Badgers

Badgers is a true-crime-style piece of gig theatre in which the search for a missing young man opens into a strange story of badgerism, magic, loss and the difficulty of letting go. At the centre is a daughter confronting her mother’s impending death, while the investigation keeps slipping between podcast, folk tale and something much stranger.

What is most impressive is what the production does with its tiny room. It feels completely full — as though there are multiple sets, multiple locations and all sorts of things happening around you. The recording booth, screens, music and shifting storytelling make the space feel considerably bigger than it is. It is very creatively staged.

The music is excellent, with Joe Williams and Beth Roberts providing much of the depth of the story, but the acting takes the lead. Malaika Kegode’s lead performance is flawless: smooth, engaging and constantly drawing the audience further into the world. It genuinely feels as though we are sitting in the interview room with her.

Badgers by Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Bristol Old Vic. Credit Paul Blakemore.