En Route Theatre Company returns to the Golden Goose Theatre for their second scratch night, Setting Sail, where seven new short pieces and works in progress meet an audience for the first time. It is a night of stories as mixed as the company itself: darkly funny, moving and thought-provoking, performed by an ensemble with roots in France, England, Slovakia, Scotland and Brazil. Many of the writers also starred in their own pieces, showing a great deal of versatility in their work.
Stand out pieces were 1 Star Nan, Doughnut Drive, Writer’s Retreat and Bim Bam Boom.
Written and performed by Alex McCaragher, 1 Star Nan is a tragicomic monologue about a grandmother gone AWOL on online reviewing platforms. Teetering on the edge of physical comedy, it is an absurd take on everyday life, work and family relations.
Doughnut Drive, written by Finella Waddilove, performed by Waddilove herself and Sarah Parkins, is a moving yet very funny two-hander about the relationship between two childhood friends dealing with grief and mental health. Waddilove’s writing balances heavy themes with laugh-out-loud comments and jokes in a clever way. Both she and Parkins are excellent in delivery and timing.
Writer’s Retreat, written by Avouelance, performed by Mia Pincekova, Michael Ohren and Rebecca Finch plays with genre to expose societal bias at the same time as poking fun at the idea of the artistic male genius. Pincekova is brilliant as the aspiring female writer, refusing to idolise an older man just because he is published. Ohren is equally convincing in the role as the writer.
Bim Bam Boom, written and performed by Clara Courty-Zanca, is an autobiographical monologue outlining her parents’ complicated relationship and the result of it: her. With small means (a wooden spoon, a tan leather glove and pieces of paper), Courty-Zanca manages to dramatize her own conception, set against the backdrop of exploring her own identity.
Though advertised as a script-in-hand reading, neither of the stand-out pieces were using scripts on stage, showing the excellence of the actors and the commitment to make these short pieces shine. With minimal props, the stories and characters really came to life to showcase the brilliance of new writing. The work of En Route is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Review by Rebecca Hagberg Snäckerström
Setting Sail at the Golden Goose Theatre was an evening of fresh, original storytelling, showcasing seven distinct new writing pieces. Blending drama and comedy in equal measure, each scene offered a unique perspective — from intimate character studies to sharp social satire. The evening celebrated emerging voices and inventive narratives, steering the audience through a dynamic journey of laughter and tension.
Cast and Crew list
One Star Nan – Alex McCaragher (writer/ director/ actor)
Writer’s Retreat – Mia Pincekova (actor), Rebecca Finch (actor), Michael Ohren (actor), Avouleance (writer/director)
Doughnut Drive – Sarah Parkins (actor), Finella Waddilove (writer/ actor/ director)
Clock off – Marie Castel (writer/ actor)
Interruptions Along the Way – Ingrid Miller (actor), Stephen Grist (writer/ director)
Parallels – Scarlett Malone (actor), Luana Holtz (writer/actor)
Bim Bam Boom – Clara Courty Zanca (writer/actor)
En Route Theatre Company Scratch Night at the Golden Goose Theatre 4/5/2025.
https://www.goldengoosetheatre.co.uk/
