The expectation of family can feel all consuming and claustrophobic. Personally, I just want to sit in a dark room and watch a story unfold that feels like it could fall apart at any second, exposing the raw nerves and heavy moments people usually try to keep hidden.
While waiting for the performance to begin at The King’s Arms in Salford, the recent hot weather amplified the stifling airlessness of the room. It was the perfect, intense setting for The Divine Move, a debut production from Theatre on Draught.
The story takes us into the suffocating world of Victorian high society, where the Blackwood family is waiting for their future to be decided. Their recently departed father has set in motion a final performance that will define exactly what the brothers can expect to be given in his will. Augustus has spent his whole life preparing to take the reins, while his brother, Arthur, is desperate for a freedom he likely will never be granted. When the Prescott sisters and a few mysterious guests arrive, it sets in motion a dangerous game where love, duty, and ambition collide. Every move carries a consequence that cannot be undone. There are so many parallels to the high stakes power dynamics of House of Guinness, perfectly mixed with the kind of awkward, deeply personal tension you might find in Great Expectations.
Written and directed by Ole Francis alongside Tobias Wilson, the show expertly weaves these heavy themes and is performed superlatively by the cast. Joseph Dawson, Ole Francis, Katie Jordan-Linton, Mia Shaw, Polly Graves, and Emma O’Malley are tasked with navigating shifting loyalties, and they manage to beautifully find the cracks in the characters’ composure.
My only minor note is that the narrative occasionally becomes a little jumpy. This is likely down to the pacing of certain sections combined with the tight constraints of the small stage, but it is a minor quibble that does not detract from the overall experience.
I loved this brave, outstanding production. The company explicitly stated they do not want the audience to just passively watch, and they succeed completely in making you think and feel. The Divine Move is not a comfortable watch, but that is exactly the point. It makes the most of its intimate venue to deliver a stark reminder that in a society where every move is observed, the hardest thing to find is the power to choose for yourself. Superb.
Note: Canal Street VIP Membership holders get 15% off at the bar.
By James