Slayers, presented at Assembly George Square Studios by newly formed theatre company RUPTURE, is a gripping, powerful piece of theatre. Written with sharp precision by Corinne Salisbury and ably directed by Josephine Rush, Slayers is full of anger, but it’s full of humour and compassion too.
Zoe Hunter delivers a magnetic performance as Liane, a single mother to a pre-teen daughter. Liane is desperately attempting to hold in “this thing” coiled inside her, a biting, all-consuming rage triggered by the systemic abuse women endure, rooted in trauma she has clearly suffered herself. All while trying to shield her daughter from life’s cruelties, Hunter keeps the audience completely captivated. Supported only by microphone stands, loose leads, and a movable lighting rig, her measured yet intense performance single-handedly brings Liane’s world into sharp focus.
We’ve no idea how the story will pan out but, over the course of an hour, we are introduced to an array of characters: Liane’s caring brother, a school mum, their brother’s ex-partner, a boxer, and the predator who tries to ‘pick them up’ on the street. The story builds to a climax when violent revenge is enacted, only for the aftermath to spiral tragically out of control and affect everyone in Liane’s life.
While Slayers presents an undeniably bleak outlook on contemporary life and male audience members may well feel uncomfortable at times, its exploration of the insidious threat of the online “manosphere” is nuanced and rings upsettingly true. Yet, the story is far from relentless gloom; the visits to the boxing gym are positively uplifting, and there is enough genuine humour to lighten this dark tale.
Hunter commands the stage with such magnetic authority that the audience never feels alienated, despite the heavy subject matter. Salisbury’s tightly constructed script establishes an authentic, believable environment that might leave you questioning whom you can truly trust.
The ending is perhaps a little rushed and would benefit from more exploration, often one of the drawbacks of having to produce a one-hour Fringe play. Nevertheless, Slayers is a powerful drama driven by a powerhouse lead performance, and I cannot wait to see what Corinne Salisbury and RUPTURE Theatre Company do next.
Listings and ticket information can be found hereÂ
