Covenant tells the story of three young women entrapped in a world where abortion is a crime, government polices female reproductive health and a healthcare and justice system that fails to help women in their right to choose. It’s striking in that, whilst this is meant to be dystopian, it is horrifyingly not that dissimilar to our own world. We meet "hot mess" Bonnie, played by the utterly fantastic and loveable Nell Lang. We watch as she finds out that she is pregnant, questioning the life she currently and could lead as she wrestles with the decision to keep or abort her pregnancy. Protected by her two best friends, the strong and maternal
Rachel, played by Catriona Tashjian who oozes warmth, fearlessness and subdued ferociousness throughout the performance. Completing the trio is Margot Pue’s, anxious, rule abiding, stickler, Gen.
All of the actors are supremely talented, but together they are a synergistic force of nature. Observing this performance, I actually forgot I was watching a play. I felt like I was in a room with three friends, stuck in a Hellerian catch-22, but disempowered into the role of a helpless bystander. The raw, unadulterated realism invoked onstage was astounding. This was a performance I will remember for a long time. The story is horrifying, drives deep the sense of proximity we are to this becoming real. I urge everyone to see Covenant before it closes, I truly hope this heartbreaking, masterpiece of modern theatre is played again, it has so many more lives it needs to impact.
Location - Greenside George Street until 24th August.
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