Sheffield University Theatre Company’s Peace Circle is about exactly what the title implies – and a little bit more. Six characters form a ‘peace circle’, a commonly used practice in restorative justice models that seeks to encourage discussion with the aim of allowing for understanding and forgiveness to take place.
This show’s particular circle consists of the facilitator, the three members of the victim’s family, the perpetrator, and the perpetrator’s brother. The show is about restorative justice, but it is also about the complexity of families and the experience of grief, and there are some extremely tense moments throughout. The production as a whole has an uncomfortable atmosphere, as it should, given the subject matter and the complicated dynamics playing out on stage. There is a sense, too, of a mystery being unravelled, as the audience piece together what crime was committed, and how it led each character to take part in this fraught form of restorative justice.
There are some strong performances from the cast – Alicia Fitzwilliams and Ella Hulford are worthy of mention for particularly emotional and nuanced performances as Becky and Wendy (sister and mother to the victim, respectively). All of the cast members are fully committed to their roles, and their chemistry is good, allowing them to act believably as two separate families (and one determined facilitator).
While Peace Circle is an interesting look at how restorative justice models may play out in practice, the ending does leave something to be desired. There is no real sense of closure, which, while it may reflect what the characters are feeling, does not make for an especially satisfying finale, as moments of real tension and past behaviours seem brushed aside. The show appears to have little to say about the effectiveness or value of restorative justice, simply ending without making a case for whether the process shown was a worthwhile one, despite all the issues that arose throughout.
However, though this show falls short of conveying a clear message, it is still an engaging hour of theatre, with some real moments of emotion. I hope it receives due attention, as, with a rewrite or two, Peace Circle has the potential to be a very powerful and poignant piece of theatre.
