Reviews for iz

“You could say that it moves across familiar territory, this latest show from the writer-director team of Oliver Emanuel and Daniel Bye, also known as Silver Tongue Theatre. There are three thirtysomething guys in suits, bound together by a relationship formed in their youth; they endlessly revisit that time in memory, while life moves on, and confronts them with the reality of loss. The twist is that they are linked not by conventional friendship, but by their love for the same woman, Iz. Now Iz is dead; and their memories, their ways of grieving, tell us something both contemporary and timeless about the way men love women, or learn how to stop loving, and move on.

“Emanuel’s script is a little hard-edged gem of linked-monologue writing, intercut with moments of direct dialogue and confrontation; it’s fast without being glib, intense without being overpitched, and given its full weight by Dan Bye’s clever production, which keeps each man in his own lonely space, his own magnetic field, even at their most intense moments of interaction.

“Grae Cleugh, James Gitsham and Andrew Patfield deliver three pitch-perfect, beautifully paced performances. And what they give us, in the end, is a powerful meditation on how much we really know or remember anyone; and one of those rare shows that achieves a real sense of polish and assurance, without sacrificing either detail or depth. ****”

- Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman

“Iz is gone but not forgotten. In fact she is making her lack of presence felt to Bez, Baz and Ben - two former lovers and her husband. In life Iz was the link between the three, but in death she is pulling them apart as grief and memory play tricks and they discover how hard it is to really say that you know somebody. But then it is harder still to know yourself and come to terms with your own feelings. Particularly if you are a man in pain.

“Oliver Emanuel’s clever and touching script is an assured piece of writing, an Art for the bereaved, with some of the wit of Yasmina Reza’s hit and a great deal more emotional honesty. It is however not so much what it says as the way it says it that is impressive. Daniel Bye’s stylish production has each actor conversing with each other but stranded alone on narrow islands of carpet. It is a physical manifestation of the struggle to understand, communicate and reclaim the friendship that bound them, and the woman who is no longer with them.

“Grae Cleugh, Nick Jesper and Andrew Patfield are terrific in a polished little number that reminds us that it is living, not dying, that is hard to do.”

- Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

“Mesmerising … a genuinely moving piece of theatre.”

- Plymouth Evening Herald

“Beautifully written, brilliantly acted. I would recommend this show to anyone.
10 out of 10.”

- BBC Radio

“Spellbinding. Emanuel’s stylish writing combines wit with deep sensitivity. Direction, by Daniel Bye, is highly original - he makes incredible use of the intimate space at Greenwich Playhouse, with next to no props to help, and only subtle (but effective) interaction between the players. Engaging, intelligent and moving, this impressively executed play is definitely one to watch. Strongly recommended.”

- Theatreworld Internet Magazine

“Remarkably fresh”

- time out

“Intriguing and stylish, evocative and beautifully written. A minimalist, experimental approach works perfectly to enhance the drama.”

- www.culturewars.org.uk

“Daniel Bye’s excellent direction”

The Herald

“Strong performances, innovative stagecraft, sleek script.”

- Three Weeks

“Charismatic … intelligent … enjoyable.”

- The List

“Deceptively simple … has the power to linger in the memory.”

- The Stage