Lionheart Theatre presents 20 Minutes of Action. An exhilarating piece of theatre exploring the topic of women’s safety through the lens of a controversial sexual court case in recent American history. Collating the statements, letters, and transcripts of those involved, 20 Minutes of Action lays bare the failings of the criminal justice system in cases of sexual assault. Performed at venue 33, Pleasance Beneath- Pleasance Courtyard from the 3rd-29th August.
The ensemble of young talented actors brilliantly tackle the hard hitting nature of the subjects discussed in this tension filled verbatim court drama. Full of exceptional performances we begin with Shannon Yuen’s heart breaking portrayal of the survivor of the sexual assault that the production is focused upon. Yuen’s captivating performance stems from the ability to find the humanity of the character, giving breath to the survivors language. Constantly battling between the facts and inner turmoil her character faces, Yuen masterfully demonstrates the complexity of emotions as the survivor endures the gruelling judiciary process. Benjamin Sumrie’s portrayal as the perpetrator is one of brilliance. Sumrie’s tortured state explores the deep societal issues of privilege presented through a myriad of pathological excuses to defend the indefensible. The presentation of this chilling character forever tormented by his own actions is an impressive performance that gives a troubling insight into the toxic male psyche. Louisa Chang gives a moving performance as the sister of the survivor, the guilt she feels in being unable to do more for her sister is only magnified as the show expands providing a truly emotional performance. Fiona Forster and Connor McCausland give excellent performances as the parents of the perpetrator. Similar to Sumrie’s performance the constant denial and love they have for their son was eventually infiltrated by the feelings of disappointment, shame and grief for the “sweet kid” they had raised, producing an interesting societal commentary on the impact of the families associated to these crimes. Ellie Watermeyer plays the witness, a person clearly traumatised by the events seen. Watermeyer finds a good balance of wanting to be factual in the courtroom, producing the emotional discomfort as she replays the events of that evening. Emma Lindsay gives a strong performance in the role of reporter. Cold but grounded Lindsay’s performance encapsulates the legal system and projects the outdated views on Women’s safety by shifting blame onto the survivor. Not an easy character to portray, however Lindsay does so with ease.
Writer and Director Pollyanna Esse has developed a grounded production that is unique and equally explores the consequences and trauma that is associated with instances of rape and any form of sexual misconduct. The verbatim language is graphic and presents the gravity of this horrific situation that is hard hitting for audiences to digest. The critique in this production is the unnecessarily long transitions of simply moving stools that pulled away from the tension created in the courtroom drama. Furthermore, the constant shifting of the furniture presents confusion as to whether we are still located in the courthouse or not. However, these criticisms are minor compared to the brilliance of the overall production created by Esse.
20 Minutes of Action is a brilliant production at this years Edinburgh Fringe. The weight and gravity of the topics explored in this production are exhibited through the carefully cultivated script and outstanding performances.
You can learn more about 20 Minutes of Action below…
Theatre Scotland 
Leave a comment