Review: SALT, Riverside Studios

Photo credit: Peter Morgan

After an epic UK tour that has taken them to the far reaches of the Isle of Wight and Shetland Islands, Contemporary Ritual Theatre concludes their run of SALT in West London at Riverside Studios. An appropriately watery setting for this tale steeped in the wild and briny lore of ancient fisherfolk.

The main narrative threaded throughout this piece follows fisherman Man Billy (Mylo McDonald) and his mother (Emily Outred), outcasts on the edge of a Norfolk fishing community, who are introduced to wild travelling singer Sheldis (Bess Roche). Around this story, the show is packed with songs, shanties, and pockets of ancient traditions.

Writer and director Beau Hopkins has created something uniquely stirring with this piece. It’s roughly hewn, befitting the rugged setting of the 18th century Norfolk coast. Though the form of this piece is remarkable, a ritualistic in-the-round experience, the script might benefit from some reshaping. Man Billy’s entanglement with Sheldis is introduced curiously late into the piece, and feels unfairly crammed into the second act of the show. It is also curious for the show to be structured as a two-act piece with a magic-shattering interval – for a production that pitches itself as an immersive experience, it seems like a wasted opportunity to not use the interval time for an additional, audience-engaging performance element.

The cast of three throw themselves into their roles under Lucy Cullingford’s tense and lithe movement direction. As the ethereal Sheldis, Bess Roche stands out with a truly haunting performance.

The songs felt like they were only sparingly introduced in the first act, and the second relied on a single refrain from the traditional ‘Bedlam Boys’. The music and movement of this production beats along like the tide, but this reviewer felt there could even have been more music and ritual.

SALT is a spellbinding production, with solid storytelling roots that reach back across centuries. With a trim, spit and polish, this show could be utterly extraordinary.

*** Three stars

Reviewed by: Livvy Perrett

SALT plays at London’s Riverside Studios until 15 March, with further info here.