"Piss And Bile" by 5 Pigeons Pecking a Bin Bag.

The Space Theatre, London.

5 Pigeons Pecking a Bin Bag are a new theatre company set up by former Nottingham University New Theatre pair Daniella Finch and Beth Wilson, and this is their debut as a new theatre company. The performance was performed live at The Space in London, but was also live streamed, which is how I managed to review the production. The show has previously been performed as an online show during the Covid pandemic, but this is their first performance of this one before a live audience.

So, who are 5 Pigeons Pecking At A Bin Bag?

Five Pigeons Pecking a Bin Bag are an emerging theatre company founded by Artistic Directors Beth Wilson and Daniella Finch. They were formed at the end of 2019 and aim to create work that is bold, foul humoured and a little bit weird. Their work is influenced by absurdism and clowning and has a healthy dose of comedy.

They perform and write their own work as well as performing and directing.

They like to explore the unsavoury bits of humanity, ask uncomfortable questions and like to figure out what makes people tick. They strive to make theatre that unites audiences through a collective experience. And what better way than using comedy to make people feel less alone?

The show is about being sad in your 20s. It follows two women navigating the monotony of working in the service industry, Bob's Bistro, and the frustrating customers they encounter. Their co-dependent friendship is pushed to the limit as they struggle to keep a lid on the boiling rage that bubbles under the surface. Woman 1 applies for an office job. She doesn’t get it. Woman 2 secretly applies for it too. She gets it. The tension is high and the competition is on. Can their friendship survive in a world that fosters apathy, complacency and cruelty?

The play is written by Daniella and Beth and there is a lot of humour in this play. There is a lot of silly humour in this play, some involving a large inflatable hammer with which they get beaten with. Part of the humour is regarding "inside" and "outside" thoughts; the inside thoughts being what they would really like to say to their customers. When this happens, the Bistro is bathed in green light.

Another really humorous section, that is revisited a few times, is the podcast presented by James Robert Brown, a fictional character who brings critical topics to the table but critical only in the mind of James Robert Brown.

The relaxation app is also great fun, mainly because the app seems to have a mind of its' own and ends up being far from the deliverer of relaxation.

There is also a scene where one of the women's phone teases her into tweeting things by talking to her, almost like the scene in Little Shop Of Horrors.

And then there are the strange dreams that involve eyebrows! More than that I won't say, but best experienced by watching the show!

And I've not even touched on the sponsorship jingle for the two women's possible podcast. It's all great, but silly fun.

The show ends by coming full circle by revealing spoilers for the endings of classic novels. Confused? Well get a ticket and see the show and see what I mean.

The Associate Director is Beth Bowden.

The trio of performers are Beth Wilson, Daniella Finch and Edward Marriott, who plays every part that was not played by Beth and Daniella.

The production is being performed until Saturday 26 March and you can get tickets and more information by visiting the 5 Pigeons Pecking a Bin Bag webpage or that of The Space Theatre, London.