SIMA – Drayton Arms Theatre, South Kensington

Reviewer: Christine Stanton

Writer: Ellen Bannerman

Director: Maddy Corner

“Intriguingly Supernatural, Infuriatingly Realistic”

4 / 5

Jess – a lonely university student living in Edinburgh is plagued by the demons of her past that she’s always struggled to confront. When a scared, vulnerable girl called Sima asks her for help, it’s hard to say no, resonating with her troubles and encouraged to assist where she can. But what she doesn’t realise, is that the interaction is more complex than she could have imagined, forcing her to face her past to change the future.  

When Sima (Lucy Menzies) first approaches Jess (Esme Hough), it is in the form of a spirit, warning Jess of the danger Sima is in at the hands of her abusive partner (Drew Gregg), encouraging her to step in and try and help before it is too late. Jess is unnerved by the situation, reminding her of how her father used to treat her mother, the parallels between the two stories too familiar to ignore. When the plumber at her home coincidentally turns out to be Sima’s partner it’s the beginning of an intensely time sensitive fight for survival. All three actors are superb at building and maintaining the suspense within their roles, while passionately ensuring the morality message stays featured throughout.  

Writer Ellen Bannerman has created a storyline that is both intriguingly supernatural, yet also infuriatingly realistic. People all over the world suffer at the hands of domestic abuse on a depressingly regular basis, with only a small number of cases being prosecuted each year. Bannerman showcases the frustrating struggle with reporting these incidents to the police fantastically well – the doubt, victim blaming, downplaying and long-winded procedures of the justice system displayed so perfectly that it was impossible not to be frustrated with the process.

Having the additional layer of the supernatural elements add a touch of originality into the storyline making it excitingly unique. It’s often hard to convey any supernatural aspects within a show, but director Maddy Corner executes it without any over the top effects or unnecessary jump scares, she keeps it simple, yet effective, maintaining a level of tension filled unease throughout. Additionally, each performance of SIMA features creative captioning which is a fantastic integration to make shows more accessible. This is a well-written, well-performed show that has the audience gripped from beginning to end.  

Runs Until 8 July 2023