I really enjoyed tonight's performance!  It had humour as well as incredibly insightful observations about human insecurities and relationships.  From what I have seen I would definitely recommend 'Smoke Yourself Slim' as an up and coming theatre company who should be closely watched.  I look forward to your next production and hope to see you at next year's Fringe!

Richard, Henley 24/07/2010  

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What a fantastic performance tonight it was! Amazing talent on every level. So engaging and entertaining! Great observational writing, fantastic soundtrack - you guys have got it!! Good luck with it all. We so much enjoyed it! In fact, we may come and see you again on Saturday it was that good!

Antonia Wren, Henley 21/07/2010  

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Great to meet you and your troupe yesterday evening. We really enjoyed your show. Clever observational and thought-provoking writing, plus a thoroughly engaging performance. Wonderful to be able to enjoy such a rewarding experience in such a relaxed, intimate setting but so sorry you didn't get a larger audience. We have been telling everyone how good it was! Best of luck for the rest of the week

Michael, Henley 23/07/2010  

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I saw 'Waiting' twice, the 1st time was in London and the 2nd, at the lovely Lovibonds micro-brewery in Henley during the Henley Fringe.  They were 2 very different performances for 2 very different audiences but I thoroughly enjoyed them both.

As always Smoke Yourself Slim were innovative, thought-provoking and fresh.  They always manage to create scenes we can empathise with and relate to. There is pathos and humour in equal measures!  Naia Headland-Vanni is a keen observer of humanity and this comes across in her scripts.

Ghislaine, Henley 24/07/2010  

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"I never knew how heavy emptiness could feel"  Peter Carrington for remotegoat on 23/02/10

At first the silence is only punctuated by the sipping of wine, but before long conversation flows with it, bringing the audience expertly into a familiar world of choices, memories, romance and ambition. Once the dialogue gets going it flows naturally and laughs are found in many ways, like an enjoyable evening with good friends.

Laura Gabriella Perkins and Dhaniella Mauger play the good friends, spending their evening Waiting for something to happen. With Lauren Wigmore as the barmaid all are very comfortable in their roles, pulling the audience into the characters worlds and how their orbits have intertwined. Each of them have charm and wit, yet give us three points of a personality triangle. Within that triangle, Lauren Wigmore slips the most into portraying the various memories of the characters, giving life to childhood hopes and dreams, teenage angst and young adult confusion with a vivacity that makes many of her lines moving. With the memories playing before the audience and in the minds of the girls, the characters are reminded how they came to be where they are, how they came to be the people they are and the difficulties in choosing a path. In doing so, the audience becomes aware of their own choices and paths, but this is never forced, as the characters are so easy to relate to.

The production is understated, with the audience sat as if in a bar, without complications that would distract from the messages of the play this works well. The homemade feel is endearing and suits this small but well formed play written by Artistic Director Naia Headland-Vanni

In the comfortable space, with no barrier between audience and cast this insightful piece leaves the audience dwelling on their own memories and paths.

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