Galway International Arts Festival 2025: T5/Sea Wall

T5/Sea Wall by Simon Stephens. Image uncredited

****

It's not enough that Simon Stephens is a brilliant playwright, he also works magic with the short form monologue. Twenty or so minutes of intimate character studies, crammed with detail, in which people live through experiences they hoped they’d never have to live through. Life’s bystanders dragged centre stage into tragedies not of their making. Decadent Theatre Company serving up a double bill of Stephens’s one handers beginning with T5*, featuring a scintillating Sarah Morris as a wife and mother coming to terms with her husband’s infidelity. Trying to talk past the organised mess that is her demanding, domesticated existence. Randomly singing snatches of songs as if tuning a radio so as to tune out her thoughts. Every song taking her back to where she wanted to escape from. A woman taking the road less travelled to get off a road to nowhere. Looking to soar free of the weights that ground her if only she can pay the price.

If Stephen’s script paints a compelling portrait, Morris gives it vivid life; her impeccable London accent, her vocal texturing, her inimitable presence revealing a damaged woman at once solid yet as flimsy as wrapping paper. All achieved despite director Andrew Flynn doing Morris few favours. Arms constrained by her side like an old school Irish dancer, the pose often looks forced and unnatural. The straight jacket symbolism emphasising restraint losing out on more than it delivers, risking Morris appearing as little more than a talking head. Yet Morris frequently slips free of such limits, and if never soaring as high as she is expressively capable, she still elevates everything. A generous actor in ensembles to which her contributions are immeasurable, Morris’s compelling performance reminds you she’s really a natural lead who can take the fine print on a sweet wrapper and make it resonate as poetry. Morris being a genuine star.

As is Ian Anderson-Lloyd, compelling as Alex in the critically acclaimed Sea Wall. A magazine photographer waxing lyrical about his idyllic family life. About his idealised wife Helen, and his father-in-law Arthur, a former military man now doting grandfather to his granddaughter Lucy. The imaginative eight year old having all three wrapped around their finger. Family summers spent in the south of France replete with swimming, scuba diving and playing in the sun. Yet foreshadows of doom are present from the outset. Alex’s quavering voice, the incessant tugging at his wedding ring finger, the sea wall and its terrifying darkness. Culminating in flashes of anger at a cruel God for not existing, for residing in the space between two numbers, or in a perfect shaft of light. Or wherever it is the dead go when they depart this body of air and skin. One thing’s for sure, if there is a God, He gives only to take away.

Less theological arguments so much a thoughtful prompts, Sea Wall serves up a stirring interrogation of grief, and of vulnerability reforming masculinity. To men softening their hearts to embrace harder truths. Of the courage that requires. Of the possible cost. Anderson stunningly brilliant and better served by Flynn; each utilising silence, space and time with exquisite sensitivity. Anderson’s deeply moving performance ensuring you don’t just feel the hole at the centre of Alex, you pass right through it. Morris and Anderson delivering two poignant performances painted with poetry. Not to be missed.

T5 and Sea Wall by Simon Stephens, presented by Decadent Theatre Company, runs as part of Galway International Arts Festival 2025 until July 27.

For more information visit Galway International Arts Festival or Decadent Theatre Company

*T5 replaces the previously advertised Blue Water and Cold and Fresh