Review: What's The Trade? (White Bear Theatre)

Review by Oliver Briggs

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sparing no stroke when it comes to painting a picture of the corporate world, What's The Trade? at White Bear Theatre explores the modern corporate office and how unchecked power from a status and gender role perspective can, and does, cause extreme changes to a person's life, often that of a woman.

Exceptionally written by Charlie Howard, What's The Trade? focuses on James, a successful FX trader (someone who buys and sells currencies to profit from fluctuations in exchange rates), as he is pulled into a meeting with a new HR employee, Sarah, to discuss the absence of their colleague, Scarlett. Sarah presses James about his involvement with Scarlett up to the day before she seemingly disappeared. Throughout this process, we see James question the importance of the situation, question Sarah’s authority, mansplain, manspread, the lot. He often hides behind dismissive and ignorant excuses such as “just playing the game” with a complete disregard for what his behaviour has caused. But when Sarah plays her turn, it’s suddenly more than just a game to him. With quick-witted comments, fast-changing power dynamics, and a handful of plot twists, this storyline is one of the most engaging, well-paced dramas that I have ever watched.

Of course, a script on stage is only as good as a director, and the cast can make it. And make it they did! Impeccable direction by Esalan Gates allowed the script to truly come to life in a way that feels too real to a modern society, to the extent that it almost felt uncanny. In a way, it goes to show how such issues are so easily dismissed or overlooked in the modern day, making the work even more emotive. It’s evident just how precise every movement is with everything that happened, creating or relieving tension, creating a laugh, guilt, empathy, and so many emotions. There was not a single movement that was just there to ‘fill the time’. Every minute detail served a purpose. A piece of direction I quite enjoyed was the pre-show, giving crucial insight to Sarah as a character and employee. Focused. Hard-working. From before the play has even begun to the bitter end, Sarah is working.

Likewise with the actors, every minute detail was very specific and clear. One moment that particularly stuck out to me, amongst many, was Charlie Howard’s eyes as James, when Marie McGovern’s Sarah says, “This isn't a coffee and catch up”. The quick, dismissive glance at Sarah, the coffee mug, the recording device, the coffee mug Sarah, in quick succession, really solidified (if it hadn't already been proven enough) James’ questionable character as a man. I was filled with such joy to watch Sarah work against him, with her character almost never showing any signs of weakness, always sitting upright, and only when James’ character becomes a larger risk does she begin to fidget anxiously with her skirt or blouse. I believe there was a real sense of pride filling the room as Sarah held her ground; quite frankly, it was empowering to watch.

The creative design of the performance is not to be overlooked. The LED beams across the floor create an office, and an interrogational environment, bright white, very intense and not at all comforting. It forms a tense and isolating atmosphere before the performance has even begun. The sound design is rhythmic and jagged; it gets the heart racing, it’s reserved for the moments where something really could go entirely wrong, where blood may boil over, where a hurt ego may go on to hurt a person. Just like everything else in this performance, each sound you hear serves a key and intentional purpose. The office itself is furnished with a sleek wooden table, modern office chairs, a coffee station, and the times of London and a few other nations on the wall so that James knows when we can trade with different places.

With everything coming together and harmonising so well, this is not a performance to miss out on. With its powerful message towards the modern-day, young corporate world, simply marvellous script, and quite frankly pinpoint perfect direction and design. What’s the Trade? makes for an intense, breathtaking, jaw-dropping hour of entertainment.

WHAT’S THE TRADE? plays at the White Bear Theatre until 20th December. Tickets from https://www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk/whatson/what%27s-the-trade%3F