Review: The Departure at Alphabetti Theatre

“…an intense roller-coaster that left me wanting more…”

The Departure by Tom A. Wells, Alphabetti Theatre

By Melina Turner-Deeks

Alphabetti is my absolute favourite theatre in the North-East. This award-winning, independent venue is not-for-profit and aims to make theatre accessible and affordable for patrons while providing fringe opportunities for writers, actors and directors. I always jump at any chance to go and support this little-known spot, so when offered an early preview of ‘The Departure’, there was no doubt about it. The intimate performance space was the perfect setting for this deep and insightful, fly-on-the-wall type exposé on human connection.

The Departure was as funny, witty and awkward as it was profound and meaningful. When Ross (Tom Wells), a Northern rural fencer, and Lily (Harriet Chomley), a cosmopolitan chemist, find themselves unexpectedly thrown together, the consequences are what neither of them would expect. Lily (Chomley) is on an emotional precipice following her mother’s death, and Ross (Wells) is on the verge of moving to Australia to escape his problems. After a rocky and disagreeable start, they each begin to open themselves up, pick holes in each other’s defence mechanisms and eventually find themselves confronting their deepest demons. This raw, real-time production explores how, sometimes, we can be the most honest with complete strangers.

Five years in the making, Tom Wells’ much-anticipated second full-length play is certainly worth the wait. The flawless script features brutally honest and electrically charged dialogue, silences bursting with meaning and critical miscommunications between the characters. Supported by direction from Jay Ford, the stripped-back set works to highlight a back-to-basics, character-driven performance that focuses on well-thought-out dialogue and impeccable characterisation. The result is an deeply affecting and intimate exploration of grief, loss and human connection.

A two-person, real-time production is always hard-going for actors, yet Tom Wells (Ross) and Harriet Chomley (Lily) give life to multi-layered, meaningful and opposing characters. Wells and Chomley make excellent use of the space, taking advantage of every inch of floor space and building a charged and vulnerable atmosphere. Together, they create eye contact that screams with meaning and body language that speaks of histories of pain. Raw emotional and inner turmoil is depicted by both, however, each deals with it in differing unhealthy ways; together they confront their own blind misconceptions of themselves.

The 85-minute performance flew by; it was electrified with tension and it had me hanging on the edge of my seat, at times crying and at others laughing. It was an intense roller-coaster that left me wanting more. An astounding production from everyone involved. An honour to have it previewed in Newcastle, before heading to London. If you find yourself in the big smoke, don’t miss it!

The Departure plays at Alphabetti Theatre on Friday 11 September.

Melina Turner-Deeks is a poet and self-confessed literature nerd. She currently runs literary workshops and bookclubs in North Tyneside as The Literature Lass. When she is not baking, parenting or reading, she loves being outdoors and connecting with nature. Find her on Instagram here or Facebook here.