Crucible Studio, Sheffield – until 6th October 2018
Reviewed by Melanie Torley
4****
Steel is the witty new play by Chris Bush (What We Wished For, A Dream), and explores the last three decades of women in politics.
The story tells the tale of young black Labour party candidate named Josie set in 1988 and her campaign to become a local councillor, helped by her mentor Dai. This is interspersed with the story of the ambitious Vanessa and her campaign to be elected Mayor, aided by her campaign manager Ian.
Both story lines have steel running through their core, with Josie being a technical engineer full of ideas of how to inject new life in to the industry while Vanessa sat on a focus group looking at the steel industry whose analysis was that it should be put out of it’s misery like a sick puppy.
Rebecca Scroggs plays both Josie and Vanessa with heart and soul, adequately portraying the naivety of the new party member Josie switching to the role of the sassy hard-talking Vanessa. Rebecca is able to bounce of her co-actor Nigel Betts beautifully, who puts in a strong performance as his characters of Dai and Ian. Nigels voice resonates beautifully around the Crucible Studio.
Steel is fast paced and covers some topical issues. The sharp script delivers laugh out loud moments during the show, which leaves you wondering whether things have really changed in the last 30 years.