The Pool

Writer, Steve Rodgers, had a great idea while swimming at his local pool - what if all these interesting, diverse people surrounding him, swimming, diving, training, gossiping and eating, were characters in a play, set in a pool?

He wanted to write about the community spirit that finds all manner of people using the same public space for a variety of reasons, exploring the healing power of water.

When he spoke to director, Kate Champion, he imagined special effects on stage to simulate the splashing water and characters floating and swimming.

Ms Champion, however, envisioned a much more authentic theatre space – an actual pool, with actual water. 

The pool, as a huge stage, could attract a different type of audience than conventional theatre buildings.

Characters arrive in The Pool and use the space, just as we would, straight from the change rooms.

The audience are seated on the bleachers (bring a cushion if you like) and are each given a headset tuned into the main conversations (volume can be adjusted individually).

Actors chat intimately near the shallow end; old friends gossip near the mid-pool and a young couple who’ve wagged school to be together, splash about near the deep end.

Just as in real life, we might overhear unfinished snippets of public conversations - we get to know a young woman who strengthens her weak limbs at the pool.  She also strengthens her identity by being a long-time member of the Superfins swimming club.

Carys Monks is strong and honest in this role, that is clearly based on parts of her own life.