Feel-good, familiar, and funny!
Tapped, a new play by Katie Redford, stopped off at the Key Theatre for one night during its UK tour – and ESP had a prime seat in the audience.
You wouldn’t expect a play focussing on mental health to be described as a comedy. But Tapped is a witty yet sensitive portrayal of three people struggling to be understood – with plenty of funny phrases and comments that will be all too familiar to the audience.
Tapped is about Gavi, who’s set up the ‘Go Get It Club’ to change lives for the better, and mother-and-daughter members, Dawn and Jen. It’s a simple premise: a cast of just three characters in the same set, which is the venue for this self-help circle. Each scene is a new meeting of the group.
On the surface, Gavi and Dawn at first appear optimistic and excited to smash new goals while chanting positive mantras. Jen, on the other hand, reminds you of the sulky teenager in the corner, negative about the world around her. As the play gets underway, it becomes apparent that all three members are struggling in some way with their mental health.
Every scene draws you in further, as you want to discover why these characters behave the way they do. Some intense moments between Dawn and Jen highlight how a breakdown in communication within families can lead to severe misunderstandings. And Gavi’s character transforms from an upbeat group leader to a lad who’s finding life difficult because of his own mother’s illness.
One of my favourite scenes is Dawn plaiting Jen’s hair following a well overdue heart-to-heart between mother and daughter. One minute you’ll find yourself feeling emotional, the next laughing, such as when Dawn rushes to turn off the notification on her mobile that alerts her that Emmerdale is about to start.
All three actors are believable, realistic and brilliant at turning their hand from serious to funny in a heartbeat. I found myself wishing some of the scenes were fleshed out more, particularly the flourishing relationship between Gavi and Jen, and Gavin’s seriously ill mum, which is merely touched upon.
Tapped is a heart-warming and magical 90 minutes. And with Mental Health Awareness Week taking place from May 15 to 21, it’s an excellent reminder that we all need to listen more to those around us.
To see what else is coming to the Key Theatre visit https://keytheatre-peterborough.com/
Kelly Jackson
TAPPED
By Katie Redford
Directed by Piers Black; Designer, Ceci Calf; Lighting Designer, Lucía Sánchez Roldán; Sound Designer, Conrad Kira; Casting Director, Amy Jane Blair
Marie Blount (Dawn); AK Golding (Jen); Max Hastings (Gavi)
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