BUOY A play by Emily Hinshelwood

Last night we went back to our favourite venue Pontardawe Arts Centre to see Emily Hinshelwood's new play, entitled, 'Buoy.' Emily won the Arts Centre's Scriptslam competition with a ten minute extract from this play. As a result she had the opportunity to work with Dramaturge,Writer and Director, Louise Osborn, and Director Derek Cobley, to develop her work into a full length play.
     Through a love story the play explores the tensions, expectations, myths and challenges of protecting our environment at a time of economic and personal crises.
     Suzy and Ioan meet unexpectedly by a canal. Suzy's husband has sold her travel agency, because it's not making any money. She runs away to the woods to escape her anger and their marriage. Ioan's wife died in childbirth. He is living on a houseboat, running away from his grief and from a baby son, who he can't look after on his own.
      Ioan has become attached to a buoy that he found in the canal. It reminded me a little of  Wilson, the football that Shipwrecked Tom Hanks rescued and views as a confident and friend in the film, 'Castaway.'  Suzy and Ioan hold the buoy giving it their own meanings-from a globe to his son.
      Ioan is no eco-warrior. He walks to Tesco, three miles away to steal food that's past its sell-by date and dumped in bins. Suzy remembers being taught to hunt and fish by her grandfather. They feast on pigeon and rabbit, that she traps and kills. Gradually, as they fall in love, their roles change. Ioan wants to return to the industrial world, where he works for Ford and pick up his old life. Suzy becomes pregnant but she doesn't want to bring a child into that world. He tries to persuade her differently and to come home with him. Suzy moves into the canal boat as Ioan leaves without her. We're left wondering how they'll both survive.
     It's an interesting piece, with great stage effects designed by Daniel Travers. Emily also composed and played the flute and filmed some of the first scenes projected onto a back cloth. My only gripe lies with Suzy arriving at the canal wearing high heels without a speck of dirt or mud having supposedly walked a few miles through the forest. A minor point in a very thought provoking piece.