SKIN IN THE GAME,
November ’21, New Wimbledon Theatre, London
4**** Fairy Powered Productions
4**** Theatre and Other Things London
Audiences said… “What a show – what a show!” – “Made disaster fun” – “True wee-pants laughs” – “A terrifically entertaining evening” – “A bit of genius” – “Absolutely brilliant and I would go and see it again!” – “Just fantastic!” – “It’s actually an uplifting dark comedy!” – “Honestly, it’s a really good way to explain, this is how to talk about climate change. “It’s like, ‘ohh my gosh, this is what everyone’s been talking about’ – this is perfect” – “A dark and delirious satirical comedy – offset some carbon and go see it!” – “It was brilliant! Really brilliant – really makes you think about climate change” – “You just can’t believe how bad it could get and I think the show really illustrates that” – “Riveting, hilarious and also a cautionary tale” – “Astute, witty, clever” -“So creative, so ingenious!” – “I think it needs to go big and go far – if they’re going to repeat COP every year, it needs to be there at COP every year.” – “I definitely haven’t ever seen anything like it. It was a mixture of really depressing, really funny, and very poignant.” – “I just saw a play that kind of blew my mind. It was terrifying, hilarious, and I’ve got a lot to think about!”
Skin In The Game, script in hand, 2 March 2020 – audience feedback:
POWERFUL:
“Fantastic – what a story” – “Too true” – “Terrifyingly watchable” – “It scared me” – “Brilliant writing”
FUNNY:
“Made me cry with laughter” – “Good balance of humour without being preachy” – “Dark, dirty, weird and funny” – “A real ear for political nonsense” – “Wonderful one-liners” – “A really stimulating evening and a lot of fun” – “Great comedy; boy, do we need laughter in these times!!
THOUGHT-PROVOKING:
“Made my stomach drop with horror ” – “Very thought-provoking and guilt-inspiring” – “Very timely” -“Brilliantly shows how warped and messed up everything is” – “A great reflection of modern society and the conflict between science and expertise, celebrity culture, politicians and the media”
ENDURING:
“It provokes real thought in a palatable way that i will be thinking about for a while” – “Thanks for such a great experience and I hope to see it again, and bring lots of friends!” – “I’ll definitely be seeing the final version!”
Box
31 October 2018, Brighton University: script in hand, audience feedback
“Much more playful than Stoppard; you empowered the audience”
“A playground full of swings!”
“I liked the playfulness, how you played with the two varieties of the characters and embodied the quantum physics in them”
“It made me think of Caryl Churchill”
“You really engaged us with the science”
“I like that it wrong-foots you!”
“It really reminds me of Carl Djerassi’s work”
“It was a challenge but it was entertaining!”
Glitter Knickers
2-5 March 2016, Rondo Theatre, Bath: a few of the audience reviews
“Bloody amazing”
“Hilarious, beautifully observed, artfully written. Go.”
“Loved it! Funny, astute, painful & crammed full of face-achingly good one-liners!”
“A tour de force in writing & performance -catch it.”
“Hugely enjoyed Glitter Knickers: great script, perfect casting and laugh out loud funny.”
“What a show! Bravo to everyone!”
“It really is fantastic and will resonate with women everywhere. Made me laugh continuously.”
“Go and see Glitter Knickers: it’s brilliant!!”
“Great night out. Very, very funny show.”
“…the fantastic Glitter Knickers – it’s very funny, slightly bonkers and utterly sweary!”
“A MAZ ING”
“Fab show – we LOVED it!”
“I loved it. Trippy & brain-bendy.”
“Blown away! Funny real clever moving.”
“You are a consummate storyteller, Gill, and this play is a romp through the imagination and Lucinda created such visual imagery. It was a joy! Huge congratulations to all involved. Thank you for a great night at the theatre.”
A Bit of a Song & Dance
July 2014, script in hand, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol
“I straight away knew “A Bit of a Song and Dance” had theatrical magic. A Potteresque madcap comedy with a lot of pathos, and I determined to make it the next exploration of the Writers Forum. All the formidable actors I asked to join us jumped at the chance once they had read the script.
“Gill is incredibly open creatively when it comes to discussing the script and has the genuine confidence in and passionate care in her work to “play” with possibilities both before and during rehearsal. She knows her characters and has their best interests in her big heart, and most importantly she wants to know how her story will best be served up to her audience, and works tirelessly for compelling clarity.
“She is a joy to work with, as was her play. We had a magical moving day, all a bit exhausted in the best way.”
– Amanda Horlock, freelance Director/ Actor and Coordinator of the Writers’ Forum @ The Tobacco Factory Theatres.
Passion
March 2014, VAULT Festival, London: tidy carnage theatre company
‘Atmospheric and unique. An eye-opening experience ‘- Metro
‘An unforgettable production’ – New Current
“Glasweigan theatre collective tidy carnage have beaten off stiff competition to win an IdeasTap sponsored slot at the underground Vault festival this Spring. Plucked from hundreds of submissions, they are one of only four companies chosen to receive an all expenses paid production. tidy carnage will present Passion – a raucous one woman rave, unraveling stories & secrets as the night wears on.” – Female Arts
An interview with director Allie Butler and actor Helen Cuinn here, with further coverage of the show in A Younger Theatre.
And in
Black Barn
15-17 June 2012, LOST Theatre, Stockwell, London
Audience reviews:
“Very Dark. Seriously loved it.”
“Brilliantly bonkers!”
“tidy carnage pull one out the hat!”
“Thoroughly enjoyed the sinister surrealism of Gill Kirk’s Black Barn. Thought-provoking stuff. Loved it.”
Away With The Fairies – 4 stars * * * *
20-31 March 2012
“With a light comic touch. Gill Kirk’s witty script manages to deal with exploring the complexities of human relationships, questioning the true value of money and art, while at the same time never forgetting to make its audience chuckle.” – WhatsOnStage.com
4 stars * * * *
“Yet another wonderful production…a short yet fantastic evening’s entertainment.. With a brilliant script and immensely talented actresses, I could have most happily sat through more.” – Bristol Theatre Review
“Gill Kirk’s script is well observed, clever and imaginative with some lovely little touches that evoke a variety of emotions. Director Eleanor Fogg has taken the script and designed a wonderful performance…Jasmine Darke, Meg Whelan and Kirsty Cox each gave a strong performance…an interesting and enjoyable show.” – Guide2Bath:
“Great, whipcrack dialogue” – Venue
_________________________________
Water’s Not So Thick – 4 stars * * * *
June 2011, Bath Rondo Theatre
“Acutely observed and sharp as tacks, [with] plenty of wit and humour … that soon gives way to a much bleaker portrait of dysfunction and dependence, and a plot which builds with the relentless momentum of tragedy.” – Venue Magazine
“I wholeheartedly recommend that you go.”
“Gill Kirk’s strong writing and Alison Farina’s excellent casting and direction have produced a piece of theatre that provides moments of laughter, moments of sadness, and the occasional slight gasp of shock as a new twist is revealed….”- Guide2Bath
_________________________________
Passion / 24-Hour Plays – 4 stars * * * *
Runner-Up, Play of the Year 2011, Venue
24 Hour Plays, Theatre Royal Bath, 28-29 May 2011
“Gill Kirk’s sympathetically rendered ‘No Milk, No Stamps’ refracted a tragic incident in a post office through the perspectives of the people directly involved and their partners.”
“The 24 Hour Plays’ had the spunky, adrenaline-rich verve of a 1970s punk album…The quality of work here, from writers, directors and actors was astonishing, a confirmation, as if any were needed, that the West Country’s home to both some extraordinary individual talents and an atmosphere that’s conducive to doing original stuff…
_________________________________
Eddie King and The Death of Rave, Bristol Tobacco Factory Theatre, 2-4 August 2011
“A moving, thought-provoking piece of theatre”- Viv Kennedy, Guide2Bristol
“Overwhelmed by hyper-energetic, Ali Watts, performing as a hard living but happy “Glasgoburgh” soldier, home on leave, who among the convivial crowd in the theatre bar would guess that “Passion”was written by a woman, Gill Kirk?…The outpouring of the soldier’s passion is pure masculine. Ms Kirk must have observed the species very closely, and Watts has too, so authentic is the character they’ve created.” -Arthur Duncan, Remote Goat
“Gill Kirk’s ‘Passion’ was a splendidly fast, fevered monologue by Bristol Old Vic Theatre School graduate Ali Watt, as a sped-up, loved-up Scot for whom the rave was a place less of hedonism than of to-the-death love and solidarity with his fellow men. This man … had seen the best and worst of human nature in the first Iraq war, and for him the rave was a veritable Eden of love and togetherness.” – Steve Wright, Venue Magazine
Gill Kirk, writer 