on traditions of Catholic martyrdom and mysticism to shape the characters’ engagement with the society they were born into, considering the different paths they could take, each in their own way, to leave it in better shape than they found it.

Carys’s development from gossiping school-girl (gradually filling the audience in on the back story of the drama as she teases her teacher with whispered news drawn from neighbours and the other students) to religious figure of uncertain significance, on the verge of going viral, is what shapes the play, but as details emerge about these characters the context falls into place. While Siân attempts to fulfil her role in safeguarding her student, she grapples with her own faith, her family, and her disillusionment with those in power, who have no interest in the suffering of someone like her, or Carys, or anyone from their hometown. With simple staging and powerfully jarring use of lighting, music, and visceral props, the understanding between Siân and Carys – and the audience alongside them – develops quickly, and an initial confrontation opens up the possibility that they could fight on the same side. 

Though at times ideas are pieced together a little clumsily in the dialogue, this is a thought-provoking and startling play, delicately performed. Obliged to wait out the detention together, thanks to the arbitrary justice system of the school rules, these characters listen to one another, and it’s this gesture that begins to heal their wounds, whether or not something higher up is listening too. 

★★★★★

Sylvia Unerman

The Merthyr Stigmatist is at the Sherman Theatre from 27th May until 12th June 2021. For further information or to book visit the theatre’s website here.

Related Itemschristianityemma callanderlisa parrylive theatrereligionreviewstigmata

More in Theatre

The Father and the Assassin at the National Theatre

★★★★★
Natallia Pearmain
Read More

Dirty Dancing the Movie in concert at Apollo Theatre

★★★★★
Jim Compton-Hall
Read More

My Fair Lady at the London Coliseum

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

“When you’re presented with different dilemmas in life, you respond accordingly”: Debbie Kurup on The Cher Show

Mae Trumata
Read More

2:22 A Ghost Story at Criterion Theatre

★★★★★
Michael Higgs
Read More

The House of Shades at Almeida Theatre

★★★★★
Csilla Tornallyay
Read More

Grease at Dominion Theatre

★★★★★
Cristiana Ferrauti
Read More

House of Ife at Bush Theatre

★★★★★
Selina Begum
Read More

Banter Jar at Lion & Unicorn Theatre: “An authentic and timely one-woman show”

★★★★★
Jessica Wall
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Theatre review

Sylvia Unerman

The Merthyr Stigmatist

★★★★★

Dates

27th May - 12th June 2021

Price

From £7.50

Links & directions

TwitterFacebookWebsiteNo map

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Albert Adrià reopens Enigma on 7 June as a “fun-dining” restaurant and cocktail bar
    Food & Drinks
  • Paolo Nutini at the 100 Club
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Crimes of the Future: Three new clips from David Cronenberg’s dystopian body horror film
    Cannes
  • The Father and the Assassin at the National Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Plan 75
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Decision to Leave (Heojil Kyolshim)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • November (Novembre)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Forever Young (Les Amandiers)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • “Ruben is wonderful at picking holes in our behaviour and our egos”: Woody Harrelson, Ruben Östlundand and cast at the Triangle of Sadness press conference
    Cannes Film Festival 2022
  • Summer Scars (Nos Cérémonies)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Decision to Leave (Heojil Kyolshim)
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Emergency
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Men
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Triangle of Sadness
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
  • Aftersun
    ★★★★★
    Cannes
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why
With the support from:
International driving license

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Scott Lavene at the George Tavern | Live review
The Money at The Chamber, London County Hall | Theatre review