Tit(s) for Tat

Long term female friendships are challenging. The duties of a good friend quickly evolve beyond just being a good wingwomen or holding back hair during tactical chunders. Tit for Tat follows a girl group as they confront the complexities of their 13 year relationship through a therapy session with the aptly named ‘Fanny’.

These girls have been through a lot with each other. From awkward early adolescence, through hedonistic teens, to challenging early adulthood they have been at each other's sides for better or worse. However it’s taken its toll and their once carefree friendship, which has become complex and tense. We explore the entirety of their bond through the therapy session, peppered with flashbacks that take us back to their earlier years.

It’s an interesting device, and allows for some genuinely hilarious and nostalgic vignettes, a personal favourite being a school talent show performance set to Taio Cruz's 2010 hit "Dynamite”. I was transported back to my school years so well I could almost taste the echo falls.

Other elements of the play are less successful. Whilst the characters all have their individual quirks, creating interesting contrasts and tension, they sometimes veer into stereotype territory.
Lily's "airhead" persona for example, whilst executed well, led to some one liners that fell flat. Their growth could have also be better documented, the 25 year olds felt exactly the same as the 12 year olds, and lacked a maturity that would have made the therapy session scenes feel more realistic.

Weightier themes, such as sexual assault and death, were also explored demonstrating a commendable effort to add depth to the narrative. However, perhaps due to such a short run time, these more serious moments often feel rushed or underexplored, with the script quickly reverting to comedic one-liners that undermine the gravity of the situations presented.

The set and production was effective on a shoestring, and helped to provide structure and flair to the story. A flip board easily marked the year and moment we were witnessing, allowing for the story to jump back and forth in time with ease. As the audience enter the space, the girls are already getting ready on stage, adding to the illusion you’ve stumbled into a 2010’s pre-drinks.

This is only the second production from Knockout, born to showcase female writers and actors, and it shows a lot of promise. Despite its shortcomings, its charming, funny and enjoyable. It’s certain to leave you reflecting on the important women in your life and hankering for just one more chaotic teenage night out.