23rd-26th July

The Crescent Theatre

"This superb young group goes bravely into battle with William Golding’s classic tale of mind-blowing depravity amongst youngsters on an uninhabited island after a plane crash and it is no surprise that is now has another success to add to its long list of triumphs.
 
Not that it is anywhere near uninhabited after the youngsters arrive- nearly 60 of them, in Liz Light‚Äôs highly populated, busy-busy production that has become Stage 2‚Äôs trademark.  Excellent lighting effects give merited support to a company that throws itself into the story so enthusiastically, that there are times when the spoken script disappears beneath a cacophonous chorus....
 

But this is a minor consideration in relation to the success that is achieved in communicating an atmosphere of growing tension and terror.
 
Miriam Bird is a ferocious Jackie.ì Jack having become a female character while many of the of the all boy castaways are played by girls in true Stage 2 adaptability  She has well executed confrontations with Ralph, (Sam Moore) the well meaning first leader of the pack, and Alex Pugh excels as Piggy, the asthmatic lad who is blind without his glasses.
 
Connor Fox is an alert and active Simon.  The Production makes plenty of use of the auditorium in a way that inevitability draws its audience into the action."

John Slim

Birmingham Mail Friday July 25th 2008.