Words: Kiera Harper
Image: Kinga Anna Dulka

5 Stars

The Pitch is a captivating play about friendship, deep rooted intolerance and what happens when we begin to question it.

In East Belfast, football lover Robbie and Deren instantly connect on the pitch. That is, until they discuss the football pitch being turned into a Gaelic football ground and Robbie learns that Deren is a GAA player himself and will be supporting a United Ireland in the upcoming referendum. This causes a rift between the boys, who from then on begin a push and pull relationship as they question whether they can overcome their taught hatred. All the while, Robbie’s sister Melissa begins thinking for herself as she quietly stands against her family’s opinions and takes up Gaelic football alongside Deren. 

This play excellently handles delicate topics like Northern Irish politics, identity and sexuality, while leaving enough room for lightness and humour. From the symbolism of slightly different shoes and conversations around the colour of crisp packets, the writing brilliantly highlights that the characters are not as different as they think. With fantastic performances from all three cast members, the characters feel familiar and grounded in reality, making the show feel intimate and as if the audience have been transported to a pitch in East Belfast where three young people are trying to live through the tensions of their country.

The Pitch asks audiences to think about the things our parents, culture, and history have told us and to question them before taking these opinions on blindly. This is a must-watch play about growing up and breaking moulds to allow for human connection that reaches beyond lines drawn on a map.

The Pitch
Baby Grand at Pleasance Courtyard
14:00
5^th – 31^st August (no performances on the 12^th, 20^th and 29^th)