Prickly Ash’s ‘Out Of Character,’ a unique, work-in-progress piece of theatre, has come to Brighton Unitarian Church for Brighton Fringe 2025. The production aims to challenge hyper-masculine storytelling through often overlooked and unheard female voices, and blurs the lines between writer and character, and audience and performer.
The Venue – Brighton Unitarian Church
The production took place at the stunning Brighton Unitarian Church, an impressive building in the heart of Brighton’s Laines. Just a few minutes’ walk from the station, and moments away from a range of shops, pubs and restaurants, it’s a convenient and interesting venue to visit.
Inside, the high ceilings, spacious wooden-floored room and intricate stained-glass windows create a unique and impressive atmosphere. Interestingly, the audience were seated on pews against the wall, either side of the room, leaving a wide open space for performers in the middle.
The Vibe
Set with a backdrop of turf wars and gang violence, the ‘Out of Character’ struck a good balance between action-packed intensity and quiet, poignant moments. With just four cast members, it explored some compelling themes, including fanfiction as a form of self-expression, and so-called ‘self-insert’ stories, where an author creates a character who is, either explicitly or implicitly, based on themselves, as a form of escapism and self-empowerment.
It felt like theatre in the round, but even more immersive, as some apparent ‘audience members’ were actually actors, who joined in the performance partway through. This immersive experience was heightened by the range of multimedia elements, including music and projections on the ceiling.
The Verdict
Overall, ‘Out of Character’ was an extremely unique production, which has a lot of potential. Fanfiction lovers will enjoy the self-aware explorations of some classic tropes, while theatre-fans will be sure to appreciate the multi-modal experience, combining music, theatre and visual projections.
Out of Character will be at Brighton Fringe 2025 on the May 18 and 25, with performances starting at 6.30pm and 7.45pm on May 25.
Tickets: https://www.brightonfringe.org/events/out-of-character/
Theatre Company: Prickly Ash
Venue: Brighton Unitarian Church, New Road, Brighton, BN1 1UF
