CONTENT WARNING: this show contains very strong themes of sexual violence and neglect, as well as flashing lights
Written by and starring Florence Espeut-Nickless, one-woman play Destiny follows the eponymous character as she navigates life as a council estate teen in the early 00s. Set in Chippenham and laced with West Country hilarity, Espeut-Nickless’ one-woman show is a brilliant exploration of Destiny’s dreams of escaping the Hill Rise estate and becoming a dancer for MTV.
The production has been in the works for two years, and it shows. Espeut-Nickless’ performance is impressive, and she controls the play’s atmosphere seamlessly. During an hour-long monologue, no signs of exhaustion show: with only a chair and a packet of Quavers as her props, she told Destiny’s story during the play as if she was living it there and then. The scenes moved from light-hearted teenage humour to intense reliving of trauma, bringing the audience on this rollercoaster of emotional life experiences with her.
Destiny’s set is equally simple – just a square of LED lights with a singular chair – yet highly effective; Espeut-Nickless certainly didn’t need any extra help from something more complicated. The play’s soundtrack consisted of r’n’b hits from the approximate era of its setting, nostalgia which aids in immersing the audience. I’ve never visited Chippenham, yet Espeut-Nickless’ storytelling talent made me feel as if I had lived there for years. The friend I brought along, meanwhile, is from Wiltshire, and absolutely loved the references to the different towns in Chippenham’s surrounding area.
Destiny is an incredibly heavy play and discusses some very difficult topics, so I wouldn’t recommend it if the content warnings apply to you, but Florence Espeut-Nickless is such an incredible performer and deserves to be applauded for her brilliant efforts on this production.
Destiny, Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, Sat 8 Oct
Destiny is in Aberystwyth Arts Centre on Wed 9 Nov. Info: here
words RHIANNON FARR