Dominion

Radar Geilgud Theatre, 30 June & 7 July 2018

Despite being in it’s seventh edition, dominion by Greg Forrest is my first experience of the RADA Festival, and it’s an introduction I am unlikely to forget in a hurry! The press release for the play had advised that the audience ‘strap in for some kinky sh*t’, and it’s advice you’d be wise to heed as this production depicting “a romance for our deranged modern times” isn’t for the feint hearted. That said, it is never anything less than absolutely compelling viewing, and if we were to add some advise of our own we would definitely be suggesting you get to see this incredible production if you can, even if there is only one remaining performance in it’s current run. dominion (yes, the lack of capitalisation is intentional) is an uncompromising look at the evolution of a new relationship as it slips into the increasingly darker areas of kink, control, domination, submission… and quite possibly, even love.

First thing to note is that there is little in the way of set on stage for this two hander beyond a table, a chair and in the centre of the stage a mattress. With such an economy of set, not to mention cast, there would have been nowhere to hide should the script have proved to be anything less than impressive, or the acting not engaging. Thankfully impressive and engaging is exactly what dominion is as we are introduced to the two characters D, played by Josh Fish, and S, played by Sasha Kane, by way of their first meeting via a dating app hook-up. For anyone who regularly reads these reviews, you will know that I am developing something of a pavlovian response to internet dating stories in queer theatre, my heart usually sinking at the prospect of being taken back for another exploration of that world once again. Thankfully this was a transitory device being used purely to get the two characters together, (and lets face it, not unrealistically in concept) from where it was full steam ahead in putting the couples relationship centre stage in all it’s uncompromising, 'in your face' glory. “I like tennis”, says S in an opening gambit to find something in common with his new date. “I like fisting” comes D’s reply, setting out the starting points from which each of the two characters must travel in an attempt to make their relationship work.

Needless to say their relationship is complicated from the start, D clearly being more confident and experienced than S, who’s naivety about the more extreme levels of role play is matched only by his desire to explore the erotic potential of succumbing to D’s increasingly sadomasochistic demands. Sasha Kane plays his characters often uncertain insecurity perfectly, and is matched scene for scene by Josh Fish’s own portrayal of the more manipulative D who’s not beyond going on his own journey, clearly surprised to find himself confronting some equally unfamiliar territory at times. It’s the distinct lack of black and white in the portrayal of these characters that keeps the audience spellbound, and far from degenerating into fifty shades of grey, the dialogue and action are handled with as much economy as the set, to the point where we feel we are being dropped into scenes that are already well underway. A neat little devise that brings with it an added sense of voyeurism to these snatched moments of the characters reality.

Far from feeling gratuitous in any way, Harriet Taylor’s fantastic direction of the plays more violent scenes is both intelligent and uniquely handled, with credit once again also going to Sasha Kane for his physicality, not to mention flexibility in the depiction of his submission to D’s increasingly more violent actions. That’s not to say that the play is devoid of lighter moments, but even these have an uneasy undercurrent that feeds directly into the audience’s fear of what is potentially to come. We are hopeful that these two performances are just the start of a longer run for this production in the future which, if it does return, we’ll be the first in line to recommend it all over again. 

The impeccable writing, acting and direction combine to produce characters that are never anything less than compelling to watch.

★★★★★