‘Scaffolding’ - review
- theatrabilia
- May 31
- 2 min read
Documental Theatre brings tender and poignant show to Cornwall.
Scaffolding | Documental Theatre
Next venue: Drayton Arms Theatre, 23-27 September
A tender, softly defiant play, Scaffolding invites us to sit with a mother upon a curious web of metal and wood; a set as gritty and raw as the endless questions she poses to God - and us.
Sheridan, beautifully brought to life by Kerry Norton, deftly navigates the dynamic set which cradles an unseen renovated church steeple for which she has passionately fundraised. Above her treasured parish, she conspiratorially charts a painful landscape of loss and unjust treatment from adult social care and the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub. (Or ‘MASH’ for short - nothing to do with potatoes, we are assured.)
Caring for her profoundly disabled daughter Joelle following the death of her husband has proved challenging for Sheridan. This show is a considered and poignant tribute to all who care for and love people with complex needs in a world that’s less than kind.
Sheridan’s agony whilst forced to wait for eye contact before responding to her daughter’s needs is palpable. The duo are repeatedly let down by systems that should care; maybe it is time for those in power to look upward and hear what is being shouted.
Levity and heartbreak deliciously coexist, with Sheridan exuding a minxy rebelliousness reserved for those pushed to the edge. Now her beloved church is threatened to be demolished. There’s only so much one can take - a longing for revenge simmers.
Fabric laced across the set doubles as a bungee jump rope, bomb wires and a hammock, whilst plant pots conceal a treasure trove of surprises revealed in a vibrant and touching climax.
Scenes brimming with existential questions for a higher being (who somehow, frustratingly, never replies!) are punctuated by questions directed to the audience. The script rarely lingers for answers, and nor should it, for we are rarely blessed with them in life. It’s a play I’d love to witness again.
The recently renovated Sterts Arts and Environmental Centre, a theatrical gem in the heart of Cornwall, provided a beautiful setting for a show which has community at its heart.
A touching and uplifting sing-along with the Documental Theatre community following the show provided a welcomed chance to learn some Makaton signs. This was a lovely ending to a poignant evening which may have benefited from a post-show Q&A. I wasn’t quite ready to leave Sheridan’s world and will ponder the themes of this play for a long time. Let’s hope I’m not compelled to climb to a dizzying height to do so.
Review by Timothy Norman
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