Fine Mess Theatre have kept things simple with their original production The Common Land returning to Otherplace at Bar Broadway after an award-winning run at the International Youth Arts Festival.

A young man enters onto a stage empty apart from a small black box, stark lighting falling across his face and illuminating a tale of childhood chaos and revenge. Tom is smart, quick and wild; hounded by demons at school and home he runs wild across The Fens.

The Common Land is an exceptional example of independent theatre making – the writing is slick and crackles with talent, brought to life by Joel Samuels’ carefully crafted performance. He holds the audience throughout this tale recounting ups and downs of rural English life with an engaging and dynamic style.

The ending feels abrupt, leaving the audience wanting more and some tweaks could be made to the overall audience experience – creating a pre-show atmosphere and softer lighting choices but this young company has time and space to develop. They have made bold decisions and prioritised the clarity of the storytelling above all else.

Fine Mess Theatre have strong theatrical vision and this production is highly recommended.