Screaming Into the Void
★★★☆☆ Intriguing premise
theSpace on the Mile (Venue 39): Sat 2 – Fri 22 Aug 2025 (even dates only)
Review by Hugh Simpson
Clever writing and fine acting characterise Piece of Work Theatre and New Celts’ Screaming Into the Void at theSpace on the Mile on even dates throughout the Fringe. The result is not always focused, but is always interesting.
Kira Mason’s play is set in ‘the void’, which represents the world of internet content creators, with the four characters being a ‘trad wife’ (Arlene McKay), a ‘clean girl’ (Eva Ellis), a ‘divine feminine goddess’ (Abi Price) and a ‘relatable queen’ (Marnie Horne).
Screaming into the Void from Piece Of Work Theatre and New Celts. Pic: Roo Ford.
There’s a lot of clever stuff in here about how women are treated, and portray themselves, online. It shows how such archetypes can be born out of a revulsion at the modern world, but themselves create further dangers, and that attempting to be ‘natural’ can be the most unnatural thing of all.
The problem is that, having set up an intriguing premise, the narrative doesn’t really go anywhere. The setting leads itself to some nifty ideas – the audience are the comments section, so best not to go there – but isn’t thought through. As a result, the play loses its way a little, with too much time being taken up with formulaic monologues, and the end doesn’t completely work.
impressive
The play is consistently interesting, however, with plenty of funny lines. The performances, meanwhile, are extremely impressive. McKay and Ellis embody both the apparently formulaic nature of their personas, and the much more troubled people behind the, with great skill.
The cast of Screaming into the Void. Pic: Roo Ford
Price provides a more expansive comic performance, which is highly effective. Horne’s character starts out as a kind of narrator figure, but soon proves as complex as the others, and is played with a naturalism that is very impressive.
Clare Wootton’s direction is also well considered, with some of the play’s bumpier moments smoothed over effectively. Becca Hardy’s technical operation is highly accomplished.
This production undoubtedly has important and topical things to say, even if they way it says them is not always as successful as it might be.
Running time: 55 minutes (no interval).
theSpace on the Mile (Space 3), 80 High St, EH1 1TH. (Venue 39).
Saturday 2 – Friday 22 August 2025).
Even dates only: 3.15pm.
Tickets and details: Book here on EdFringe.com.
Instagram: @pieceofwork.theatre
TikTok: @Piece.of.work.theatre
The cast of Screaming into the Void. Pic: Roo Ford
ENDS
