The Book of Joan

I went in blind, and was not dissapointed; an enthralling and interesting portrayal on catholic lesbians. We love seeing such representation! I thought the script was brilliant. It felt absurdist, genuine, and well thought through. It’s heavy, but wonderfully thought-provoking. Maybe less of a drama comedy then it says on the tin, but it definetly has got its sweet funny moments. This really resounded with me! For a student-led production I was positively suprised by the creative teams work with making a lot out of little. Actors were both powerful in their respective roles, and it was a joy to see their tightly well-directed intensity unfold. Particularly in such an intimate space. Excited to see the piece taken further. Truly an impactful experience that I’d gladly recommend! A solid 9/10 for me!

The professional actor playing Joan seemed miles above this amateur work in progress. She held the stage with moments of delicate vulnerability while maintaining force and agency. The relationship between the two actors was strong and intense, which really held the piece together. The writing needed work but a great concept overall!! Excited to see this develop.

This performance shines best with the chemistry between the actors, an intense battle of connection, internal conflict, and religious guilt. The actor portraying Grace particualry gave a very grounded perfromance, navigating conflicting emotions expertly and in a really naturalistic way that drew you into the character and the play, a really great performance.

This was a really inventive idea for a play, some context elements in the writing needed a little developement but there was a clear, distinct passion behind it. Would highly recomend going to see this play, definitely a little hidden gem of the fringe.

Exceptional performances by both actors taking the audience through a rollercoaster of emotions. Special mention for the fantastic accent by ‘Joan’ A good idea that needs some further script development to address some repetitive text. Also extra props such as blazer with school crest and hanging crucifix or bible to help context.

The actor playing Joan gave an incredible performance. I felt that her movement and facial control really brought Joan to life.

I can't help but feel some more context around Joan and a perhaps more in-depth development of the character's relationship would really bring this piece together. The story has great promise and the heavy themes were displayed well. 8/10 for me, with some development and perhaps a dramaturg on board this could be fantastic.

Exceptional display of a range of emotion by both actors. Throughly enjoyed the seamlessness in the physicality of the play. Felt well executed, engaging, and thought provoking. More context about the symbolism of Joan of Arc and the link of Catholicism in the storyline wouldn't have gone amiss, in order to give more insight to the audience about the depth of the plot. Regardless, the actors were terrific in their portrayal of two very multifaceted characters. A creative and thoughtful show with an interesting queer spin, would 100% recommend.

Thank you for this very interesting and engaging performance. I am grateful to have watched it as it helped me process my own experiences of struggles in relationships, and I could relate to the Catholic background, having been part of the church growing up. I could identify with the manipulative behaviour and complex relations being acted out. Thank you, and well done!

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