Written and performed by Megan Louise Wilson and Kitty Fox Davis takes an intimate look at what it means to be a woman and friend.

It is a sad fact of life that friends tend to grow apart as they get older – and only rarely do they get a chance to reconnect. This is what happens in this thoughtfully written piece of theatre as two friends at different points in their lives get together unexpectedly to recount stories and to try and share what they have been up to since they last spoke.

The instant that the two unnamed characters come together it is clear that something badly went wrong in their friendship as one of them ended up moving away for safety reasons – something that caused this particular character a lot of pain and anger but is more worldly and cynical about life in general. In contrast, the other girl is very much childlike and naive in her approach to the world – but together they try and make sense of the world and their reaction to it.

Directed by Tom Rider, the production is suitably intimate and has a confidential tone to it that draws the audience in effectively even watching it on the screen. In every scene, you feel both character’s anger and anguish as they try and reconnect with each other through dressing up and some reminiscence, while analysing each other’s approach to life. This is highlighted when the conversation moves to sex, really capturing the contrast in their characters – particularly when the naive girl attempts to come across as more experienced than she actually is due to being embarrassed.

Set in the childlike girl’s den, filled with nostalgic elements from childhood the tension between the pair ebbs and flows nicely and feels like a real developed character study piece that sees both re-evaluating their lives. The trouble is – both characters lie and their lies are uncovered throughout that you are never truly sure whether you should believe what they are saying.

Yet, despite this it is still an insightful piece – as both characters realise just how much they need each other in different ways. One needs encouragement to come out into the world more, while the other needs to be less aggressive and cynical about it. There is plenty of confrontation – but there are also moments of touching affection between the pair as seen when one is reluctant to discuss the abuse she has been through in her relationship.

Both performances highlight the fact they are both complex characters – both emotionally damaged in different ways that can be difficult to explore fully in an a piece that is only an hour long – but they make it look effortless.

Overall, Bored of Knives feels like a quirky but thoughtful piece of theatre that has a unique charm about it and has potential to perhaps expand further to explore both characters more.

By Emma Clarendon

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐