Downstage Drama

A Streetcar Named Desire, written by Tennessee Williams in 1947, follows two sisters as they reconnect and discover more about each other, in the landscape of an urban, post-war New Orleans. The young women, formidable Blanche Dubois and dutiful Stella Kowalski, live with Stella’s husband Stanley, often drunk and aggressive yet protective of his wife. Many other male characters reveal themselves throughout the play, particularly Mitch, who attempts to spark a romance with Blanche.  A main message of the play for me is the gender roles and expectations awarded to men and women. The actions that the men are allowed to indulge themselves in, drinking, gambling and sex, are admonished when performed by Blanche. This is apparent of the time period, as the early-to-mid 1900s are infamous for this kind of discrimination. However, Blanche is a powerhouse, whose mysterious backstory is one of sordid exploits and a degrading reputation. She is the subject of rumours, insults and assumptions,...

War Horse is an adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 novel, adapted by Nick Stafford in 2007. It follows the friendship and separation of young Albert and his horse, Joey,   as they face the horrors of trench warfare in 1916. This grave backdrop is expertly contrasted with the previous idyllic countryside of pre-war England, using muddy soldier uniforms, dark lighting and literal barbed wire to encapsulate the danger of No Man’s Land. This contrast is further explored with the reappearance of traditional folk songs often played with instrument accompaniment by one actress.   It didn’t seem like she was directing her music to the audience though, more so to Albert, the protagonist, or even the horses. The whimsical, traditional folk lore mixed with the foreign, terrifying modernity of war served as a constant reminder of Devon, of what was missed and eventually, what was lost. In representing the destruction of the English landscape, a huge watercolour projection overhangs the...

Hi! My name is Tilly. I'm 17, in Year 12, and studying for my A Levels. This blog is where I'll share my thoughts on everything theatre and Drama. You'll find reviews for scripts and shows, as well as articles on theatre-going culture. I hope to go to University to study Theatre/Performance Studies and start my career in the industry. My dream is to be a director but I aim to dabble in as much of the theatre world as possible, including acting, producing and writing.