★★★★
A Broken Rose is like falling into a story book and discovering it is all real. Like walking to the back of the wardrobe and finding yourself in Narnia!
In this magical fairytale we see 14 year old Maria (former Eastenders actress Louisa Lytton) who’s father died in a car crash when she was 10.
Her alcoholic prostitute mother, despises her and doesn’t let her leave the house. Maria’s only friends are Sun and Moon, the fairies that come and visit her from a magical world where everything is made of gold.
Maria discovers she is the fairy princess but before Sun and Moon can take her to the land she will rule over, she must prove herself by performing a series of tasks.
Maria must face her fears if she is to gain the trust of the fairies and be taken away from the miserable life she is living.
The harsh ending to this show is not what you would expect and while shockingly powerful, isn’t quite clear that the show is over and leaves you having to put the final pieces together in your head.
A Broken Rose is not for children and covers some brutal topics, making it totally understandable why someone might want to believe that such a magical world exists. And after seeing this play, it makes me want to believe in it a little bit too!
Totally magical and a must see for anyone who loves a good story!
Written by Sarah Goddard
Director Phil Willmott
Set/Costume Designer Emma Tompkins
Lighting Designer Tom Boucher
Original Music Composed by John-Paul Bowman
Casting Director Danielle Tarento
Produced by Five One Productions
