Speechless

Based on true events, it follows the story of twin sisters June and Jennifer, two girls who shunned the outside world and created an unshakeable bond between each other. This bond led to their isolation from society and resulted in incarceration.

What could have been an enthralling look at a bizarre scenario with two fascinating real-life characters is presented in clichés and feels almost lazy in its scripting. Teale’s direction is much better as it allows for interesting interactions between key characters and uses stylised movement to heighten mood and tension. Alas, the end result is a production that feels like a big missed opportunity.

However, it is still worthwhile for its performances. The three ensemble players are all good in their scenes, but Natasha Gordon and Demi Oyediran as the sisters are nothing short of phenomenal. The way they interact with each other, from long, scripted scenes to quick glances, is touching, heartbreaking and constantly enthralling.

Speechless wants to be provocative theatre, and from a performance level it succeeds. It’s just a shame the source material isn’t as great as the acting or nearly as interesting as the real story.