Writer: Olivia Cordell
Director: Emily Hawkins
Horror influencer, Olivia Cordell, premieres her first one-woman show Bog Body – and it is certified to send chills down your back.
Playing the newly qualified Dr. Alyssa Kim, delivering a lunchtime lecture on century-old bodies preserved in peat bogs, Cordell constructs a chaotic character enthused by her subject. Immediately establishing the play’s tension, Cordell effectively portrays Kim’s nerves, heightened by her missing research partner. A cascade of unprecedented events follows – all of which lead back to the human remains that are freakishly covered on stage by one thin white sheet.
Despite her jittery character, Cordell is in complete control of the theatre for the full hour, a credit to her distinguished stage presence and stamina. She demonstrates an impressive acting range as her physicality and vocal tone evolve along with the escalating horror.
Moreover, Cordell’s movements, choreographed to accompany the disturbing sound effects, demonstrate director Emily Hawkins’ musicality. These details did not go amiss, but make for a truly chilling performance that does not feel at all farcical, something that is not easily achieved considering the level of drama in horror theatre.
The production’s technical elements further elevate the show, including a flickering projector, creative light and sound, and crucially, the displayed human remains. This transforms the intimate fringe theatre into a lecture hall convincingly possessed by the angry spirits of the dead.
Cordell’s ability to connect with the audience is extremely impressive. Following her natural interaction with audience members early on, she retains their answers in order to incorporate them into her closing monologue. This makes for an engaging finish, ensuring that the message of the production lands.
Amidst the supernaturalism, Bog Body has a clear purpose as feminist theatre. Set in the modern-day, women’s rights have obviously progressed since the years when Kim’s case study was alive, 2000 years ago. In fact, the professors fronting Kim’s archaeology explorations are almost all women.
Drawing parallels with the brutality towards women centuries ago, Bog Body suggests that contemporary women remain oppressed, specifically in society’s fascination with their suffering. This message is fortified when Kim pulls up a tabloid highlighting the female professors’ health problems that are supposedly linked to their research. Attention came to these women only as victims, rather than during their ground-breaking work.
What results is an entertaining and horrifying production that simultaneously delivers patriarchal resistance. However, regardless of gender, all audience members are invited to view their wounds as formative to who they are, rather than a weapon to further diminish us.
As they embark on tour, Bog Body will undoubtedly have a chilling effect on audiences.
Runs until 17 August 2025 and continues to tour
Camden Fringe runs until 25 August 2025
The Reviews Hub Star Rating
100%
Horrifying, empowering, feminist.