Jumper Bumps by Ameilia Rodger is a warm and authentic celebration of female friendships – the kind that’s messy, frustrating, loyal and unshakeable. Best friends and flatmates Eris and Atlanta navigate their early twenties in very different ways but always holding each other’s hand. Eris dreams of being a mum and craves the unconditional love that comes with that, meanwhile Atlanta studies hard for her law degree and enjoys the freedom of single life. However, when Eris’ dream becomes a harsh reality, the girl’s friendship is put to the test as they both struggle to hold each other and themselves up. Jumper Bumps captures that delicate balancing act of supporting the person closest to you, even when you’re quietly wrestling your own.
Amelia’s writing brings us a beautiful, grounded reflection of what it actually feels like to be a woman navigating life alongside another. What’s refreshing about Jumper Bumps is it never slips into preachiness or oversimplified “girl power” slogans and it doesn’t ;eave you feeling depressed like, “God, it really is crap being a woman”.Instead, she highlights the shared frustrations, the deep loyalty, and the small but powerful ways we hold each other up. Throughout the performance, I related so much to both characters and their genuineness shone through. Ameilia’s dialogue is absolutely spot-on! I actually saw the show with my own flat mate and best friend and more than once we found ourselves nudging each other, whispering “That’s you”, “You’ve said that”. It’s the best reflection of modern 20-something woman life that I’ve seen recently.
The performances were nothing short of excellent. Amelia Rodger and Katrina Allen have so much chemistry and they portray their relationship effortlessly. They clearly know the script so well that the performance feels incredibly natural and the audience feels like a fly on the wall in their friendship. Even with just a single sofa as the set, the actors make the space feel dynamic, drawing us into their world effortlessly.
Personally, I think the script could be shortened. There were a few moments that felt a little repetitive. A slightly tighter edit could make space for exploring more of Atlanta’s world. This is not a criticism of the piece, I found both characters so real and multi-deminesional that I’d like to see more of them. I’m looking forward to seeing my next Ameilia Rodger play.
Jumper Bumps is a funny, tender, and truthful portrayal of chosen family and a love letter to the women who hold us together when we’re falling apart. Take your best friend, laugh and cry at all the silly and heartfelt moments and spread some appreciation to your fellow gal pals.
Jumper Bumps is playing @ Gilded Balloon, Appleton Tower at 16:20 until 24th of August. Buy your tickets here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/jumper-bumps
Theatre Scotland 
Leave a comment