The European Premiere of The Gulf by Audrey Cefaly is an honest representation of the challenges all relationships can endure, no matter the sexuality. It looks at two women on a small fishing boat in the Gulf of Mexico and what makes their relationship tick.
The divide between Kendra, played by Louisa Lytton, and Betty, played by Anna Acton, mimics the very world that devours them: a vast and polarizing abyss. Stranded on a boat together, they are forced to confront their differences and untangle the issues they’re faced with.
The message in society that a ‘significant other’, preferably of the opposite sex, is the answer to feeling complete and happy, is always present. Through bickering, insults, selfhelp books and physical and emotional game playing the audience discover, along with Betty and Kendra, the substance to their relationship and their future together.
Director Matthew Gould comments, “The Gulf is an exploration of relationships but it happens to be between two women in a boat on a fishing trip in Alabama and that is the importance of The Gulf… it’s characters are women. The presence of drama that has women, let alone lesbians, as their leading characters is minimal. As the shifting sands of the rights of LGBTQ+ people fluctuate from country to country, to then have such a strong drama featuring lesbian characters and set in the deep south of America is a testament to the talent of the writer Audrey Cefaly and her understanding of the need for Kendra and Betty’s voices to be heard. I hope that whoever comes to the play will see that whatever sexes a relationship is made up of the issues are the same the world over.”
The Gulf is at Tristan Bates Theatre 17th April – 5th May 2018.
